Tennessee

What does an Addiction Counselor in Tennessee do? What is Their Job Role?


Drug and alcohol abuse is a raging wildfire in our society. The numbers of addicts and overdoses are staggering, and they continue to rise. Thus, we need more and more substance abuse counselors all the time.


No matter where you live, your state has regulations for licensure as a substance abuse counselor. In many cases, these regulations are rather new and so may still be evolving. However, if you have heard the calling to help the millions of addicts in the world, you can get started on the road to licensure today. Generally speaking, most states require specific academic accomplishments, successful examination scores, and satisfactory completion of an internship under the supervision of a licensed substance abuse counselor. If you are living in Tennessee, this page will detail your specific requirements.


Overview


Work as a substance abuse counselor is not easy, but it is infinitely rewarding. In this profession, you will have the opportunity to not only help individual addicts, your impact will be much farther-reaching. Consider that most everyone you know has been touched in some form by the disease of addiction. They may have friends, family members, or coworkers who suffer from the disease and who are causing them some degree of difficulty. Others might be victims of crimes perpetrated by drug addicts or suffer other negative outcomes from addict behavior.


Work Environment


The work environment of a substance abuse counselor is as varied as the individuals in the profession. You might choose to work full-time for a drug rehabilitation facility or some other mental health institution. You could also choose to work in a number of venues, piercing your work-life together in an ad-hoc fashion. You could also opt to work in private practice, helping addicts and their families work through the traumas that incited, and stemmed from, the addiction.


You will also find that rehabilitation facilities are not all the same. Some are found on sprawling campuses complete with horse stables, soaking pools, and nature trails. Others are far more bare-bones with patients living in standard apartments and commuting to a center for daily therapies. If you are the outdoors type, you might enjoy working in a wilderness immersion where addicts learn to live closer to nature as a way of distancing themselves from a life of drugs and booze.


Still other substance abuse counselors might work part-time in a rehabilitation facility but also perform interventions, teach drug/alcohol awareness courses, and see a few clients in a clinical setting. The choice is up to you. Life as a substance abuse counselor can be as richly varied as you choose.


Duties


Your primary duty as a substance abuse counselor will be to help addicts overcome the causes and conditions that resulted in a life of addiction. This might take many different forms. That is, you could facilitate group therapy with multiple addicts, or specialize in family therapy. Many focus on individual therapy.


If you work in a drug rehabilitation facility, you might find that your days are filled with a variety of tasks. In the morning you might see individual clients, but your afternoons might be filled with group activities, including academic-style courses on relapse prevention, the physical ramifications of psychoactive substances, or life-coping skills. Still others have outside credentials in yoga or meditation and might integrate these sessions into their daily or weekly schedules.

Am I a Good Fit?


Just as the duties of a substance abuse counselor are diverse, so are the personalities that populate the profession. You will want to sit down and ponder your motivations for the profession. While the availability of jobs might be tempting, this is a profession that is very demanding of one's personality. That is, you will need to learn how to distance yourself from your clients enough so that you have an objective view, but not so much that you appear cold or stern. An especially empathetic or compassionate person could easily be taken advantage of by a wily addict, so be realistic with yourself.


One key trait you will need to have is an attitude of tolerance and acceptance. Very often addicts do very bad things. They do shocking things. While their actions might be horrible, you will need to see past those actions to the person sitting before you. Your job will be to help the person heal from the shame associated with those negative behaviors. Imagine a few worst-case scenarios and consider whether you help such a person achieve lasting happiness.


Tennessee Licensing & Certifications for Associates & Independent Counselors


Under Tennessee law, you will become a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC.) This designation has two tiers, I & II. Level I is attainable whether you have a bachelor's (or higher) degree or not. Level II is reserved for those with baccalaureate or master's level degrees and will allow you to enter private practice and enjoy wider professional flexibility and creativity.


Education Requirements


To become a LADC in Tennessee, at either level I or II, you must satisfy the state's education requirements. Those include 270 clock-hours of classroom training in the field of addiction. Your education should cover the following domains:


  • Clinical evaluation

  • Treatment planning

  • Referral

  • Service coordination

  • Counseling

  • Client, family, and community education

  • Documentation

  • Professional and ethical responsibilities


Though the state's documents don't specify that you must study at an accredited institution, that is recommended. With a degree from an accredited institution, your employment prospects rise, as does your opportunities in the long-term. If, for instance, you decide that you'd like to teach at some point, an accredited degree will open more doors than one from a non-accredited institution.


CACREP Accredited Online Certification


Two types of accreditation are recognized in the United States; institutional and specialized. Institutional accreditation takes the entire institution into account while the specialized focus on professional preparation programs. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is a specialized accreditation that focuses on master’s and doctoral degree programs in counseling at colleges and universities worldwide. Only already-accredited institutions are eligible for CACREP review. The review for accreditation will center on programs offering graduate degrees in counseling.


Choosing a CACREP-accredited program ensures that the program meets the highest of quality standards. Many counseling specialties are accredited by the CACREP, including addiction counseling. Accredited addiction counseling programs prepare individuals to work with those affected by addictive behavior and their families. Addictive behaviors include alcohol, drugs, food, gambling, sex, and anything else that negatively affects your personal or work life by creating addiction behaviors.


CACREP-accredited programs will focus on treatment models and the phases of addiction including prevention, recovery, and relapse prevention. These 60-semester hour programs will include the application of interventions. When students choose a CACREP-accredited program they can be confident that:


  • the program meets or exceeds national standards

  • the program will focus on professional counseling rather than psychology or education

  • the program has an excellent reputation

  • CACREP graduates statistically receive higher scores on the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE).

  • the requirements for licensure will be met.


Board for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapists


The Tennessee Board for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapists safeguards the health, safety, and welfare of Tennessee consumers. The Board enforces requirements for licensure applicants and practicing mental health professionals. The Board also determines licensure and continuing education requirements and handles complaint investigations and disciplinary actions. Their website provides extensive information pertaining to the industry and Tennessee licensed mental health professionals.


Address

665 Mainstream Drive

Nashville, TN 37243


Phone

(615) 532-5088


Website Address

https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/pcmft-board.html


Licensure:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health Service Provider (LPC/MHSP)

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)


Tennessee chemical abuse counselors are managed by the Board of Alcohol along with Substance Abuse Therapists. Licensure is supplied on the basis of coursework in reliances, technique under guidance, as well as developed, oral, as well as jurisprudence evaluations. Capella College makes use of an online MS in Dependency Study Researches in addition to a PhD in Addiction Psychology. Capella University furthermore makes use of 3 on the internet CACREP-accredited programs: MS in Scientific Mental Health Counseling, MS in University Treatment, as well as PhD in Therapist Education And Learning And also Learning as well as likewise Support, along with a COAMFTE-accredited program, MS in Marital Partnership as well as also House Therapy.


There is simply one degree of licensure in Tennessee that of the Licensed Alcohol along with Drug Therapist (LADC). The LADC has a range of particular educational experience in addition to screening criteria that must be met prior to you being granted the title of LADC. Are you interested to discover Dependency and Substance Therapy education and learning and understanding? See establishments both local and additionally online who educate to additional end up being a counselor or different other type of expert in related profession areas.


Your supervisor needs to be a LADC with an existing certificate in Tennessee. You are required to have 3 skilled recommendations. Pass the Tennessee created assessment. Pass the Tennessee oral test. Give a Scenario Research. Make up a brief essay on your Therapy Viewpoint. Accredit the Tennessee Drug Abuse Counselor Ethical Criteria.


If you have solid social abilities, get a kick out of assisting individuals, and likewise have a passion in dealing with dependency issues, a line of work as a drug abuse specialist might be a superior suitable for you. Potential counselors in Tennessee can go after careers in this highly gratifying and also expanding location. The Bureau of Labor Information tasks that easily available settings in this area will certainly expand 23% by 2026.


Education and likewise licensure work as the necessary actions toward an occupation as a drug abuse counselor in Tennessee. In a lot of circumstances, you will certainly need to get an undergraduate degree as well as pass the needed Tennessee Therapist Board demands. While the procedure of getting licensure can be challenging, the following introduction organizes all of the required details right into one convenient area.


To seek a profession essentially abuse therapy in Tennessee, you require to follow instructional standards as well as likewise get the requisite number of monitored humans resources in the location. There are just two levels of licensure for compound misuse therapists in the state: degree one as well as level 2 licensed alcohol and also medication therapists (LADCs).


If you want to seek a profession that basically misuse therapy as well as technique individually, you require at least a bachelor's degree from an acknowledged institution to graduate with two permits. Often, today's exercising counselors have master's levels. Tennessee calls for each candidate for licensure to possess a bachelor's degree in behavioral health or an associated location.


Students curious about pursuing professions in substance abuse treatment can uncover more concerning undergraduate as well as academic degrees in the field at Counselor-License. com. Captivated in pursuing an education and learning in material abuse treatment? See the complying with pages for more information concerning treatment scholastic programs by degree: Together with a bachelor's degree, an applicant seeking to exercise individually as a degree 2 Tennessee therapy expert generally abuse requires 2 years or 4,000 hours of supervised experience.


If you want to know how to be a drug counselor in Tennessee, then you need to know what your options are. This article will discuss what you can expect to do to become a licensed therapist. After you get your state certification as an outpatient drug counselor, you can then pursue further studies to become a certified clinical therapist or psychiatrist.


Most drug counselors are licensed by the state and must have a degree or certification in the field. The more education you have, the better your chances of being hired as an outpatient therapist. Most states require all counselors who provide medical care to patients with substance abuse problems to hold a bachelor's degree and at least two years of experience working with the public.


In order to become licensed in Tennessee, you will need to pass a national certification exam. This examination is known as the NCANES. This exam consists of both written and clinical examinations. In order to complete the national examination, a student must study for six months and pass the exam.


In addition to your studies, you will need to complete a number of hours of clinical training as well. This can be done through either on-the-job experience or community college. In order to qualify, you must be a certified drug counselor with at least two years of clinical experience.


Once you are certified in Tennessee, you will be eligible to work with a number of different people who have substance abuse problems. You may work with people who are dealing with alcoholism or depression. You can also work with children and young adults. However, you must first be certified to provide treatment for these groups in Tennessee before you will be able to take on more challenging clients.


When you are in the process of becoming certified in Tennessee, you will need to make sure that you follow certain standards as far as being a good therapist is concerned. For example, if you are treating young people who are pregnant or have substance abuse problems, you must be able to provide treatment while being compassionate and understanding.


To learn how to be a drug counselor in Tennessee, you will need to look at the requirements and find out about the programs that are available in this state. After you have completed the training and obtained your state certification, you will be able to start looking for a job in this field. If you have completed the training and have completed a fellowship program, you may then be eligible to be a clinical therapist.


Most programs will take between twelve and thirty-six months to complete and include both classroom and clinical training. As a clinical therapist, you will meet with patients one on one and offer a range of different services to treat their addictions.


For instance, you can help patients who are experiencing problems such as alcohol or drug addiction by providing one-on-one basis with them. You can also work with adults and children in a group setting to help them overcome their problems.


You will be taught about the different treatment methods, including cognitive behavior therapy and medication. You may also learn about the issues surrounding the legal issues of substance abuse.


When you graduate from clinical training and are ready to take your state certification exam, you must pass it before you will be able to apply for employment. You must also submit a written resume and a letter to explain why you would be a good fit for the position that you are applying for.


Before you know it, you will find yourself working as a certified counselor in Tennessee. The benefits of being certified in this field include working with a wide variety of people who are struggling with addiction and many other disorders. If you are able to show that you have good communication skills and compassion, you can work with people of all ages, from those who are children to adults.


Counselor Testing & Examination Process


Once you have completed your education, are over the age of 21, and have completed the experiential part of licensure, you will need to pass a standard test. Your academic work includes 270 hours of classroom training in the field of chemical dependency, including six hours spent studying professional ethics for the field. If you are applying for level I, you only need to have a high school diploma, or the equivalent. Level II applicants must have a bachelor's degree in behavioral health or a master's degree in any field.


Tennessee also requires that all Level I applicants have completed a 6,000-hour experiential phase under the supervision of Board-licensed professionals. These hours should cover the eight domains as listed above and in TCA § 68-24-606. You must also be prepared to submit a written philosophy of treatment, which you will find defined in your licensure application.


If you seek a Level II license but do not have a master's degree in behavioral health, you must complete 4,000 working hours with a qualified supervisor. If your degree is in behavioral health, you only need 2,000 hours of supervised experience.


The Tennessee Board requires that all applicants be of upstanding moral character. If you have any previous legal troubles, make sure that you have satisfied the conditions of your sentencing prior to applying to become a LADC.


Once you have submitted your materials to the board, they will approve you to take your examination. They will provide you with a code that will admit you to a testing facility. The NCC AP works with Kryterion, a testing agency. In Tennessee, Kryterion has locations in Nashville and Murfreesboro. Be prepared to pay a base fee of $150, plus any administrative fees the state may levy.


For both Level I & II, you must take the corresponding National Certified Addiction Counselor (NCAC) exam from the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP.) For aspiring Level II LADCs, there is also an oral examination.


If you don't pass the examination on the first try, don't worry. You can reapply with the state to re-take the test.


Clinical Supervision Explained


Clinical supervision is a vital part of the pathway to licensure. You will need to secure a position in a drug rehabilitation facility or some other institution where you can work under the direct supervision of professionals whose licenses are either provided by the state of Tennessee or which are recognized by the licensing board. The requirements for your supervised hours changes depending on your credentials and desired license:


Level I

6,000 hours supervised


Level II – Non-behavioral degree

4,000 hours supervised


Level II – Behavioral science degree

2,000 hours supervised


During your internship period, you should address the eight domains:


  • Clinical evaluation

  • Treatment planning

  • Referral

  • Service coordination

  • Counseling

  • Client, family, and community education

  • Documentation

  • Professional and ethical responsibilities


Make sure you document your experiences and the time you spend for each one. This way, you and your supervisor can review areas where you need to focus, and you can make sure that the state is satisfied with your hard work.


Renewal and Continuing Education


In order to maintain your license with the state of Tennessee, you will have to complete continuing education units (CEUs) each year. The Board requires that you complete 15 hours per year, every year. Nine of the hours must be completed in-person and six can be conducted remotely or via some form of multimedia. The remaining three hours must pertain to ethics.


If you are a member of a professional association, you can likely find opportunities for continuing education through them. Otherwise, you can take courses from a local college or university, and sometimes you can attend lecture series that will provide certificates that will count toward your CEU requirements. To ensure that the time you spend accruing CEUs is valid, schedule courses through one of the following authorized agencies:


  • Nationally or regionally accredited institutions of higher education

  • NAADAC (The National Association for Addiction Professionals)

  • TAADAC (The Tennessee Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors)

  • Tennessee Department of Health

  • TAADAS (The Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug and Other Addiction Services)

  • TAMHO (The Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations)

  • Tennessee Department of Mental Health


Potential Counselor Career Path Options


  • Addiction Counselor

  • Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselor

  • Behavioral Health Specialist

  • Certified Addiction Drug and Alcohol Counselor

  • Chemical Dependency Counselor

  • Mental Health Counselor

  • School Counselor

  • Substance Abuse Counselor


Associations & Organizations


As a professional substance abuse counselor, you will want to join one or more professional associations. Aligning yourself with such an organization will open up new employment opportunities, provide CEU options, and provide an outlet for fellowship with your colleagues in your town and statewide. Here is a brief list of associations you might consider joining:


  • TAADAS (The Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug and Other Addiction Services)

  • NAADAC (The National Association for Addiction Professionals)

  • TAADAC (The Tennessee Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors)