Washington

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


What’s in a name? If you wish to become a substance abuse counselor, that may not prove your official title according to state law. Such is the case with Washington State, where the term “chemical dependency professional” is used.


Overview


In Washington, the equivalent of substance abuse counselor is overseen by the state Department of Health. Education and training requirements are similar to that of other states, but for those who hold a professional degree in a related field, becoming an addiction professional is somewhat streamlined. In Washington, the typical practice setting for chemical dependency professionals is an agency licensed by the Washington State Department of Behavioral Health and Rehabilitation.


Washington Licensing & Certifications for Associates & Independent Counselors


In Washington, substance abuse counselors are known as chemical dependency professionals. In addition to certified chemical dependency counselors, the state also offers a trainee program. All candidates must pass a criminal background check.


Chemical Dependency Professional Trainee


Trainees must work in the field, and can accrue hours while working as a Chemical Dependency Professional Trainee. Such trainees have direct supervision in the beginning of their eligibility. Credentials are renewed annually, with up to four renewals permitted. Supervisors verify hours spent by the trainee in a variety of duties. Trainees must spend a minimum of 50 hours in discussion of professional and ethical responsibilities as well as a minimum of 600 hours in direct counseling. The latter may include the counseling of family members and the client’s significant others. The Department of Health may accept experience accrued up to seven years prior by the trainee.


A chemical dependency professional trainee must have a high school diploma or GED. They must provide proof of enrollment in a bachelor’s degree program for chemical dependency counseling. The trainee candidate must sign such a declaration on their application form and continue to verify their enrollment for every one of the maximum of four years they are renewing credentials.


Education Requirements


A chemical dependency professional must have a minimum of an associate’s degree, although a bachelor’s degree is preferred. The degree must be in human services or related fields. An alternative is the successful completion of 90 quarter or 60 semester college credits in courses from an approved school. A minimum of 45 quarter or 30 semester credits must include courses relating to the profession of chemical dependency and must include specific topics. These include:


  • Understanding addiction

  • HIV/AIDS risk intervention for those chemically dependent

  • Substance abuse and addiction treatment methods

  • Pharmacological actions of drugs and alcohol

  • Cultural diversity, including those with disabilities and treatment implications

  • Understanding of addiction placement, continuing care and discharge criteria, as per the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria

  • Clinical evaluation of chemical dependency

  • Treatment planning

  • Developmental psychology

  • Coordination of services

  • Individual and group counseling

  • Family and couples’ chemical dependency counseling

  • Use of community resources and referral

  • Education for clients, families and communities

  • Abnormal psychology and psychopathology

  • Chemical dependency case management

  • Adolescent chemical dependency assessment and treatment

  • Documentation, including intake, screening, assessment, treatment plans, clinical report, recording of clinical progress reports, discharge summaries and similar data relating to the client

  • Confidentiality for those chemically dependent

  • Professional and ethical responsibilities;

  • Prevention of relapse

  • Chemical dependency rules and regulations.


Official transcripts are required. Such transcripts must come from an approved college or university. The transcript must include the degree and the posting date. All transcripts must arrive from their prospective schools in an envelope sealed by the school and identifiable as such. If the transcript is not in English, an official translation along with an educational evaluation is necessary. Course topics must be verified in the official transcripts. If this is not the case, the candidate may have to provide the course syllabi.


Modified Requirements


Washington allows certain professionals to attain chemical dependency professional status under modified requirements, since these people already have certification in their fields. Those eligible under the state’s modified requirements include those licensed as a:

  • Physician

  • Psychologist

  • Mental health counselor

  • Marriage and family therapist

  • Physician’s assistant

  • Advanced registered nurse practitioner

  • Advanced or independent clinical social worker.


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 of Professional Counselors

Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Social Workers Advisory Committee


The Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Social Workers Advisory Committee is a focused entity of the Washington State Department of Health. Members of the Committee are Washington residents appointed by the Secretary of Health. The Committee oversees mental health licensure. Applicants for professional counseling licenses in Washington State must show proof of successfully passing the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE).


Address

P.O. Box 47852

Olympia, WA 98504-7852


Phone

(360) 236-2927


Website Address

https://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/ProfessionsNewReneworUpdate/MentalHealthCounselor


Licensure:

  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)


There are 2 levels of certification in Washington State for Chemical Abuse Counselors. The initial level of certification is a training level certification needed to collect the required experience for full certification. This is referred to as the Chemical Dependency Professional Student (CDPT). The complete level of accreditation after one has obtained the essential experience and also passed the needed examinations is called the Chemical Dependence Expert (CDP). Are you interested to find out worrying Dependence as well as Material Counseling education? See establishments both community and also online that enlighten to further become a therapist or numerous other types of specialists in linked work locations.


Drug abuse counselors help clients recuperate from product use conditions. Over 9,500 chemical abuse along with psychological wellness therapists operate in Washington state, supplying important solutions for customers. In Washington, drug abuse counselors have to complete and likewise maintain chemical dependency professional qualification. Washington counseling demands include education needs, such as chemical dependency coursework, as well as passing scores on a product misuse examination.


The Department of Health and wellness likewise provides standards for out-of-state specialists. Professionals must restore their credentials every year by satisfying proceeding education and learning and also finding out needs. This overview sets out simply how to wind up being a drug abuse counselor in Washington. Chemical abuse specialists in Washington need to finish education and learning and also knowing and also experience requirements to certify for qualification. These needs, developed by the Washington State Legislature, make certain that chemical abuse therapists receive appropriate line of work training prior to treating customers.


Chemical dependence experts in Washington should hold a minimum of an associate level or the similar from an accepted college, with a minimum of 45 quarter or 30 semester credit reports of chemical dependency programs. Coursework needs to cover subjects such as addiction therapy methods, clinical exam of chemical dependence, solution synchronisation, as well as also chemical reliance therapy for families along with spouses.


Captivated in going after an education and learning primarily abuse therapy? See the adhering to web pages to learn more about treatment scholastic programs by degree: Washington needs drug abuse specialists to total programs in several topics, consisting of chemical reliance policies in addition to policies, privacy along with ethical duties, securing against relapse, as well as chemical reliance situation management. The state also needs licensed chemical abuse therapists to obtain training in teenage chemical reliance evaluation and additional treatment.


Candidates require to also reveal 4 human resources of HIV/AIDS training as well as likewise feedback individual info issues. All applicants send out a Social Security and also security number with their application. Candidates should pass either the National Organization of Alcohol addiction and also Medicine Misuse Therapist (NAADAC) test or the International Accreditation as well as Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) assessment Product misuse counselors in Washington must also pass an analysis.


Drug abuse counselors should carry out a background check as well as also submit all required charges. Washington state does not make use of reciprocity with other states. Nonetheless, out-of-state drug abuse therapists can use the Washington State Department of Wellness, which establishes whether the candidate's credential satisfies Washington requirements. Potential customers with considerably equivalent credentials do not require to complete Washington's assessment needs.


Those human resources have to include at the very least four hours of expert worth as well as also legislation, three hours of self-destruction evaluation training, as well as additionally 14 hours in an accepted discipline. Compound abuse specialists have to restore their qualification annually or before their birthday celebration. Substance misuse therapists in Washington can take advantage of expert firms in addition to sources to stay present in the area, complete licensing and also continuing education and learning as well as knowing needs, along with connecting with various other specialists.


Being a drug counselor is not a popular occupation. However, you must remember that this job is very important and requires knowledge of the different forms of treatment available to help people get off drugs. In order to become a counselor, you need to be certified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).


In order to become a counselor you should first have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher learning. You can get a degree in Counselor Education, Counselor Training, Substance Abuse, Counselor Training and Development, or a course in Mental Health Counselors.


There are several counseling schools that offer degrees in Counselors. You can complete these programs by taking courses in several subjects such as counseling theory, psychology, social work, human services administration, behavioral sciences, education, business, public policy, and criminal justice. You can also take courses related to specific areas such as family therapy, drug abuse prevention, and addiction prevention. Your counselor training will also include an examination of your understanding of the drug-related issues and how you will deal with them.


After completing your counseling training program, you must pass the state licensing examination, the NCET. This exam is administered every two years. If you want to become a counselor in Washington State, you can start by working as a volunteer for an alcohol/drug rehabilitation organization. As you complete the internship, you will receive your license.


To become a counselor in Washington State, you must be licensed through the State Board of Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services and pass the state certification exam. You may have to work as a volunteer for a period of time before you become licensed. You should always check with your state's licensing board before beginning any counseling career.


When you become licensed, you are required to obtain further certification. You must take continuing education courses to update your knowledge and skills in order to be effective in your field. After all of the training courses and examinations are passed, you will need to complete the certification exam again.


If you want to become a licensed professional counselor in Washington, it will cost you more money to attend a university or school than it will to take training courses on your own. You will need to take courses in a classroom setting and have onsite supervision from instructors who are licensed professionals. to teach you the skills needed to be a successful counselor.


Many colleges offer training programs that can help you get a career in this field of helping people get help to get off drugs. You can enroll in a course that covers basic information about the subject of becoming a drug counselor Washington and take the online classes offered by many schools.


Programs vary depending on what type of institution you attend. Some schools offer a Bachelor's Degree program that will give you enough basic knowledge to become an effective counselor. There are also Bachelor's degree programs that cover clinical and counseling programs so you can help in the treatment of addicts.


If you want to become a counselor in Washington State, then you will need to enroll in a Master's or Doctoral program in Clinical Programs. These programs will train you to administer programs and treatment for addicts that have been through jail, detox, or residential treatment. to help them overcome addictions and learn how to live life on their own.


In order to become a licensed professional counselor, you must complete a Master's degree in Clinical Programs that include both clinical and counseling courses. to be a specialist in the field of substance abuse and to help addicts get the treatment they need.


Once you complete these programs, you will then graduate and take the State Certification Exam to be an expert in the field of substance abuse counseling. As a certified counselor, you will be able to work in a variety of programs to help addicts overcome addictions.


Counselor Testing & Examination Process


Washington chemical dependency professional candidates must take and pass the Association of Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) examination or the International Certification Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) level II exam. The chemical dependency professional candidate must download forms from the Washington State Department of Health website. The applicant must fill out and submit or have the appropriate entity fill out and submit the professional application package, the Verification of Supervision Experience and Statement of Qualifications form, credential verification form and the AIDS Education and Training Attestation. Send forms along with applicable fees to:


Washington State Department of Health


CDC Program Administrator

PO Box 47869

Olympia, WA 98504


The department completes the required background checks and ensures candidates have paid all required fees. Under state law, credentialing supervisors and lead workers are authorized to approve routine applications. If the credentialing supervisor cannot verify that the applicant meets all criteria, the disciplining authority steps in to conduct an additional review. Applicants who are denied are formally notified by the department, and may request an appeal of the decision.


For those taking the NAADAC exam, the registration is done online, via NAADAC’s testing partner, Kryterion. Candidates can receive this information from the state Department of Health once they have approved the applicant for testing. Candidates receive a code from the department with which they can register online. Registration without approval does not permit candidates to take the test, and their fees are not refunded. With NAADAC, testing is on demand, and candidates can see the most convenient times and dates for them to take the exam. Availability of seats is provided online. If a candidate has registered for the exam and then finds they cannot take the test that day, they can reschedule but must pay a $90 fee if rescheduling within 72 hours of the cancelled appointment.


This fee is levied by the testing center. Under NAADAC rules, if a candidate does not pass the exam, he or she may take the test two more times within a calendar year. Scores are sent to the Washington Department of Health, and candidates will also receive their scores via email.


The IC&RC exam’s questions are in a multiple choice format, with the candidate choosing between four possible responses. Of these four choices, just one answer is considered the best, and candidates only receive credit for choosing the best response. Once the exam is successfully completed, candidates must send in the ICRC verification form to the state Department of Public Health. Once the test is passed and all clinical supervision requirements are complete and verified, the candidate may apply for licensure from the Department.


Clinical Supervision Explained


All chemical dependency professional candidates must under approved supervision. If the candidate has an associate’s degree, the clinical supervision consists of 2,500 hours. If the candidate has earned a bachelor’s degree, clinical supervision requires 2,000 hours. hours. If a candidate has earned a master’s or doctoral degree, 1,500 hours of clinical supervision is needed. For candidates who already are licensed in related fields, 1,000 hours of clinical supervision is necessary.


Of these hours, 200 hundred hours must relate to clinical evaluation, and of those, half must relate to face to face patient contact. The initial 50 hours of face to face contact is performed under the direct supervision of the supervisor or a chemical dependency professional. Six hundred hours relates to face to face counseling, including individual, group, family or couples. Another 50 hours must include professional and ethical responsibility discussion.


Renewal and Continuing Education


Licenses are renewed annually, on or before the chemical dependency counselor’s birthday. Chemical dependency counselors must complete 12 hours of professional development and 28 hours of continuing education every two years, for a total of 40 hours. After their initial licensure, they must complete three hours of training in suicide assessment, which also involves screening and referral. This training is repeated every sixth year.

Continuing education may consist of programs or courses, including distance learning. Eligible continuing education includes workshops or seminars and approved industry-recognized professional conferences. Approved industry organizations include, but are not limited to:

  • National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC)

  • National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP)

  • International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (ICRC)

  • Northwest Indian alcohol/drug specialist certification board

  • Institutions of higher learning accredited by national or regional accrediting bodies recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation

  • Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse (DASA).


Professional development activities include additional competencies in clinical evaluation; individual or group counseling; family and couples counseling; professional and ethical responsibilities; treatment knowledge; understanding addiction; practice applications; treatment planning; professional readiness; referrals; service coordination; client, family, and community education; screening, intake and assessment; clinical reports; clinical progress notes; discharge summaries and other similar client data.


Reciprocity


Washington permits out-of-state substance abuse counselors to attain accreditation if they hold credentials similar to those required by the state. Oregon certified drug and alcohol abuse counselors meet this standard, as do British Columbian international alcoholism and drug addiction counselors.


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


Modified Requirements


Chemical Dependency Professionals of Washington State, the Washington state affiliate of NAADAC, is a forum where professionals may discuss their common interests. The idea is improving communications among chemical dependency professionals. These professionals may discuss and work on policy, guidelines and standards recommendations for chemical dependency programs, personnel and facilities and taking actions to improve chemical dependency work and practice.