Substance abuse disorder affects tens of millions of people in the United States directly and many millions more indirectly. These statistics encompass everything from drug and alcohol use all the way to financially crippling gambling disorders, and the numbers keep climbing.

With over 23.5 million Americans misusing alcohol and drugs and even more who have other substance abuse disorders, there is an urgent need for counselors to help those who use as well as their loved ones.

If your heart is calling you to help people get treatment for their substance abuse disorders, you may be interested in becoming a substance abuse disorder counselor.

What does a substance abuse disorder counselor do?

When a person with a substance abuse disorder seeks treatment for dependence on a substance or behavior, such as drugs, alcohol, or gambling, a substance abuse disorder counselor steps in to help. These licensed professionals can work in an outpatient facility, an inpatient rehab center, a hospital, or in other settings where a person wants to be helped for their substance abuse disorder.

Steps to become a substance abuse disorder counselor

Becoming a substance abuse disorder counselor requires you to pursue your education through obtaining your master's degree. These four steps will take you to a career in substance abuse counseling with a substance abuse disorder counseling degree.

1. Obtain your Bachelor's Degree in Substance Abuse Disorders. Whether you choose the standard two-year associate degree and continue on to earn a bachelor’s or find a program that gives you the four-year bachelor’s degree in one stop, you will need a minimum of this degree to become a substance abuse disorder counselor.

2. Obtain your Master's Degree in Substance Abuse Disorders Counseling. Some positions will allow you to work as a substance abuse disorder counselor with your bachelor's degree, but most institutions, including private practices, require a master’s from an accredited institution.

This master's degree is also important if you are looking for further certifications to attach to your license, such as the National Certified Counselor from the National Board for Certified Counselors

3. Complete the requirements for your state licensure. These requirements vary depending on the state you will be working in, but if you plan to work in your own private practice, you will need to be licensed with the National Board for Certified Counselors.

4. Gain experience and apply for industry certifications. As a substance abuse disorder counselor, your education will be ongoing. A substance abuse disorder counselor certificate with specializations in differing areas can net you more pay and better job opportunities. You can earn further certifications through your continuing education and work experience.

What training and education do you need to become a substance abuse disorder counselor?

Substance abuse disorder counselor training and education is an extensive path because you will rarely be dealing with a cookie-cutter situation. Substance abuse disorders themselves do not discriminate, so people with substance abuse disorder come in all shapes and sizes with various issues that you will have to help them work through to fight their dependence.

The substance abuse disorder counselor career path takes students through the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs mentioned above, and then to the state licensing requirements. But before you can apply for your license, you will have to complete supervised training hours as required in your jurisdiction.

Substance abuse disorder counselor requirements to licensure vary based on your education level as well. Most undergraduate-level applicants can expect to spend anywhere from 4,000 to 10,000 hours working under supervision before getting their license. Those with a master’s degree can expect to be required to have somewhere around 1,000 supervised hours.

Because of this variance in training hours, the question, “How long does it take to become a substance abuse disorder counselor" has a range of answers. The path each person takes to become a substance abuse disorder counselor is different for every individual, but the basic requirements are the same.

Are there other requirements to be a substance abuse disorder counselor?

While the education and certification requirements are a must, to become a truly successful substance abuse disorder counselor, experts recommend that you have a passion for the field. Many have gone into this line of work because they themselves have either overcome a substance abuse disorder or have experienced a loved one’s struggle with it.

The long hours on the road to becoming a substance abuse disorder counselor require you to have a dedication to this career, and the difficult situations you are likely to be dealing with while you are counseling people with substance abuse disorders will be easier to manage if you are passionate about what you do.

What is the average salary of a substance abuse disorder counselor?

Certified substance abuse disorder counselors are in demand, and with the significant rise of so many people misusing opioids and other drugs, that demand is projected to rise steadily. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated that by the year 2026, job growth for substance abuse disorder counselors and other mental health counselors will have risen by 23%.

Going into this extensive field of education has to be balanced with the question, “How much does a substance abuse disorder counselor make?"

According to Payscale, the average substance abuse disorder counselor salary is $38,527, but the range can be between $27,365 - $50,354. Salary ranges depend on your education level, your experience, and your location.

For example, the average substance abuse disorder counselor salary in New York City is $39,787. Los Angeles substance abuse counselors can expect to make around $40,607, and those in the Houston, Texas area net $37,528 per year. A substance abuse disorder counselor in Boston averages $40,515 annually.

Ready to become a substance abuse disorder counselor

If you have a passion for helping others overcome their substance abuse disorders, or aiding those who have lived with someone with a chronic substance abuse disorder learn how to cope, then substance abuse disorder counseling is a field that is in urgent need of your skills.

The demand is expected to increase, so your investment in your education and experience will always be needed as well. Start exploring your education options today and you can quickly be on the road to helping others recover from substance abuse disorder.