How Do I Become a Drug and Alcohol Counselor?

Becoming a drug and alcohol counselor requires a college degree and state certifications.

Research

In order to become a drug and alcohol counselor, you will need to review your state requirements. There are certain certifications which you must obtain or a certain level of education that you need to reach.  A degree is required, but what exactly that degree is could vary.

Attend College

You absolutely must plan to attend college in order to become a drug and alcohol counselor. You will have to understand the reasons why people abuse drugs and alcohol, how to help them solve these addictions, and many other components of the field that you cannot learn without a proper college education.

Talk to several different programs at various schools to see which one will prepare you best. Sometimes, there are several sub divisions in the fields of drugs and alcohol, so you should check to see that the school offers the exact field that you are interested in.

See if the school has reciprocal agreements with other states, so that if you choose to move out of state in the future, all of your hard work and education will not be for naught.

Before you begin the program, find out how long you will have to be in school. For example, you are going to be taking classes for a significantly longer time if you need to obtain a Masters degree than if you need to only go as far as an Associates degree. Make sure that you are ready to make that time commitment.

Life After College

Many educational institutions have career centers where you can receive pointers on how to create your resume, as well as attend events where you can network with other people in your field in order to open the doors to more job opportunities.

If those resources are not available to you, or if you are finding that they are not working for you, go out on the job search by yourself. Consider contacting not only drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, but other places where drugs and alcohol frequently become problems such as in hospitals or even schools.

Don't Give Up Looking for the Right Job

You should be willing to work at a lower rung position for some time before climbing up the ladder to the top. Your first job might not be the perfect situation, but it will eventually get you to your destination if you do not give up.

While there is a decent demand for drug and alcohol counselors, there is also a rather decent supply of people leaving colleges with degrees in this field. Therefore, make sure you are committed to taking any opportunities available and to presenting yourself in a professional and articulate manner that will make potential employers want to have you on their staff.