Today there are many people who are engaged into abusing substances, and helping them is the problem of most parents. With the help of social workers who have substance abuse certification, they will be able to help these abusers through counseling. These individuals help in providing the abusers the necessary aid and support so that they can overcome their addiction with substances.

1. How to Become a Counselor
for Substance Abusers

2. Today there are many people who are engaged
into abusing substances, and helping them is the
problem of most parents. With the help of social
workers who have substance abuse certification,
they will be able to help these abusers through
counseling. These individuals help in providing
the abusers the necessary aid and support so
that they can overcome their addiction with
substances.

3. Having a Substance Abuse Counselor
Certification
Social workers or individuals that are concerned
with the life of substance abusers should have a
substance abuse counselor certification for them
to be skilled enough to give the needs of these
abusers. To get a certification the social worker
for example should have taken the substance
abuse counselor certificate program where they
can acquire the needed skills when interacting
with abusers.

4. This program will help the social worker to
become a substance abuse counselor. The
program provides applicants the education and
the needed training that are required by the
Department of Alcohol and Drug. Applicants
should complete the requirements for the said
program for them to be able to apply for the
CADC or Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor.
The state will provide applicants with the
locations where they can have their internships
and have their counselor positions.

5. How to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor
To become a substance abuse counselor is a very
tough job because the counselor will have to interact
with the abuser and help them recover from their
addiction. The counselor may have a client that has
a problem with his attitude that may risk his safety.
The counselor should be skilled enough in dealing
with this kind of situation and still focus with the
client’s recovery. To have a substance abuse
counselor certification means that the counselor that
is helping the patient’s recovery is equipped with
skills to deal with the abuser’s attitude.

6. Here are the requirements that are needed for an
applicant to become a substance abuse counselor:
• The applicant should have a high school diploma.
• The applicant should have a total of 270 hours of
ADAD or Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division, an
approved course for substance abuse. The
performance of the applicant should pass the
assessment, case management, counseling,
professional responsibility and client education.
• The following courses may be included in the
substance abuse course.
• The applicant should have a total of 400 hours of
practical training that focuses on the treating alcohol
and drug addiction through counseling.

7. • Should also have 6000 hours or 3 years of work
experience in providing counseling services to clients
that abused alcohol and drug substances.
• The 6000 hours can be substituted by 2000 hours
work experience when the applicant took a
bachelor’s degree that has a major in human
services field.
• 4000 hours work experience can be a substitute
when the applicant took master’s degree or a level
higher in human services field.
• The applicant must have a program certificate for
alcohol and drug counseling with Associates Degree
as a substitute for the 2000 hours work experience.
• A statement signed with agreeing with Codes of
Ethics that will abide the CSAC Code of Ethics.

8. • Should have completed the International Written
Certification Examination that is provided for Alcohol and
Drug Abuse Counselors.
• Case Presentation Method Oral Examination should be
completed by the applicant.
• Transcripts and forms that are sent by the school
supervisor of the applicants. The applicants should submit
forms that have original signatures. Signatures are not
allowed when sent through fax.
• The applicant should pay the needed fees for the
application.
• After the applicant has submitted the all the needed
requirements and successfully passed the examinations, the
Department will now give the substance abuse counselor
certification.

9. To become a substance abuse counselor can
also be rewarding when the counselor has been
a part of the changes in one’s life. The recovery
period of the client may take a long time, but it
will give the counselor a relief when their patients
have recovered from their addiction.
With CADC providing the substance abuse
counselor certification to people who want to help
their friends or relatives that has substance
abuse is easier.

10. In providing the
education needed
and training to
applicants who want
to have the
knowledge in helping
people from
recovering in their
substance addiction,
counselors can
actually help their
patients recover fast
and easy.

11. Though this job is considered to be the most
challenging in all careers, it is also well regarded as
the best when the counselor was able to change the
lives of his patients. Though the substance abuse
certification is hard to get, the knowledge that the
counselors learn are worth it when used to people
who needs it. People who are engaged with
substance and want to eliminate it in their lives
should ask help from counselors to provide them the
necessary counseling to fully recover from the
addiction.