To become an addiction therapist, one must meet educational requirements and complete clinical experience. Certification and licensing laws vary by location, with many requiring at least a bachelor’s degree in psychology or related fields. Clinical internships are often offered, and after completing the required hours, passing an exam is necessary to obtain a license. Continuing education is also required to maintain a license. Advanced certifications are available for those with undergraduate degrees.
Addiction therapists are also called addiction counselors, or substance abuse counselors when drugs or alcohol are involved. The first step to becoming an addiction therapist is getting the right education. This varies depending on what type of license or certification you would like to receive. After completing educational requirements, clinical experience is required. Once the clinical experience is complete, the candidate can obtain their licensure or certification to officially become an addiction therapist.
In order to become an addiction therapist, first the proper educational requirements must be met. Certification and licensing laws vary by location, so it’s important to research a location’s exact requirements. While some localities only require a certificate or associate’s degree for general licensing, many require at least a bachelor’s degree. Common areas of study for becoming an addiction therapist include psychology, behavioral science, and related subjects. For advanced certifications, degrees in fields such as clinical psychology or mental health counseling are often required.
As part of the educational curriculum, clinical internships are often offered to any student wishing to become an addiction therapist. During an internship, the student will be placed to work in a healthcare facility where they will work under licensed professionals. The length and exact number of hours required for these internships vary depending on specific laws and educational curriculum requirements for individual programs, but on average, they last more than a year. The student’s goal is to qualify for a license by the time the diploma and internship are completed.
After earning a college degree and completing the required clinical hours, students will need to pass an exam to obtain their license so they can practice on their own without supervision. Even after obtaining a license, many locations require continuing education credits and workshops to maintain a license in good standing. For students who have earned undergraduate degrees, advanced certifications in specialized fields are available. For example, the Association for Addiction Professionals offers several different levels of certifications, with the most basic level requiring a license and more than three years or 6,000 hours of substance abuse counseling experience. Other possible certification credentials include National Certified Counselor (NCC) and Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) provided by the National Board of Certified Counselors.
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