Certified Addiction Counselor
Who are addiction counselors?
They can be termed as the saviors of the people who have been enslaved by habits and the use of addictive substances like drugs, alcohol and sex. Certified addiction counselors help such people collect the pieces of their lives and put them back together.
They first give you help in identifying the behavioral problems and disrupted lifestyle that is characteristic of substance misuse and abuse. The counselor may work in conjunction with people related to you, or other drug abusers.
Training
According to the specifications of the law in most states, any counselor who works out of a school environment is supposed to be permitted to practice by the relevant authority bodies. You have to be trained academically as the papers will be your guarantee to be licensed and certified and will also give you an edge in the job market. In some states you may be required to have a master’s degree in the discipline for certification.
The job market is also widely varied with government schools requiring you to have a certificate in addition to your practicing license. To be licensed in a state requires you to fulfill their minimum requirements in the field, usually a master’s degree in the field.
But again every state has its own unique requirements or you if you wish to pursue your career in their cities and counties. Most employers however, will take you in with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Chances of employment
There are many job openings than can be filled by the few people who graduate each year with qualifications in the discipline. The job market simply absorbs them and they aren’t enough. This trend is characterized by retirements and the intense need for counsellorship as many people indulge themselves in reveling and drug orgies.
There are an increased number of schools every year and the government has set aside money for them to hire professionals. You are indeed in the right profession if you plan to proceed toward attaining a master’s degree in the field.