2025 Best Online Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees in Florida
There are no available online substance abuse counseling degrees in Florida, but there is a certificate option available in the field that's fully online. The substance abuse certificate program at FSWSC is designed to equip you with theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and ethical understanding necessary for effective counseling.
Key Takeaway:
- FSWSC stands out with its Addiction Services College Credit Certificate. It's a popular choice as well, with almost 5,000 students studying exclusively online.
Our methodology for determining the best online programs in Florida focuses on finding schools with a primary campus location in the highlighted state that have fully online programs. We use enrollment data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. (While we highlight only one program per school, institutions may offer other programs in this field.)
List Of Accredited Online Substance Abuse Counseling Schools
| School | Online Enrollment | Annual Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Florida SouthWestern State College | N/A |
2025 Best Online Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees in Florida
- Online Enrollment: 4,884 enrolled
- Annual Tuition: N/A
- Locations: Fort Myers (and 3 others)
Online degree:
Why we like them: FSWSC earned its recognition due to its massive online enrollment, with nearly 5,000 online students overall. We believe that this substantial online community reflects strong support for non-traditional learners. The online Addiction Services College Credit Certificate at FSWSC is designed to prepare you for a career as an addiction specialist or to enhance your existing qualifications in the field. This program draws select courses from the Social and Human Services Associate in Science Program, specifically the Addictions Track.
Overview of Substance Use Counseling Degrees in Florida
Drug misuse and chemical dependency are serious public health issues for Florida's . The issued by the Statewide Drug Policy Advisory Council offers some alarming statistics, including the fact that overdose deaths nearly tripled between 2015 and 2022.
Yet, the state's health department continues to collaborate with county and local agencies in responding to this crisis. Together, they're devising strategies for preventing chemical dependency, providing more and better care, and reducing the number of overdose deaths through targeted treatment programs.
Some of Florida's specific steps include getting more people into long-term treatment facilities, expanding access to medication-assisted treatment programs, providing more services for young people aged 12 to 17, and monitoring prescription drugs more effectively. The report also affirmed Florida's need for "a vibrant, stable, and well-trained workforce" that includes certified alcohol and drug counselors.
Another one of Florida's objectives is to reduce the stigma and negative feelings associated with substance use disorders. For this reason, officials across the state and many healthcare professionals are moving away from using the term "substance abuse." However, because many colleges and universities still use this term, we include both traditional and current terminology on our website.
Your first step in building a career in counseling may be a bachelor's degree. Explore the possibilities among the most affordable online substance abuse counseling programs.
FAQs About Substance Use Counseling Degrees in Florida
What Can You Do With a Substance Use Counselor Degree in Florida?
Due to Florida's commitment to expanding treatment for people suffering from substance use disorder, there are many career options in this field.
Graduates with traditional or online substance abuse counseling degrees at the bachelor's level are well qualified for nonclinical roles. Examples include working in a government-sponsored agency or nonprofit organization as a community health worker or health education specialist. These entry-level positions could later lead to leadership opportunities as health or community services managers.
If you'd prefer a clinical role, you can become a Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) or Master's Level Certified Addiction Professional (MCAP) in Florida. For the lower CAC level of substance abuse counseling certification, the state's licensing board requires 270 hours of training in addiction and counseling. Although only a high school diploma is required, many applicants complete an online bachelor's degree in counseling for substance abuse to help fulfill this requirement. The higher MCAP level requires a master's degree in substance abuse counseling.
How Do I Become a Substance Use Counselor in Florida?
Florida's certification board offers to becoming a substance use counselor. One path is to become a CAC, which requires 270 total clock hours of training, up to 6,000 hours of work experience, and up to 300 hours of supervised on-the-job training. However, the state considers this to be an intermediate credential, meaning that CACs must always work under the supervision of clinical staff.
To practice independently in Florida, you'll need to become an MCAP. This higher level of certification requires a master's degree in substance abuse counseling or a similar field, 2,000 hours of clinical practice, and 100 hours of supervised training. Completing one of the programs shown on our list above or our list of the most affordable online substance abuse counseling degrees will qualify you for MCAP certification.
Applicants for both types of licensure must be able to provide verified documentation that they've taken certain college-level courses. Among the many required subjects are clinical evaluation, counseling, treatment planning, education, and case management. If you've completed college coursework or earned an on-campus or online substance abuse counseling degree, it must be from a college or university with institutional accreditation.
Once your application for certification to provide substance abuse counseling in Florida has been approved, you can proceed to the final step. You'll need to pass the substance use counseling exam sponsored by the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium ().
Your CAC or MCAP license will need to be renewed annually. To earn renewal, you'll need to complete 20 hours of continuing education.
Does Florida Have Reciprocity for Substance Use Counselors?
Because the Florida Certification Board is a member of the IC&RC, licensed and certified addiction counseling professionals from other states may be able to transfer their credential to a CAC credential in Florida. If you've been licensed through the IC&RC and you'd like to offer in-person or online substance abuse counseling in Florida, contact the IC&RC to initiate the reciprocity process.
How Much Does a Substance Use Counselor Make in Florida?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not provide a breakdown of salaries for CACs and MCAPs in Florida. However, it does state that substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors earn a mean annual wage of . About 19,310 of these professionals currently work in the state, but the BLS projects significant across nationwide of in this role.