2025 Best Online Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees in Missouri
While there is only one online substance abuse counseling degree in Missouri from an accredited school, the opportunities to grow as a budding professional are as bountiful as ever. Focused on evidence-based practices and therapeutic techniques, this program can equip you with the skills needed for effective counseling interventions.
Key Takeaways:
- City Vision University stands out with an online enrollment count that numbers 182 online students. It also offers an impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 7:1, placing it in the top 7% nationwide for personalized attention.
As detailed in our methodology, we reviewed all degree levels to identify fully online substance abuse programs offered in Missouri. Schools must have a primary campus in Missouri, offer a fully online degree in substance use counseling, and provide online enrollment data from IPEDS.
List Of Accredited Online Substance Abuse Counseling Schools
| School | Online Enrollment | Annual Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| City Vision University | $6,400 |
2025 Best Online Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees in Missouri
- Online Enrollment: 182 enrolled
- Annual Tuition: $6,400
- Location: Kansas City
Online degree:
Why we like them: CVU holds the top rank for online substance abuse counseling degrees, with a burgeoning enrollment of almost 200 students. The online Christian BS in Addiction Counseling offered through CVU provides a close-knit and intimate setting for its online courses. The program is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission and includes specialized concentrations such as the Clinical Counseling Concentration and Christian Recovery Ministry Concentration. It prepares students academically to become certified addiction counselors, with a curriculum designed around the 12 core functions and 8 competencies of addiction counselors.
Substance Use Counseling in Missouri: An Overview
Recent by the Missouri Department of Mental Health reveal that drug and alcohol addiction affects everyone, regardless of race, gender, or location. However, among those who seem to struggle the most with substance misuse are adolescents and teens, pregnant women, and veterans.
Missouri state legislators, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders have developed a number of tactics to address the problem in recent years. These include developing a comprehensive plan to better allocate resources, reducing the barriers to treatment, and establishing several prevention programs. The state's Comprehensive Substance Treatment and Rehabilitation (CSTAR) program also aims to provide more medication-assisted and therapeutic treatment, creating additional job opportunities for certified alcohol and drug counselors.
Have you set your sights on earning a bachelor's in counseling? Discover our overall lists:
FAQs About Substance Use Counseling Degrees in Missouri
What Can You Do With a Substance Use Counselor Degree in Missouri?
If you want to put your in-person or online substance abuse counseling degree to work in the state of Missouri, you'll find you have many career options for both clinical and nonclinical roles.
If you'd like to work directly with clients and provide substance use counseling, you can become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). An associate, bachelor's, or master's degree in substance use counseling qualifies you for certification in this state.
However, with a bachelor's degree, you could also become a community health worker, health education specialist, or something similar. You will probably find the most job opportunities in government-sponsored agencies or nonprofit organizations, where you might oversee programs or develop educational presentations. With time and experience, you may qualify for higher-level managerial roles.
For an overview of addiction counseling careers, check out our guide.
How Do I Become a Substance Use Counselor in Missouri?
If you want to become a substance use counselor in Missouri, you'll need to work with the . The board provides a clear and convenient document detailing the four paths to becoming a CADC.
If you have earned a master's degree in substance abuse counseling or a similar clinical subject, you will need 1,000 hours of relevant work experience, 300 hours of supervised practicum, and 180 contact hours of education. You'll also need a passing score on the ADC Exam II, which is sponsored by the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium ().
If you hold a bachelor's degree in addiction counseling or something similar, you will need 2,000 hours of relevant work experience, 300 hours of supervised practicum, and 180 contact hours of education. You'll then need a passing score on the IC&RC ADC exam.
Applicants with associate degrees or without degrees need to meet all of the same training criteria, only with 3,000 or 4,000 hours of work experience, respectively. With this background, you'll also need to pass the ADC exam.
Once you've earned substance abuse counseling certification, you'll need to renew your CADC license every two years. To qualify for licensure renewal, you'll need to complete 40 hours of relevant continuing education.
Does Missouri Have Reciprocity for Substance Use Counselors?
Because Missouri is a member of the IC&RC, licensed and certified addiction counselors from other IC&RC member states may be able to transfer their counseling credentials to Missouri and vice versa. If you're a counselor in good standing and would like to offer in-person or online substance abuse counseling in the state, you can contact the IC&RC to initiate the reciprocity process.
How Much Does a Substance Use Counselor Make in Missouri?
While the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not publish specific salary ranges for addiction counselors in Missouri, it does provide salary data for the 5,790 substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors currently working in the state. These professionals earn a . This is slightly above the national median for this career. The BLS also reports that there is going to be dramatic job growth in the coming decade, upwards of around .
We also have a list of the most affordable online master's degrees in addiction counseling if you want to continue searching for the perfect fit for you.