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In North Carolina, one of the most popular career paths for graduates of in-person or online substance abuse counseling degree programs is to become a substance use counselor. In this role, you'll work directly with clients, assessing their circumstances, developing treatment plans, and providing counseling and education. Although you don't need a degree to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), a bachelor's in substance abuse counseling may qualify you for higher-paying positions in the future. To work as a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS), you'll need a master's degree in substance abuse counseling or even a doctorate in addiction counseling.

A bachelor's degree in substance abuse counseling also qualifies you for nonclinical roles. For example, as an employee of a government agency or nonprofit organization focused on substance use disorder, you may be tasked with creating public education campaigns, overseeing treatment programs, or fundraising. After several years of experience, you may qualify for more advanced managerial roles.

If you want to learn more, read our career guide for substance use counselors. 

If you live in North Carolina and you want to become a substance use counselor, you'll need to apply for licensure through the North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board (). The board has established two possible levels of substance abuse counseling certification — the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) and the more advanced Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS).

CADC certification is designed for those who have earned a high school diploma, associate degree, or bachelor's degree in addiction counseling. Regardless of degree, CADC candidates must complete 270 hours — about 18 courses — of college education on substance abuse counseling. Once certified, CADCs are allowed to perform the 12 core functions of a counselor, such as screening, assessment, treatment planning, and crisis intervention. However, they are only allowed to work under the supervision of board-approved LCASs.

The first step in becoming a CADC is to register with the state board. You then have up to 10 years to complete 6,000 hours of work experience in clinical counseling, 300 hours of which must be supervised. You must then pass the ADC Exam sponsored by the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium ().

The LCAS certification requires an advanced degree — about 12 college courses on substance abuse counseling — and allows counselors to practice independently. LCAS candidates follow a similar process involving registration after earning a degree, the completion of 4,000 hours of clinical work experience, and the completion of 300 hours of supervised work experience within a maximum of five years. Finally, candidates must earn a passing score on the IC&RC AADC Exam.

Both credentials are valid for two years. However, CADCs must complete 60 hours of continuing education to renew their license, while LCASs need only 40 hours of training.

Yes, North Carolina offers reciprocity for substance use counselors who are certified by the IC&RC in other states. Licensed counselors in good standing who want to offer in-person, telephone, or online substance abuse counseling in the state can contact their local credentialing board to initiate the reciprocity process. They will also need to submit an application and required documentation to the NCASPPB.

A specific salary range for substance abuse counselors in North Carolina is not available, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides some relevant information for all substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in this state. According to the BLS, these professionals earn a . Currently, there are about 9,980 counselors working in the Tar Heel State, but the number of substance abuse counseling jobs in the U.S. is projected to over the next decade.