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If you've earned a traditional or online substance abuse counseling degree, there are many ways to build a career around helping people in your community.

One of the most common ways is to serve as a substance abuse counselor. The type of degree you've earned will dictate which level of substance abuse counseling certification you can achieve. An associate degree qualifies you for the Certified Associate Addiction Counselor (CAAC) level, and a bachelor's degree equips you for the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) level. You'll need a master's degree in substance abuse counseling or doctorate to reach the highest level, which is the Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC).

As an alternative to providing substance abuse counseling in Pennsylvania, you could go to work in a state or local government agency or nonprofit organization. In this capacity, you will most likely spend your time coordinating prevention and treatment programs, developing public awareness campaigns, or perhaps raising funds for your organization.

Those who aspire to become a substance use counselor in this state can apply for one of three levels of substance abuse counseling certification, depending on your level of education. You'll submit your application to the , which is the government agency that manages licensing for professionals who provide substance use counseling in Pennsylvania.

The lowest level of certification is the Certified Associate Addiction Counselor (CAAC), and the mid-level certification is the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). Both of these levels are limited to providing substance use disorder counseling, treatment planning, and recordkeeping under the supervision of higher-level counselors. Only those who hold the highest level of certification, which is the Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC), are allowed to practice independently.

Becoming a CAAC requires a high school diploma or associate degree. However, you must have 300 hours — or about 20 courses — of college education, of which 100 hours must be specific to addiction counseling. Additionally, you'll need 6,000 hours of part-time work experience as a drug and alcohol counselor, 300 hours of supervised work experience, and a passing score on the ADC Exam, which is administered by the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium ().

To become a CADC, you'll need a bachelor's degree in addiction counseling or a similar clinical field. You are also required to have accumulated 4,000 hours of part-time work experience, 200 hours of supervised clinical work experience, and a passing score on the IC&RC ADC Exam. 

If you plan to qualify as a CAADC, you'll need a master's degree or doctorate in addiction counseling or a similar clinical field, and your program must have included at least 12 courses in substance abuse counseling. You are also required to have accumulated 2,000 hours of part-time work experience, 100 hours of supervised clinical work experience, and a passing score on the IC&RC AADC Exam. 

All three types of licenses must be renewed every two years. To qualify for renewal, you'll need documentation showing that you've completed 40 hours of counseling-related continuing education. 

Yes, if you are an IC&RC-certified substance use counselor from another state, you may be able to transfer your credential to the comparable level of certification in Pennsylvania. If you would like to begin offering in-person or online substance abuse counseling in Pennsylvania, contact IC&RC to initiate the reciprocity process. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (), addiction counselors are grouped together with all substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. There are approximately 24,040 such counselors in the state, and they earn a mean annual salary of $56,090.