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If you've earned an on-campus or online substance abuse counseling degree, you can follow one of several possible career paths in the Lone Star State. For example, you could choose to provide counseling and education directly to people struggling with substance use disorders. Although you don't need a degree to earn certification as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC), you will need a master's degree in substance abuse counseling to practice independently as an Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC).

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (), substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in this state earn a mean annual salary of $55,780. There are currently about 18,840 such counselors at work in Texas, but there's a significant demand — over the next decade — across the country for those in this field. 

Another option for degree holders is to pursue a nonclinical career in addiction counseling, such as a community service worker or a health education specialist. Your education will help prepare you for jobs in state and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations that focus on providing treatment and recovery services. After you've accumulated several years of experience, you may qualify for higher-level management positions.

In Texas, aspiring addiction counselors work with the to earn one of two levels of substance abuse counseling certification. Although you need to complete some college coursework, you do not need a college degree to become a substance use counselor in this state.

The lower level of certification, which is the Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC), allows you to work in substance use counseling in Texas as long as you're working under the supervision of a higher-level certified counselor. To qualify, you'll need to complete 270 hours or about 18 courses of college education, at least half of which must be in the field of chemical dependency and addiction counseling. You will also need to verify that you've completed up to 6,000 hours of related work experience, of which 300 hours must be supervised, and you'll need a passing score on the ADC Exam sponsored by the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium ().

At the higher level of certification, an Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) is licensed to practice independently. For this level, you'll need a master's degree in a clinical counseling subject area, and at least 180 hours or about 12 courses of your college education must cover addiction counseling. You will also need to verify that you've completed 2,000 hours of related work experience, of which 300 hours must be supervised, and you'll need a passing score on the IC&RC AADC Exam.

Texas also requires that all college degrees be earned at accredited universities. If you're thinking about pursuing an online master's degree, you'll find that all of the programs on our site are institutionally accredited. 

If you hold an ADC or AADC license, you'll need to recertify every two years. To complete this process, you'll need to show documentation of 40 hours of continuing education.

Yes, if you're an IC&RC-certified substance use counselor who is planning to move to Texas, you may be able to transfer your credential to this state. As long as you are in good standing with your current state's licensure board, you may submit an application for reciprocity. However, if you want to provide in-person and online substance abuse counseling in Texas, you will need to live and work in the state at least 51% of the time.

The number of years it takes to become a substance abuse counselor in Texas varies depending on your career goals. To become an ADC, you could probably complete the educational requirements in about two years and the work experience component in three additional years, for a minimum of five years. Becoming an AADC requires both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree, which may take up to seven years to complete. You'll then need an additional year of work experience, for a total of about eight years.