Additions Counselor Certification
Unlike many licenses, most states and organizations such as the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors do not require addictions counselor training to be from a formal educational institution like a university. Many certifying bodies require a certain number of hours (usually 350-450) and certain courses such as pharmacology, group counseling, relapse prevention, motivational interviewing and ethics, but these courses can be earned through online education. The requirements vary, but, in general, addictions counselor certification organizations require that a person receive certificates indicating completion of the identified number of addictions counselor training hours in the identified courses, and then passing an addictions certification exam. NAADAC has a list of providers they have approved. One provider, All CEUsmebelimebelioffers access to all of the required courses and hours for $64.99 per year. They are a not-for-profit organization whose goal is to improve access to addictions counselor education resources and best practices.
Continuing Education Options for Counselors
Mental Health Counselors, Rehabilitation Counselors, Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Addictions Counselors are all required to take continuing education in order to maintain their license. Here are some things to consider when choosing a CEU provider
1. Are they approved providers for your license? Many people have more than one license/certification. Often you can find CEU providers who are approved by all of your licensing bodies and kill two (or more) birds with one stone. Many organizations accept CEUs that are NBCC and/or NAADAC approved. AllCEUs.comis one of the few online providers who has received approval for all 100 hours of continuing education (including 10 hours of ethics) required by CRCC in addition to approvals through NBCC and NAADAC.
2. How expensive is it? This is a very real concern. CEUs often range from $2 to $25 per hour. What is the difference? Well, of course, live seminars are going to be somewhat more expensive than online or home study, not only for the instructor to put on, but also for you to attend in terms of travel time, hotels, meals and lost billable hours. Home study and online are often the least expensive, because they do not require facility rental or the presence of an instructor. Only a few providers of online CEUs include the text, quiz and certificate in their “base cost.” So it is important to beware though of hidden costs. For example, some sites have a low rate to take quizzes, but you have to buy a $100 book to study for the exam.
3. Delivery method—This is a biggie for many. If you are not a visual learner text-based home study or online CEUs may be a pain for you. With the advent of online seminars (often called webinars), and .mp3s and videos that can be downloaded and listened to or watched, your choices are ever expanding. For those who really need the structure of a seminar or course with an instructor telling them when to be there and when to break, then live seminars or webinars are preferable. Webinars have come a long way. Often in a webinar, the instructor plays a pre-recorded video, but is there “behind the scenes” fielding questions as they arise (instant messaging) and asking questions in the form of polls in order to maintain participation and interest. The advantage to webinars over live seminars is that they are often less expensive to host (and attend) and you can view them from your office instead of having to travel. Many agencies are more receptive to giving people the time on the clock to take webinars because they are more structured than home studies.