The latest stats coming out of the South Dakota State Epidemiological Outcomes database and the state Department of Social Services (DSS) paint a picture of the stark reality of the state’s substance use disorder epidemic:
- Overdose deaths increased by 11.53% year over year during the three-year period ending in 2021
- 2018 saw a peak for alcohol-related chronic liver disease deaths, up more than 100% since 2002
- In 2019 15.7% of state residents reported using prescription drugs without a prescription
But with nearly 12,000 residents receiving publicly funded treatment for substance use disorders in 2023, the situation is far from hopeless.
Rising up from behind the painful experiences and fallout associated with substance use disorders, are aspiring Certified Addiction Counselors (CACs) Licensed Addiction Counselors (LACs) and other treatment and recovery specialists ready to draw a line in the sand and take an active role in solving the problem.
If your career calling is to work as a substance abuse counselor in South Dakota then you can achieve this goal by earning the Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) credential.
Part of the South Dakota DSS, the Board of Addiction and Prevention Professionals (BAPP) issues the CAC.
The CAC allows you to engage in substance abuse counseling under supervision. To start working with clients you need to earn the CAC credential, so that’s the one we’ll be focusing on with this guide.
Later on with more qualifications you could also opt to become a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC), giving you more autonomy.
BAPP also issues two credentials that focus less on patient counseling, and more on the public-education and awareness-raising side of the substance use disorder profession:
- Prevention Specialist Trainee (PST)
- Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS)
Both credentials require at least a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. You can stack the CPS on top of the PST once you gain qualifying experience and supervision.
Steps to Becoming Certified as a Substance Abuse Counselor in South Dakota
You can earn the Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) credential in four steps:
1. Apply for Addiction Counselor Trainee (ACT) Recognition with BAPP
2. Complete CAC Education Requirements Through a Degree or Certificate Program
3. Document a Period of Supervised Work Experience
4. Document 300 Direct Contact Hours and Apply for the CAC
5. Pass the IC&RC’s ADC Examination
BAPP’s website has all the forms and applications you’ll need for each step.
Step 1 – Apply for Addiction Counselor Trainee (ACT) Recognition with BAPP
Holding ACT Recognition is your way to formally establish with BAPP that you’re going to be adequately supervised while you gain the experience necessary to become a CAC. It’s valid for a maximum of five years and must be renewed annually. Your supervisor must be a CAC or LAC.
To qualify for ACT Recognition all you need is a high school diploma or GED.
You’ll also need to find an employer who will supervise you while you work as an ACT. Qualifying supervised volunteer experience is also acceptable.
When you look through substance abuse counselor job ads you’ll see employers who will hire you upon condition that you’ll become a CAC or higher within a specified time frame. These positions are the ones you’re after, and it’s worth noting that you’re more likely to be hired as someone with ACT Recognition if you already have some education in substance abuse counseling, ideally even a bachelor’s degree.
On that note, you can always opt to complete your education first and then apply for ACT Recognition after you graduate. Doing it this way has the added benefit of giving you a little more breathing room for completing your supervised work experience within the five-year limit.
Step 2 – Complete CAC Education Requirements Through a Degree or Certificate Program
You can meet the education requirements for the CAC in South Dakota with any level of degree. In fact, the SD Board of Addiction and Prevention Professionals states that you can complete the required credits at either the undergraduate or graduate level.
As long as you complete at least three semester credits of study in each of the following subject areas (27 total semester credits), you meet the qualifications:
- Introduction to alcohol use and abuse
- Introduction to drug use and abuse
- Group counseling for alcohol and drugs
- Substance abuse counselor ethics
- Individual counseling foundations
- Alcohol and drug treatments
- Substance abuse family counseling
- Diverse populations
- Substance abuse elective
Step 3 – Document a Period of Supervised Work ExperienceÂ
There’s also a general supervised substance abuse work experience requirement you must meet to become a CAC based on the level of degree you hold.
If you earn a college degree in a behavioral science field then this significantly reduces the hours of general supervised substance abuse work experience you’ll need:
- You need 8,000 hours of experience if you have a high school diploma or GED
- 6,000 hours if you have an associate’s degree
- 4,000 hours for a bachelor’s degree
- 2,000 hours for a master’s degree or higher
With no stated degree requirement for the CAC in South Dakota, you can find basic certificate programs that will fulfill this requirement, though you’ll need to be prepared to participate in about four years of full-time supervised work experience going that route.
The typical associate degree program includes 60 total semester credits, with half or more dedicated to specialty courses in your major and the rest being general undergraduate courses. Though an associate degree in substance use disorder counseling or a related field would cover the requirement, a bachelor’s degree sets you up better to advance in your career and qualify for the Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) credential, which requires a master’s degree. We’ll give you more information on the LAC below.
Step 4 – Document 300 Direct Contact Hours and Apply for the CAC Credential
You need at least 300 hours of supervised training experience working directly with people who have substance abuse issues. This must include at least 10 hours in each of the following 12 areas:
- Screening
- Intake
- Orientation
- Assessment
- Treatment planning
- Counseling
- Case management
- Crisis intervention
- Client education
- Referral
- Record keeping and reports
- Consultation
Once you’ve completed this you’re ready to apply for the CAC.
Your supervisor will send confirmation to BAPP that you’ve fulfilled all supervision requirements. You also need three colleagues to submit Professional Recognition forms to BAPP as personal references.
Once BAPP determines your CAC application portfolio is complete, it will send you the registration info you need to book an exam appointment with the IC&RC.
Step 5 – Pass the IC&RC’s ADC Examination
BAPP requires you to pass the Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) Examination, which is sponsored by the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC).
Once you have your registration info you can schedule an exam appointment at one of the following three Prometric ISO-Quality Testing centers in South Dakota:
- Rapid City
- Sioux Falls
- Spearfish
The ADC Exam is taken on a computer. It takes three hours and is comprised of 150 multiple-choice questions, 125 of which are scored. A scaled score of 500 is considered passing.
The subject material you’re tested on is divided into these four areas:
- 30% – Counseling, referral, and evidence-based treatment
- 25% – Scientific basis of substance use disorders
- 25% – Legal, professional, and ethical duties
- 20% – Evidence-based assessment and screening
Once BAPP receives notification from the IC&RC that you passed the exam it will issue you your CAC credential.
With a Master’s Degree and More Experience Comes Advanced Certification Options in South Dakota
You can opt to upgrade your CAC to become a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC), which lets you work as a substance abuse counselor independently without supervision.
To qualify for the LAC you need a minimum of two years of CAC work experience and at least a master’s degree in a behavioral science field, like substance abuse counseling.
Your education must include at least three semester credits in each of the following subject areas. Five of these areas (15 credits total) must be completed at the graduate level:
- Substance abuse counseling techniques and theories
- Psychopathology or psychopharmacology
- Addiction counseling ethical, professional, and legal standards
- Assessment and case management of co-occurring disorders
- Treatment planning
- Clinical supervision
- Multicultural populations
If you’re keen on completing your graduate education before you set foot in the workplace there’s a pathway for this too. After graduation you can work with ACT Recognition and fulfill the education, experience, and exam requirements described up to this point, then go directly to applying for an LAC.
Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Rapid City, Sioux Falls, and Throughout South Dakota
There are plenty of indications that people are increasingly turning to addictive substances to self medicate where they otherwise lack support. As an aspiring LAC, you’ll be the one stepping to provide the support they so desperately need.
Demand for these services is only growing in South Dakota. In fact, the number of substance abuse counseling jobs in the state has increased by 66% over just the four-year period between 2019 and 2023.
Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Rapid City, Metro Sioux City, and Sioux Falls
According to the US Department of Labor, as of 2023 there were a total of 1,620 substance abuse counselors working throughout South Dakota. Of these:
- 730 are in Sioux Falls
- 340 are in Rapid City
Additionally there are 190 working in the metro Sioux City Iowa-Nebraska-South Dakota area.
Substance abuse counselor employers in the state include:
- Avera St Lukes Hospital in Aberdeen
- LSS of South Dakota in Spearfish
- Avera Behavioral Health Center in Brookings
- Community Direct in Sioux Falls
- Keystone Treatment Center in Canton
- New Start in Sioux Falls
- Youth and Family Services in Rapid City
Substance Abuse Counselor Salaries in Rapid City, Sioux Falls, and Throughout South Dakota
2023 stats from the US Department of Labor show South Dakota’s 1,620 substance abuse counselors earned an average salary of $50,960.
Statewide salaries among the top 25% were $55,260, while those in the top 10% were an impressive, coming in at $67,060 or more.
How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Rapid City?
- Rapid City average – $50,870
- Rapid City 75th percentile – $52,980
- Rapid City 90th percentile – $76,150
How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Sioux Falls?
- Sioux Falls average – $49,870
- Sioux Falls 75th percentile – $56,210
- Sioux Falls 90th percentile – $67,060
How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Metro Sioux City?
- Metro Sioux City average – $61,050
- Metro Sioux City 75th percentile – $75,830
- Metro Sioux City 90th percentile – $77,680
Substance Abuse Counselor Degree Options in South Dakota
It’s no accident that all the substance abuse degree and certificate programs offered in South Dakota fulfill the minimum semester credit requirement to become a CAC. Nor is it that the University of South Dakota offers a master’s program to become an LAC.
And these are in addition to all the substance abuse degree and certificate options you can find online.
Careers in substance abuse can last decades. It’s an understatement to say it’s rewarding to help your clients piece their lives back together and focus on what’s truly important. Putting in the time to earn a qualifying degree to pursue your full potential is the best step to take to bring about real change in South Dakota.
Sinte Gleska University
Human Services Department
Accreditation: HLC
Campus
Undergraduate Certificates
- Certified Addiction Counselor-Chemical Dependency
Bachelor's Degrees
- BA in Human Services-Chemical Dependency concentration
Sisseton Wahpeton College
Accreditation: HLC
Campus
Associate Degrees
- AS in Addiction and Diversity Counseling
University of South Dakota
School of Health Sciences
Accreditation: HLC
Online
Undergraduate Certificates
- Certificate in Addiction Counseling and Prevention
Bachelor's Degrees
- BS in Addiction Counseling and Prevention (Treatment Specialization, Prevention Specialization)
- Minor in Addiction Counseling and Prevention
Master's Degrees
- MA in Addiction Counseling and Prevention (option for Co-Occurring specialization)
Graduate Certificates
- Graduate Certificate in Addiction Counseling and Prevention
2023 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures shown here for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors. Job growth projections are from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, CareerOneStop. Figures are based on state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2024.