How to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor in West Virginia

Created by SubstanceAbuseCounselor.org Contributing Writer

Between December 2022 and November 2023 West Virginia recorded 1,381 drug overdose deaths.

When the metric of comparison is deaths per capita by county, Cabell County leads the way with 936

fatal overdose deaths per 100,000 people. Next are Raleigh, McDowell, Kanawah, and Logan counties with nearly half that number at less than 537 overdose deaths per capita.

The situation is certainly worse in some part of the state than others, but one thing is clear — West Virginia is facing a major substance use disorder problem. Enough is enough, and lawmakers here have drawn a line in the sand and are starting to do something about it.

And so have you, which is why you’ve come here to find out how to become a substance abuse counselor.

In West Virginia, there’s no official state licensing board for substance abuse counseling, neither at the governmental nor private levels. Instead this occupation is driven by private credentials offered by a range of organizations. Since these are standard requirements for employment, it’s standard to earn them. But since there isn’t a state licensing board in substance abuse counseling here that regulates the field specifically, these credentials are considered voluntary.

Sure, there are professions whose scope of practice can include substance abuse counseling, and these do require a state license — everything from social work to clinical mental health counseling to psychology. But these professions are much broader than only substance abuse counseling and require a graduate degree. But you’re here to launch your career in this field right away and start having an immediate impact!

So what’s all this about these voluntary private credentials you can earn in the field of substance abuse counseling?

Private Credential Landscape in West Virginia

One way of introducing yourself to these is to browse through job ads for substance abuse counselors. You’ll see that employers typically specify a preference –and often a requirement– for particular substance abuse credentials and/or a college degree in a human services field. And in a tight job market the reality is that preferences for substance abuse credentials or a degree translate into de-facto requirements.

In the world of private substance abuse counseling credentials you’ll notice two organizations stand out:

Both these organizations have local chapters geared specifically to promoting their presence in West Virginia:

There are dozens of private organizations marketing their substance abuse credentials, but they all tend to be downstream from the IC&RC and the NAADAC. In fact, some of the biggest private companies offering credentials will brag about being endorsed or approved by the IC&RC and NAADAC.

In this guide, we’ll be strictly talking about credentials offered by the IC&RC and NAADAC through their local West Virginia affiliate organizations.

IC&RC and NAADAC Certifications in West Virginia

These are the IC&RC certifications offered through the local affiliate WVCBAPP:

Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) Certification – This is the credential we’re going to focus on in this guide, designed for addiction counselors looking to make a career in this field. It has a relatively low bar for entry, is widely appreciated by employers, and serves as a basis for more advanced credentials going forward should you opt to continue.
Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) Certification – This advanced certification requires at least a master’s degree, six years of direct experience, and passage of an exam.
Certified Criminal Justice Professional (CCJP) – This credential is designed for addiction professionals working in the criminal justice system. It requires 100 hours of education, 2,000 hours of relevant work experience, and passage of an exam.
Prevention Specialist (PS) Certification, with Level I and Level II options – This is a peer-level certification designed for people who want to help others by reinforcing positive behavior and lifestyle choices. Level I certification requires at least a two-year college degree or 60 semester credits in relevant areas of study, two years of relevant work experience, and passage of an exam. Level II certification requires a bachelor’s degree with classes covering a relevant field.
Clinical Supervisor (CS) Certification – This credential allows you to be a supervisor for counselors who need to gain work experience to qualify for their credential. To qualify you must be currently certified as an ADC, AADC, or CCJP, have five years of certified experience, have 30 hours of didactic education or training in clinical supervision, and pass an exam.
Peer Recovery (PRSS) Certification – This is an entry-level peer support credential designed for people with life experience who want to provide emotional and mental support for those facing addiction challenges. It requires three credits of relevant college education, 25 hours of supervised experience, and passage of an exam.

These are the NAADAC certifications promoted by the local affiliate WVAAPP:

National Certified Addiction Counselor Level I (NCAC I) – This is an-entry-level certification designed for aspiring substance abuse counselors who don’t yet have much education. To qualify you need to currently hold a credential issued by the WVCBAPP or another credentialing authority, have three years or 6,000 hours of supervised substance abuse counseling work experience, 270 hours of relevant education/training, and to pass an exam.
National Certified Addiction Counselor Level II (NCAC II) – This is a mid-level credential that requires three years or 6,000 hours of supervised work experience, a relevant bachelor’s degree, and passage of an exam.
Master Addiction Counselor (MAC)< – This advanced credential requires you to hold a current credential, have at least a relevant master’s degree, at least three years or 6,000 hours of supervised substance abuse counseling work experience, and pass an exam.
National Certification in Nicotine and Tobacco Treatment (NCNTT) – This specialized credential focuses on stamping out smoking. It requires you to be tobacco/nicotine-free and to pass an exam.
National Certified Adolescent Addictions Counselor (NCAAC) – This is a specialized credential that bridges the gap between teenagers and substance abuse. To qualify you need at least a relevant bachelor’s degree, a substance abuse counseling credential that’s current, five years or 10,000 hours of supervised substance abuse counseling work experience, and to pass an exam.
National Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (NCPRSS) – This certification is designed for people who have been-there and done-that when it comes to substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders. To qualify you need at least two years of lived experience being in recovery, 200 hours of practice in peer recovery support (volunteer experience counts), 60 hours of relevant education, and to pass an exam.

Steps to Becoming Certified as a Substance Abuse Counselor in West Virginia

Now that you’re aware of the lay of the land we can focus specifically on the steps it takes to earn the Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) Certification offered through the IC&RC’s local affiliate WVCBAPP.

The ADC is recognized by employers nationally and locally. It’s a strong first step to take as you start your career in substance abuse counseling, and you can easily stack more advanced credentials on top of it should you choose.

This guide will walk you through the steps to become certified as an ADC:

1. Earn a Degree in Substance Abuse Counseling or Related Field

2. Gain Supervised Work Experience

3. Apply for ADC Certification with the WVCBAPP

4. Pass the ADC Exam

Step 1 – Earn a Degree in Substance Abuse Counseling or Related Field

The requirements for ADC Certification strike a balance between education and work experience. The more education you have the less supervised work experience you’ll need, and vice versa.

We advise earning a bachelor’s degree in substance abuse counseling because:

It will save you time later down the road
It fulfills the minimum education requirements for ADC Certification
It makes your résumé more competitive
It puts you within range of earning a master’s degree for advanced certification if you decide that’s right for you later
Many bachelor’s programs include practicum and internship components that can further reduce the supervised work experience you’ll need and give you a head start on leads for finding employment

But the choice is yours. We’ll detail the minimum education requirements for ADC Certification here, starting with a high school diploma or GED.

You must also complete 300 contact hours of education divided among these topics:

70 of these hours must concentrate specifically on addiction, and six of those hours must additionally focus on addiction counseling ethics.

Education from an accredited college can be used to fulfill this requirement. One semester credit is equivalent to 15 contact hours.

You can also fulfill this education requirement by taking courses through private companies that tailor their curriculum to qualify students for ADC Certification. The WVCBAPP has a list of over 40 approved education providers on its website.

If you get your education through a private company you’re likely going to be set back a couple thousand dollars and there’s no guarantee that the classes you take will translate into academic credit if you decide to go to school later.

For example, the Institute for Addiction Education is one company on the WVCBAPP’s list of approved providers. It offers an online certificate program that’s 570 contact hours, including a 300-hour practicum, for a total cost of $3,725.

Step 2 – Gain Supervised Work Experience

There are two main categories of supervised work experience you need to complete: general substance abuse supervised experience, and supervised practical experience.

For your general substance abuse supervised experience you need to work with clients suffering from addiction disorders. The amount of experience you’ll need to complete depends on your level of education:

Three years (6,000 hours) if your highest level of education is a high school diploma
2.5 years (5,000 hours) if you have an associate’s degree
Two years (4,000 hours) if you have a bachelor’s degree
One year (2,000 hours) if you have a master’s degree

Supervised practical experience is where you’ll be evaluated and advised by your supervisor on how to implement what you’ve learned in the classroom into actual practice. The amount of supervised practical experience you’re required to complete depends on your level of education:

300 hours of supervision is required if your highest level of education is a high school diploma
250 hours for an associate’s degree in a relevant field
200 hours for a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
100 hours for a master’s degree or higher in a relevant field

10 hours in each of these domains must be included in your supervised practical experience:

Screening
Intake
Orientation
Assessment
Treatment planning
Counseling
Case management
Crisis intervention
Client education
Referral
Reports and record keeping
Consultation

When you browse through substance abuse counseling job ads you’ll see it’s common for employers to specify that you’re required to become credentialed within a certain time span. This means they’re willing to hire you and provide you with a supervisor while you complete this process.

Your practical experience supervisor must hold one of the following:

Your supervised general work experience, and up to 50 percent of your supervised practical experience, can also be provided by someone who’s licensed in a relevant field like psychology, social work, or counseling.

If you only have a high school diploma or GED you also need to have an additional three years of general work experience.

Step 3 – Apply for ADC Certification with the WVCBAPP

Once you’ve fulfilled the supervised experience requirements you can apply for the ADC credential. You’ll find the application on the WVCBAPP’s website. This includes forms to document your education and supervision.

If your application is in good order the WVCBAPP will notify you that it’s complete and tell you how much you need to send them for an exam fee.

Once they receive your exam fee they will send you information on how you can register for and take the ADC Examination.

Step 4 – Pass the Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) Exam

The ADC Exam is taken on a computer at a testing center run by the third-party contractor ISO-Quality Testing. Testing centers are located across the nation as well as in:

Charleston
Huntington
Martinsburg
Morgantown
Princeton
South Charleston
Wheeling

You’ll often see the IC&RC’s ADC Exam referred to as a Computer-Based Test (CBT). A scaled score of 500 is considered passing.

In total there are 150 multiple-choice questions with three or four options each. Exam topics are divided into these four main domains:

Once you pass the exam the WVCBAPP will issue your ADC credential. It’s up to you how you celebrate!

With a Master’s Degree and More Experience Comes Advanced Certification Options

When it comes to earning an advanced credential in West Virginia the same rules apply: none are specifically required by state law, so employers are the ones that have the final say.

Continuing with the theme of focusing on credentials offered by the IC&RC and NAADAC, these are what you could earn with at least a master’s degree in a relevant field.

Graduate-level IC&RC credentials:

The NAADAC’s graduate-level credential is the Master Addiction Counselor (MAC).

Achieving any of these credentials can open up additional professional doors, and that’s to say nothing about the potential benefits that having a relevant graduate degree in substance abuse counseling can have on your résumé and earning potential.

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Charleston, Morgantown, Beckley and Throughout West Virginia

There are a total of 1,640 substance abuse counselor jobs throughout West Virginia, an increase of 59% from four years prior.

The reason for this increase is not inspiring, as drug overdose deaths continue to buck trends with 1,200+ and even 1,300+ annual death tolls.

The co-director of the Charleston-based harm-reduction organization SOAR has observed WV’s overdose rate is alarmingly high, even when compared with statistics from recent years.

Within West Virginia proper the top-three cities with the largest number of substance abuse counselor jobs are:

When you change the resolution to the top-three greater metropolitan areas that include West Virginia the substance abuse job numbers look like this:

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Charleston

Wise Path Recovery Centers is an example of an organization that’s on the front line of WV’s battle against substance abuse. It operates outpatient treatment centers in Charleston and Morgantown, and inpatient facilities in Williamson and Morgantown.

It focuses on providing evidence-based, holistic, individualized treatment for its clients including detox and medication-assisted therapy.

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Jefferson County

If you live in Jefferson County you’re considered to be in Metro DC. The National Youth Advocate Program operates in Jefferson County, and is particularly proud of the work it does focusing on substance abuse prevention. It has a client-first approach that includes family-centered programs that help foster independence and positive change. The NYAP got its start back in 1978 to combat areas with high rates of youth incarceration.

Substance Abuse Counselor Salary in Charleston, Morgantown, Beckley and Throughout West Virginia

Between 2019 and 2023 the average substance abuse counselor salary in West Virginia increased by 57%. That amounts to $47,520.

Higher still, the 75th-percentile salary amounts to $56,350. The statewide 90th-percentile salary is an impressive $74,450.

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Charleston

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Morgantown

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Beckley

Average Metro Substance Abuse Counselor Salary in DC, Huntington-Ashland, Winchester

Substance Abuse Counselor Degree Options in West Virginia

There are five colleges in West Virginia offering associate degrees with a concentration in substance abuse counseling, and three of those offer an undergraduate certificate to boot.

An associate degree gets you two years away from a bachelor’s degree, and that’s just two years away from a master’s degree.

In addition to the options you’ll find in-state there are plenty of options for bachelor’s degrees in substance abuse counseling, including online options that you can complete from the comfort of your own home.

All we can hope for at this point is that you’re well informed of your options. With that information, there’s nothing standing between you and your career as a substance abuse counselor in West Virginia!

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College

Accreditation: HLC
Campus, Online

Undergraduate Certificates

Associate Degrees

BridgeValley Community and Technical College

Accreditation: HLC
Campus

Associate Degrees

Mountwest Community and Technical College

General Education and Transfer Studies
Accreditation: HLC
Campus, Online

Undergraduate Certificates

Associate Degrees

West Virginia Northern Community College

Education and Human Services
Accreditation: HLC
Campus, Online

Undergraduate Certificates

Associate Degrees

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.