How to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor in Louisiana

Created by SubstanceAbuseCounselor.org Contributing Writer

In a hundred different ways, Louisiana stands alone as completely unique from any other part of the country. But there’s no sugar coating the fact that the grim reaper of Fentanyl has visited the state just like every other.

It doesn’t care about race, socio-economic status, or zip code. Opioid related overdose is now listed among the top causes of untimely death in the state, alongside homicide, cardiac events, car accidents, and self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Community leaders, law enforcement, and the social services community here are reeling from the new reality opioid addiction has brought to the city streets and rural backwaters of Louisiana.

But there’s still a lot of hope here. And there’s good reason to believe that with enough time and targeted effort these trends can be reversed. The drive to want to effect that kind of change can come from many different places. It doesn’t matter where you find it. What’s important is that you’re ready and willing to dedicate yourself to a solution. And in Louisiana, there’s no better way to do that than by becoming a substance abuse counselor.

Steps to Becoming Certified as a Substance Abuse Counselor in Louisiana

To work in the field of addictions counseling here in Louisiana you need a credential issued by the Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority (ADRA).

The following is a full overview of the credentials offered by ADRA, so you can begin getting familiar with what’s available

Addiction Treatment Assistant (ATA) – This is the lowest entry-level credential for para-professionals who provide supervised support. To qualify, you’ll need to be at least 16 years old, and complete training in ethics, confidentiality, and First Aid-CPR.
Registered Addiction Counselor (RAC) – This entry-level credential comes with a scope of practice that is limited to providing substance abuse guidance and referrals only while under supervision. The education requirements can be met with or without a degree, and also include a period of supervised experience and an exam.
Counselor-In-Training (CIT) –This credential is issued for no other reason than to authorize credential candidates to be able to work with clients while getting the supervised experience required to become an LAC, CAC, or RAC.
Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) –This is the credential we’ll be focusing on in this guide. It’s a mid-level credential for bachelor’s-prepared, career-focused substance use treatment professionals. As a CAC, there’s a straightforward path to earning more advanced credentials as you progress in your career.
Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) – This is the highest credential available to frontline counselors. It’s reserved for master’s-prepared professionals authorized to work independently, provide counseling, and make referrals.
Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) – This optional credential can be added to the LAC, CAC, or RAC credential for those who wish to provide supervision to other professionals with lower-level credentials. To qualify, candidates need 10,000 hours of experience and a passing score on the IC&RC Clinical Supervisor Exam.
Certified Compulsive Gambling Counselor (CCGC) – This is a specialty add-on credential available for LACs, CACs, and RACs. It requires 30 hours of gambling addiction education.

ADRA also offers credentials for prevention specialists. Rather than focusing on individual or group counseling, therapy, and treatment, prevention specialists approach the issue of substance abuse from a perspective of education, community organizing, public policy, and advocacy. The three prevention specialist credentials issued by ADRA are:

Now that you’re familiar with the range of credentials available in Louisiana, we’ll focus on the steps to becoming a Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC). Though your scope of practice as a CAC won’t include the ability to diagnose substance use disorders, you’ll be providing direct and group counseling services and making referrals while working under general supervision. An exception to the general supervision requirement is made for CACs who work in correctional facilities.

Becoming a CAC involves these steps:

1. Earn a Qualifying Bachelor’s Degree Related to Addictions Counseling

2. Become a Counselor-in-Training and Gain 4,000 Hours of Relevant Supervised Work Experience

3. Apply for the CAC Credential with the Louisiana Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority (ADRA)

4. Pass the IC&RC ADC Exam

Step 1 – Earn a Qualifying Bachelor’s Degree Related to Addictions Counseling

To become a CAC you must be at least 21 years old and clean for at least two years prior to applying, hold legal US residency status, meet ADRA ethics requirements, and have no felony convictions (though a felony waiver policy is available). If you’re under 21 don’t be discouraged: you can start accruing the two years of qualifying supervised experience you’ll need for the CAC starting at age 18.

The step to qualifying for the CAC is to earn a bachelor’s degree in a human services or behavioral sciences field, which would include:

You can earn your degree in-state through a campus program or online via distance education. Both options are seen as equal in meeting ADRA requirements.

If you already have a bachelor’s degree in a field unrelated to human services or behavioral sciences, you can submit a degree waiver to ADRA. Waivers are only granted if you’ve been able to accrue and document at least 6,000 hours of work experience in the addictions field, so the exception is usually granted to those who have either practiced under lower-level credentials or in another state where a relevant bachelor’s isn’t required.

By planning ahead and earning your degree in a qualifying field, you’ll reduce the time it takes to earn the CAC credential while getting the kind of targeted education you need to be an effective substance use disorder counselor.

Step 2 – Become a Counselor-in-Training and Gain 4,000 Hours of Relevant Supervised Work Experience

You need 4,000 hours (two years) of supervised work experience before you can apply for the CAC credential. This means qualifying to become a Counselor-In-Training (CIT) before you can set foot in a substance abuse treatment facility as a counseling professional.

Becoming a CIT is a formality, but it’s not a step you can skip. To establish your standing with ADRA you’ll need to submit a CIT application via the Certemy online portal. This is the portal you’ll use to submit all application materials for credentialing through ADRA.

The requirements to become a CIT are:

Be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or equivalent
Have completed 180 clock hours of education specific to substance abuse counseling (one semester credit of college education is equal to 15 clock hours, so it’s easy to qualify by year two of a four-year bachelor’s program, even taking into account general courses that don’t count toward the requirement)
Establish supervision relationship with a CCS

Your supervisor needs to be a licensed mental health practitioner or substance abuse counselor credentialed as a CAC or LAC with a Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) designation. ADRA maintains a database of all professionals in the state who hold the CCS designation with the express purpose of helping you find a qualified supervisor.

You can also find a supervisor by searching through job ads for CAC candidate positions. Employers will specify that they’re looking to hire CITs and foster their professional development to provide the documented supervision and guidance required to earn the CAC credential.

You’ll need to renew your CIT status every year, which is valid for a maximum of 72 months. This should give you more than enough time to complete the 4,000 hours of supervised experience.

Of your 4,000 hours, 300 must be in direct clinical supervision with a CCS, with 20 hours in each of the following 12 core functions:

Screening
Intake
Orientation
Assessment
Treatment planning
Counseling
Case management
Crisis intervention
Client education
Referral
Record keeping and reports
Consultations

Step 3 – Apply for the CAC Credential with the Louisiana Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority (ADRA)

When you’ve fulfilled the CAC requirements up to this point you’re ready to apply for the CAC credential with the ADRA via the Certemy online portal.

Your Certemy application packet will include instructions and forms for submitting:

School transcripts showing you’ve completed a bachelor’s degree in a human services or behavioral sciences field
Proof of completing 4,000 hours of supervised work experience, including 300 hours distributed among the 12 core functions
Three letters of recommendation that attest to your competency to work as an addiction counselor

Step 4 – Pass the IC&RC ADC Exam

Your final step to becoming a CAC is passing the IC&RC’s (International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium) Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) Exam.

Once ADRA approves your CAC application it will send you the information you need to register for your exam. The ADC Exam is computer-based and offered at ISO-Quality Testing centers across the nation, including at sites in:

Substantively, the ADC Exam is 150 multiple-choice questions that you’ll have three hours to complete. The content you’ll be evaluated on comes from these four domains:

A scaled score of 500 is considered passing. Once ADRA receives notification that you’ve passed, it will issue your CAC credential!

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

If your goal is to work in a facility leadership position or as an independent substance abuse counselor, you’ll eventually go on earn the Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) credential through ADRA.

This requires at least a master’s degree in a human services field.

If you already hold a master’s degree in a related field, there’s a pathway for direct entry at this level by accruing 2,000 hours of supervised work experience and passing the IC&RC Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) Exam.

If you want to go even further, you could add on a CCS to your CAC or LAC once you have 10,000 hours of experience in substance abuse counseling.

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport, and Throughout Louisiana

The US Department of Labor reports the number of substance abuse counselor jobs in Louisiana has increased by 44% over just the past four years. Today ADRA reports a total of 1,411 credentialed professionals working in the state, including 493 CITs, 417 LACs, and 130 CACs.

This increase of professionals is sorely needed and long overdue. In 2023 New Orleans’ WVUE-TV reported that 95% of drug overdose deaths in the city were caused by fentanyl, with a rate that’s approaching nearly one fatality per day. Most recently, doctors there have reported a recent uptick in overdoses caused by the horse tranquilizer xylazine.

Unfortunately, Baton Rouge seems to be following suit. In 2023, fentanyl-related deaths surpassed homicides, suicides, and cancer as the number-one killer of those under 45 years old in East Baton Rouge Parish, according to a report from WAFB.

Fentanyl is everywhere. Some of the major employers throughout the state that are dealing with the fall out include:

Metropolitan Human Services District in New Orleans operates five area behavioral health clinics. It runs a suboxone treatment program and offers addiction treatment services for drugs, alcohol, and gambling that include case management, individual therapy, and group therapy.
Serenity Treatment Center serves the greater Baton Rouge area with a range of addiction recovery and treatment programs. Residential, in-patient, detox, outpatient, and family formats are all available and the substance abuse counselors here have a wide breadth of specializations.
The Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse is a non-profit that’s been serving the wider Shreveport and Northern Louisiana community since 1958. This organization takes its mission of treating, counseling, and educating those who suffer from alcohol and other addictions seriously.

Substance Abuse Counselor Salary in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and Throughout Louisiana

The high demand for substance abuse counselors across the state has an effect on salaries, with annual compensation increasing by 5% over the past four years. Right now substance abuse counselors earn an average of $40,410 annually statewide.

Once you get beyond the entry level, substance abuse counselors at the mid-range earn $48,140 as represented by the 75th-percentile salary figure. At the top level, represented by the 90^th percentile, that figure rises to $61,690.

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Metro New Orleans

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Baton Rouge

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Shreveport-Bossier City

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Lafayette

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Lake Charles

Higher-level salaries in the 90^th percentile are representative of what LACs can expect to earn.

Substance Abuse Counselor Degree Options in Louisiana

You’ll find universities in Louisiana that offer degrees to meet ADRA certification requirements at every level, from undergraduate certificates and associate programs, to full bachelor’s and master’s degrees in fields related to addictions counseling. And that’s to say nothing about the options you’ll find online from exceptional schools across the country.

Northwestern State University

Gallaspy Family College of Education & Human Development (1)
Department of Psychology (2)
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Online

Bachelor's Degrees

Southern University at New Orleans

College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Social Sciences
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Campus

Associate Degrees

Bachelor's Degrees

Southern University at Shreveport

Division of Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Campus

Associate Degrees

University of Holy Cross

College of Counseling Education and Business
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Campus, Online

Associate Degrees

Bachelor's 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.