North Philadelphia’s Kensington area has become the face of the nation’s drug crisis and ground zero for the opioid epidemic. Here the brutality of substance use is on full display, with tents, trash, discarded needles, and the severely addicted lining the streets day and night. Earning the dubious distinction of being one of the country’s largest open air drug markets, Kensington is a big part of the reason why Philadelphia County ranks among the top metro areas in the nation for fatal opioid overdoses – 90 overdose deaths per 100,000 people between March 2022 and February 2023 (second to only Baltimore County, MD).
Adding to the inhumanity, you’ll find voyeurs and opportunists filming the scenes and posting the footage online, making Kensington YouTube famous for all the wrong reasons.
But in the midst of the devastation, there are also people who genuinely care and who are there to save lives. Among them are Patrice Rogers and Rosalind Pichardo:
- Rogers founded Stop the Risk after addiction took her husband’s life several years ago. She has transformed a vacant lot into a safe haven for people suffering with the disease of addiction, offering a respite from the drama of the streets and a place for them to catch their breath long enough to take the first step toward recovery.
- Pichardo opened the Sunshine House to offer basic necessities to those battling addiction, providing an off-ramp to the possibility of sobriety and a pathway for the homeless to reconnect with family and loved ones.
Whether your mission to help takes you to the streets of Philadelphia, the surrounding suburbs, or deeper into the rural enclaves of the state, there are no shortage of opportunities to make a difference in the lives of Pennsylvanians struggling with addiction.
So, what’s the best plan of action for entering the field of substance abuse counseling? If you head to the Pennsylvania Certification Board site, you’ll find no less than 13 designations for substance use intervention and treatment professionals!
If you make your way through this exhaustive list of acronyms, you’ll find that many are designed as peer-focused certifications for people who have either been in addiction recovery or have had first-hand experience with it. These include:
- Certified Peer Specialist (CPS)
- Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS)
- Certified Family Recovery Specialist (CFRS)
- Certified Recovery Specialist Supervisor (CRSS)
Other certifications are aimed at individuals working in the recovery process, but don’t include clinical counseling. These include:
- Certified Community Health Worker (CCHW)
- Certified Allied Addiction Practitioner (CAAP)
- Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS)
- Certified Intervention Professional (CIP)
- Certificate of Competency in Problem Gambling
Other entry-level certifications requiring just a high school diploma that may be helpful as you work toward becoming a drug and alcohol counselor include:
- Associate Addiction Counselor (AAD)
- Certified Associate Addiction Counselor (CAAC) (associate degree preferred, but high school diploma acceptable)
But the preferred designation for anybody looking to make a career out of providing substance use disorder counseling in Pennsylvania is the CADC – Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor.
Steps to Becoming Certified as a Substance Abuse Counselor in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, earning the title of Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) through the Pennsylvania Certification Board will position you as an expert in the field of addiction counseling and open up countless professional doors.
Here are the steps you’ll need to take to earn Pennsylvania’s CADC credential:
1. Earn a bachelor’s degree
2. Satisfy clinical work experience requirements
3. Apply for CADC certification
4. Take and pass the exam
We’ve identified the nuts and bolts of what goes into becoming a substance abuse counselor in Pennsylvania, and we’ve broken it all down into four easily manageable steps.
1. Earn a bachelor’s degree
CADC certification requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. If you haven’t earned a bachelor’s degree yet, it’s worth considering degrees specific to substance use disorder counseling. You’ll find qualifying degrees offered right here in Pennsylvania, as well as online.
Though they go by a number of different names, the curriculum is much the same, with local programs designed specifically to meet Pennsylvania’s CADC requirements:
- BS in Addiction Studies
- BS in Substance Abuse Counseling
- BS in Addictions Counseling
- BS in Chemical Dependency Counseling
But the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs offers a lot of freedom when it comes to your bachelor’s degree major. As long as the totality of your college studies meet the curriculum requirements either through the degree program itself or a subsequent certificate program, a bachelor’s in any of these areas will satisfy the degree requirements:
- Addiction Counseling
- Addiction Studies
- Administration of Justice
- Anthropology
- Audiology
- Art Therapy
- Behavioral Health
- Child Development
- Clinical Pastoral Counseling
- Criminal Justice
- Criminology
- Dance Therapy
- Divinity
- Education
- Family Counseling
- Family Mediation
- Family Relations
- Gerontology
- Juvenile Justice
- Long-Term Care
- Marriage/Family Therapy
- Music Therapy
- Nutrition
- Pastoral Ministries/Studies
- Communications
- Community Advocacy
- Community Counseling
- Community Psychology
- Counseling/Guidance
- Counseling Psychology
- Counselor Education
- Health Administration
- Health/Human Services
- Human Behavior
- Human Communication Studies
- Human Development
- Individual/Family Studies
- Physical Therapy
- Religion
- Rehabilitative Counseling
- Rehabilitative Services
- Social Policy
- Sociology
- Special Education
- Theology Related Degrees
- Trauma Counseling
- Vocational Counseling
You can also meet the education requirements if you’ve minored, or have completed at least 18 credits, in one of the following fields:
- Chemical Dependency
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Counseling
- Nursing
But what if you’ve already earned a bachelor’s degree that’s not in one of the Board’s recognized areas? Fortunately, in Pennsylvania, you can also become a CADC if you hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-relevant field; however, you’ll need to log more experience hours (more on that in Step 2).
A bachelor’s degree (whether in a relevant or non-relevant field) must also include the completion of at least 300 hours of relevant field work through practicum, with 100 of those hours specific to substance use disorders and 6 hours specific to substance use disorder ethics. If you’ve completed a degree in a relevant area of study, chances are good that you’ll meet this requirement.
However, if you haven’t satisfied part or all of this requirement as part of your bachelor’s degree, you can earn the required education/training through seminars, workshops, and other types of training or by taking college/university credit courses (online or on-campus).
For reference, one training CE/CEU counts as one hour. You can earn the required hours through a combination of training, workshops, and college courses, and there are no requirements on how recent that training and education must be.
2. Satisfy clinical work experience requirements
Now it’s time to land a job in a roll in substance use disorder counseling and get the experience you’ll need to qualify for CADC certification.
Pennsylvania’s state and municipal social services agencies, as well as non-profits and private employers, are eager to hire new graduates to work as substance abuse counselors. There’s a well-established pipeline of providers who hire recent graduates, showing them the ropes, and helping them gain the valuable experience necessary to earn CADC certification.
Of course, you won’t be able to provide diagnoses or provide counseling independently until you earn the CADC designation. But you will be doing real one-on-one and group counseling work under supervision during this phase. And that’s an important point – services other than counseling (such as those provided by recovery and peer specialists, case mangers, or intake workers) don’t count toward the total hours required. Experience as an Associate or Certified Associate Addiction Counselor (AAC or CAAC) can be applied, however.
- If you’ve earned a relevant bachelor’s degree, you’ll need to complete at least two years of full-time or 4,000 hours of part-time clinical work experience as a drug and alcohol counselor.
- If you’ve earned a non-relevant bachelor’s degree, you’ll need to complete at least three years of full-time or 6,000 hours of part-time clinical work experience as a drug and alcohol counselor.
Good news! Clinical internships that were part of your bachelor’s degree can be used toward the required work experience. To be eligible, your internship must appear on your college transcript and must be well-documented by the agency where you completed your internship.
Pennsylvania defines drug and alcohol counselors as “providing or supervising primary, direct, clinical, substance use disorder, or co-occurring counseling to people diagnosed with substance use disorder that is clinically supervised and includes the preparation of treatment plans.” You can provide these services in an individual or group setting.
Volunteer work doesn’t qualify. Your experience must be in providing drug and alcohol counseling.
You can complete the required hours through a combination of employers, but you’ll need to provide documentation from your employers that verifies your employment dates, your title, and the duties you performed. All training/education must have been earned within the last seven years.
As part of your clinical experience requirements, you’ll need to show proof that you completed at least 200 hours of on-the-job supervision, with at least 10 hours of clinical supervision in each counselor domain:
- Scientific Principles of Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorders
- Evidence-Based Screening and Assessment
- Evidence-Based Treatment, Counseling and Referral
- Professional Ethical and Legal Responsibilities
Your employer will help facilitate this, and your clinical supervisor will attest that you’ve completed the required hours.
3. Apply for CADC certification
Once you’ve met the experience and on-the-job supervision requirements, you’ll be ready to apply for CADC certification through the Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB). Note: You must be employed as a drug and alcohol counselor when you submit your application.
You can apply online through the PCB website or download and print the application.
It may take you a few weeks to provide the Board with the required documentation for your application, so plan ahead. For example, your official transcripts must be sent directly from the college/university to PCB (they can be mailed or emailed to [email protected]), so the Board recommends contacting your college/university at least three weeks before you send in your application to avoid any delay in processing.
PCB takes about 10 business days to review and process completed applications. Once your application has been approved, you’ll receive an email from the testing company giving you the green light (and instructions) to register for the examination. If you haven’t heard from PCB after 10 business days, email them at [email protected].
Tip: The CADC application fee is $375; however, your employer may cover this expense! Be sure to ask if they’ll pick up the tab for the CADC application.
4. Take and pass the exam.
Once your application has been approved, you’ll need to take and pass the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) Examination for Alcohol and Drug Counselors (ADC examination). It’s one of the most widely used credentials in the field and used by many jurisdictions.
The ADC exam is administered through ISO-Quality Testing Inc. (a division of Prometric). You’ll take this exam at a Prometric testing center near you (there are several testing sites located throughout Pennsylvania). You’ll preregister for the exam on the ISO-Quality Testing site. Once you’ve done this, you’ll get another email from ISO-Quality Testing with further instructions on scheduling the date, time, and location of your exam.
The ADC is a computer-based exam that consists of 150 multiple-choice questions. On the day of the exam, you’ll bring your valid photo ID and your Candidate Admission Letter. You’ll have three hours to complete the exam, and you’ll receive a preliminary score immediately after you take the exam. The score range is 200-800, with a 500 being a passing score. The PCB offers a Candidate Guide that provides you with information on the general format of the exam and sample questions.
The IC&RC also publishes study guides and practice exams that will allow you to prepare to take your exam.
Once you pass, you’ll receive your certificate for CADC certification in the mail within 10 business days.
Your Pennsylvania CADC certification must be renewed every two years upon the completion of at least 40 hours of continuing education relevant to addiction, including three hours in ethics.
Considering taking your career to the next level? Pennsylvania also offers the Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC) certificate. If you already hold the CADC credential, you can earn the CAADC credential by completing a master’s degree in a relevant field and passing the IC&RC Examination for Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselors (AADC examination).
Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Pennsylvania
Whether they’re working in hospitals, inpatient or outpatient treatment centers, correctional facilities, or private practices, substance abuse counselors in Pennsylvania are providing immediate and long-term care to people in need.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), both Allegheny (Pittsburgh) and Philadelphia Counties reported some of the highest rates of opioid overdoses in Pennsylvania between July 2022 and June 2023. In Allegheny County, the death rate due to opioids was 57.8 per 100,000 people, and in Philadelphia County, it was 90 per 100,000 people. From these opioid deaths, the CDC reported that for both counties, fentanyl was the leading cause of death – making up 80 percent of all opioid deaths during this time.
But it’s not just Pennsylvania’s largest metro areas that saw alarming opioid death statistics during this time. In fact, the largely rural areas of Lawrence County, Montour County, and Cambria County reported high opioid death rates during this time: 86, 82, and 73 deaths per 100,000 people, respectively.
The CDC reports that Pennsylvania’s opioid overdoses statewide peaked in 2021, at 770 – that’s up from 89 overdoses in 1999. Heroin-related deaths peaked much earlier, in 2016, at 926 deaths. Fentanyl, however, has been the leading cause of opioid-related deaths in Pennsylvania, by far. In 2021, it accounted for 3,782 deaths.
Jobs throughout Pennsylvania
In the past decade, Pennsylvania has responded to the growing need for drug and alcohol counseling services. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) 2020 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services, there were 578 facilities operating in the state in 2011. By 2020, this number rose to 604.
Reflecting this steady rise in the number of substance abuse facilities, the U.S. Department of Labor projects that employment for substance abuse counselors in Pennsylvania will rise by 19 percent in the decade leading up to 2030, reaching 27,640 by 2030.
Pittsburgh
In Pittsburgh, substance abuse counselors can be found at inpatient facilities like the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center on Pittsburgh’s Northside. This facility is a long-term residential treatment program for men 18 and older with substance abuse disorders and co-occurring disorders and significant medical, mental health, legal, and social needs.
They also often work in outpatient facilities like Allied Addiction Recovery, which has several locations throughout the Pittsburgh region. This facility provides both individual and group therapy through medication-assisted and drug-free treatment programs.
Philadelphia
Beacon Point Recovery Center is one of the many inpatient facilities in the Philadelphia region. This facility provides both alcohol and drug detox programs, as well as inpatient rehab counseling services.
Substance abuse counselors in Philadelphia also work at outpatient facilities like Merakey Parkside Recovery, which offers one-on-one counseling, support groups, and intensive programs for severe narcotics addiction.
Substance Abuse Counselor Salary in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Allentown
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), substance abuse counselors in Pennsylvania earned a median salary of $46,630 as of May 2022. Those new to the profession earned about $38,420, while those with extensive experience and graduate degrees and advanced certifications in the field earned about $78,140.
How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Pittsburgh
The BLS reported that substance abuse counselors in Pittsburgh earned a median salary of $46,180 as of May 2022, while those at the top of the pay scale earned about $72,140.
How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Philadelphia
According to the BLS, the median salary for substance abuse counselors in Philadelphia was $49,820 as of May 2022. Those with just a few years of experience earned about $43,750, while the most seasoned pros earned about $83,200.
How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Harrisburg
The BLS reported that substance abuse counselors in Harrisburg earned a median salary of $44,860 as of May 2022, while those with extensive experience earned about $79,780.
How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Allentown
According to the BLS, substance abuse counselors in Allentown earned a median salary of $50,250 as of May 2022, while those at the top of the pay scale earned about $79,110.
Substance Abuse Counselor Degree Options in Pennsylvania
There are plenty of options to consider when pursuing a substance abuse counselor degree program in Pennsylvania. If you don’t yet have a bachelor’s degree, you can choose a program like Albright University’s BS in Addiction Studies to meet the education requirements to become a CADC.
And if you’re looking ahead to CAADC certification, you’ll find a number of master’s level programs in Pennsylvania like the Master’s in Addiction Counseling through Carlow University and the MS in Addiction Counseling through Drexel University.
Alvernia University
College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences
Accreditation: MSCHE
Campus, Online
Undergraduate Certificates
- Certificate in Addictions and Mental Health Treatment
Bachelor's Degrees
- BA in Addictions and Mental Health Treatment
- Minor in Addictions and Mental Health Treatment
Carlow University
College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology Counseling and Criminology
Accreditation: MSCHE
Campus
Master's Degrees
- MS in Professional Counseling-Addictions Counseling
Graduate Certificates
- Post-Master’s Certificate in Addiction Counseling
Clarks Summit University
School of Behavioral Sciences
Accreditation: MSCHE
Campus, Online
Associate Degrees
- AA in Addictions Counseling
Bachelor's Degrees
- BS in Addictions Counseling
- Minor in Addictions Counseling
Community College of Allegheny County
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Accreditation: MSCHE
Campus, Hybrid
Undergraduate Certificates
- Drug and Alcohol Certificate
Associate Degrees
- AS in Social Work Foundation with a Drug and Alcohol Certificate included
Drexel University
College of Nursing and Health Professions
Accreditation: MSCHE
Online
Master's Degrees
- MS in Addictions Counseling
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
College of Health Sciences, Department of Health Studies
Accreditation: MSCHE
Campus
Undergraduate Certificates
- Drug Abuse Prevention Certificate
Immaculata University
Accreditation: MSCHE
Hybrid
Master's Degrees
- MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a Certificate in Addictions Studies and Therapeutic Practice included
Graduate Certificates
- Addiction Studies Graduate Certificate
Misericordia University
College of Health Sciences and Education
Accreditation: MSCHE
Campus, Online
Undergraduate Certificates
- Addictions Counseling Certificate
Associate Degrees
- Minor in Addictions Counseling
Montgomery County Community College
Public and Social Services
Accreditation: MSCHE
Campus
Undergraduate Certificates
- Addictions Certificate
Associate Degrees
- AAS in Human Services-Addictions
Pennsylvania College of Technology
School of Business, Arts and Sciences
Accreditation: MSCHE
Online
Undergraduate Certificates
- Competency Credential in Chemical Dependency
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
Social Sciences and Criminal Justice pathway
Accreditation: MSCHE
Online
Undergraduate Certificates
- Substance Abuse and Addiction Technician Certificate
Associate Degrees
- AAS in Social Service Assistant with a Substance Abuse and Addiction Technician Certificate included
Pennsylvania State University
Penn State Abington, Penn State Lehigh Valley
Accreditation: MSCHE
Campus
Undergraduate Certificates
- Rehabilitation and Human Services (RHS) Chemical Dependency and Prevention Counseling Certificate
Associate Degrees
- Minor in Addictions and Recovery
Pennsylvania Western University
College of Health Sciences and Human Services
Accreditation: MSCHE
Online
Graduate Certificates
- Substance Use Disorder Level 1 Post-Bac Certificate (Graduate level)
- Substance Use Disorder Level 2 Post-Bac Certificate (Graduate level)
Reading Area Community College
Social Sciences and Human Services Division
Accreditation: MSCHE
Campus, Online
Associate Degrees
- AA in Addictions Studies-Human Services
Saint Vincent College
Accreditation: MSCHE
Campus
Undergraduate Certificates
- Addiction Specialist Certification
Seton Hill University
School of Education and Applied Social Sciences, Department of Applied Social Sciences
Accreditation: MSCHE
Online
Undergraduate Certificates
- Addictions and Substance Abuse Certificate
Credits from the Addictions and Substance Abuse Certificate can be put towards bachelor’s degrees in: Behavioral Health, Criminal Justice, Healthcare Administration, Social Work
Waynesburg University
Graduate and Professional Studies Department
Accreditation: MSCHE
Campus, Online
Master's Degrees
- MA in Counseling-Addictions Concentration
Graduate Certificates
- Certificate in Substance Use Disorder Counseling (Graduate level)
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.