How to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor in Rhode Island

Created by SubstanceAbuseCounselor.org Contributing Writer

Rhode Island hit two bleak milestones in recent years that nobody would’ve expected for an affluent state in the Northeast… It not only ranked first in the nation for the percentage of adults with unmet drug treatment needs, it was also second nationwide for teen drug use.

That’s according to the most recent data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in 2017, a year that saw 324 accidental drug overdose deaths statewide. Fast forward to year-end statistics for 2023 and the RI Department of Health reports that number grew to 391.

But there’s a glimmer of hope poking through all those grim figures as the number of overdose deaths peaked in 2021 and 2022 at around 435. From that benchmark, the 391 casualties at the end of 2023 represents a trend that’s starting to move in the right direction.

And there’s more than one silver lining to the state’s substance use crisis. As more people are personally affected by tragedy, more are also answering the call to become Licensed Chemical Dependency Professionals (LCDP) here.

Steps to Becoming Licensed as a Substance Abuse Counselor in Rhode Island

To reach the goal of becoming a substance abuse counselor in Rhode Island, you’re going to be working your way up through three credentials:

Rhode Island state law doesn’t require you to be licensed to work in the field of substance abuse counseling. For now, qualification requirements are determined by employers.

Entry-level credentials for substance abuse counselors are granted through the Rhode Island Certification Board (RICB), a non-governmental professional organization. But as you search through available job opportunities, you’ll find that the Licensed Chemical Dependency Professional (LCDP) credential issued through the state Department of Health, Board of Chemical Dependency Professionals, is the preferred credential. You’ll also find that a bachelor’s degree is nearly a de facto requirement.

Though what you’re ultimately aiming for is a bachelor’s degree and the LCDP credential, you’ll start your journey by qualifying for entry-level credentials.

All together, there are five major steps to becoming a substance abuse counselor in Rhode Island:

1. Get the Education Hours Required for Initial Certification

2. Complete Supervised Clinical Work Experience Requirements

3. Apply for Certification with the RICB

4. Pass the IC&RC’s ADC Examination

5. Become a Licensed Chemical Dependency Professional (LCDP)

Step 1 – Get the Education Hours Required for Initial Certification

When it comes to education and training there’s a very logical progression between what you’ll need for the PADC and the CADC: 140 hours for the PADC, then an additional 160 hours to become a CADC (300 hours total).

These hours can be earned through college credits in a certificate or associate degree program, offered on campus and online at community colleges, state universities, and private colleges. Generally one semester credit of higher education is equivalent to 45 hours towards these education requirements.

You can also gain qualifying education through workshops and seminars, both in person and online. You can find resources on this through organizations like the Rhode Island Prevention Resource Center and the Substance Use and Mental Health Leadership Council of RI.

Within the mix of total hours, you’ll need six hours of education in each of these categories:

On the confidentiality requirement, your education needs to specifically cover federal law 42 CFR and its relationship to HIPAA and other confidentiality laws. Check with organizations like those listed above for offerings. For example, the Rhode Island Prevention Resource Center offers a seven-hour webinar that fulfills this requirement for around $30.

If you’re on this career path for the long haul, then a college education is your best return on investment. Even earning an associate degree will reduce the required hours of work experience you need to qualify for the CADC and subsequent LCDP.

It also goes without saying that employers generally prefer higher educated applicants, and that those with degrees earn more than those without.

Attending workshops and seminars is a good option to network with colleagues and develop a professional support structure. It also doesn’t hurt that plenty of these are free. If you opt for this route, keep in mind:

There is no limit on how many hours of online education you can earn
You need to earn an education or training certificate that includes your name, date of training, title of training, number of hours, and the name of the training organization
Training registration forms or sign in sheets don’t qualify
You can’t repeat training
Prior training doesn’t expire: there’s no time limit on when you received your training

If you don’t want to mix and match a hodgepodge of seminars and workshops you can shell out $1,120 and buy a complete education and training package from an organization like the Center for Addiction Studies and Research. Based in Connecticut, this company offers services catering specifically to aspiring Rhode Island substance abuse counselors.

Step 2 – Complete Supervised Clinical Work Experience Requirements

There are two main routes to fulfilling the supervised experience requirement:

Qualifying work experience is defined as providing counseling to people whose primary diagnosis is substance use disorder. This means you do things like prepare treatment plans, document client progress, and work with individuals one-on-one or in a group setting.

Supervision can be provided by anyone your employer or academic administrator deems responsible. You’ll need to document at least 10 hours of supervision in each of the following domains:

PADC Experience Requirements

To qualify for the PADC you need 150 hours of on-the-job supervised clinical work experience, and one year or 2,000 hours of substance use disorder employment.

If you’re opting to fulfill this requirement with work experience, the approximately 77 licensed locations throughout the state providing substance abuse counseling can be good starting points. Employers routinely hire license candidates, bringing them into the field to foster their training and advancement toward certification. It’s a big investment, and one that employers are glad to make to train and foster counselors who often stay with the organization for the duration of their careers.

CADC Experience Requirements

The amount of substance abuse counseling work and supervised experience you need for the CADC depends on your level of education. You can substitute higher education in a behavioral health field for hours of experience and supervision like this:

Master’s degree, 2,000 hours or one year of clinical employment, and 100 hours of clinical supervision
Bachelor’s degree, 4,000 hours or two years of clinical employment, and 200 hours of clinical supervision
Associate’s degree, 5,000 hours or 2.5 years of clinical employment, and 250 hours of clinical supervision
High school diploma/GED, 6,000 hours or three years of clinical employment, and 300 hours of clinical supervision

Step 3 – Apply for Certification with the RICB

As you meet the education and supervised work experience requirements for the respective credentials, you’ll apply for each one directly through the Rhode Island Certification Board (RICB).

The PADC application costs $200, and the CADC costs $350.

Before you can become a CADC you’ll need to pass an examination, described below. When you apply for the CADC, the RICB will determine that your application is complete and then send you the information you need to register for your exam.

Step 4 – Pass the IC&RC’s ADC Examination

The International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) sponsors the test you must pass to become a CADC: the Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) Examination.

The ADC Exam is computer-based, 150 questions, and takes a maximum of three hours to complete. It’s offered at testing sites in Cumberland, Warwick, and additional locations across the country.

It tests you on these four main subject areas:

Substance use disorder referral, treatment, and counseling – 30%
Scientific principles of substance use and co-occurring disorders – 25%
Legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities – 25%
Substance use disorder screening and assessment – 20%

Once you pass the exam the IC&RC will notify the RICB, and the RICB will mail your CADC credential to you within 10 business days.

Step 5 – Become a Licensed Chemical Dependency Professional (LCDP)

Meeting all the above described requirements for the CADC through the RICB makes you eligible to apply for the LCDP. That means as soon as you have your CADC credential, you can simply contact the Rhode Island Board of Chemical Dependency Professionals for an LCDP application. You’ll need to provide the Board with proof of your CADC and show that you’re either a US citizen or legal resident.

When your application is approved, then that’s it: you’re a licensed LCDP. Congratulations! You can verify your license status on the Department of Health’s licensing website.

Even though you’re an LCDP, you’ll need to keep your CADC credential current with the RICB; this is a requirement for renewing your LCDP. You’ll need to renew your LCDP biannually by October first of even-numbered years with the Board of Chemical Dependency Professionals by showing proof that your CADC is in good standing.

With a Higher Degree and More Experience Comes Advanced Certification Options

In addition to the LCDP credential the state’s Board of Chemical Dependency Professionals also issues the Licensed Chemical Dependency Clinical Supervisor (LCDCS) credential.

Earning this will give you all the advantages of an LCDP, plus the ability to supervise aspiring substance abuse counselors.

Qualifying for this credential requires earning the Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC) credential from the RICB. To do this you need to:

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Rhode Island

CDC data shows that Kent and Providence counties are well ahead of all others in the state for having the worst drug overdose death rate, with both counties nearly tied at 50 people per 100,000. An alarming figure by itself, those death rates are also up around 64% from where they were three years prior.

It’s a sad fact that increased substance use logically leads to a higher demand for substance abuse counselors. Between 2019 and 2023 the number of substance abuse, behavioral health, and mental health counselors in Rhode Island increased by 112% according to data released by the US Department of Labor.

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Providence, Cranston, Warwick, and Pawtucket

US Department of Labor statistics report that in 2023 there were:

As hot spots for substance use, the following cities are home to dozens of treatment centers and companies that are licensed by the state to offer much-needed substance abuse counseling.

These organizations are well known to those with long-term substance use issues, as well as counselors who’ve been working for decades to make a dent in Rhode Island’s chemical dependency epidemic.

Providence

Map Behavioral Health Services
The Providence Center
Behavioral Healthcare Group
Codac
Community Care Alliance
Diversity Counseling
Family Service of Rhode Island
Discovery House
Victa

Cranston

Emma Bradley-Caritas House
Starbirth
The Providence Center
Codac
Comprehensive Community Action Program
Diversity Counseling
Emma Pendleton Bradley

Warwick

Bridgemark
Addiction Recovery Institute
Addiction Services
Groups Recover Together
Northeast Family Services
The Inner You
The Providence Center
Thrive Behavioral Health
Tides Family Services

Pawtucket

Community Care Alliance
Addiction Recovery Institute-North
Behavioral Healthcare Group
Codac
Gateway Healthcare
The Providence Center

Substance Abuse Counselor Salaries in Rhode Island

In 2023 substance abuse counselors in Rhode Island earned an average yearly salary of $50,110.

For mid-level careers, the salary in the top 25% was clocked in at $60,350.

Those at the tops of their career, with salaries in the top 10%, earned $75,730.

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Westerly?

Substance abuse counselor salaries in this area are well above the state’s average:

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Metro Providence-Warwick?

Substance Abuse Counselor Degree Options in Rhode Island

The patience and perseverance it takes to earn a degree and become qualified to work as a licensed chemical dependency counselor professional will serve you well in this profession.

Rhode Island colleges offer associate and bachelor’s degrees in fields related to substance abuse counseling, along with graduate certificates.

Among them is Rhode Island College, which offers a bachelor’s degree with eight credits that count as a practicum and internship. The Community College of Rhode Island offers six credits of field experience and five credits of practicum experience as part of its associate degree program.

Qualifying education to earn the LCDP credential can be met with these programs as well as out-of-state education earned on-campus and online.

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.

Community College of Rhode Island

Human Services
Accreditation: NECHE
Campus

Associate Degrees

JWU | Johnson & Wales University

Counselor Education Department
Accreditation: NECHE
Campus

Master's Degrees

Option for BS in Psychology combined with an MS in Addiction Counseling

Rhode Island College

Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology
Accreditation: NECHE
Campus

Bachelor's Degrees

Graduate Certificates

2023 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors. Job growth projections 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 July 2024.