How to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor in Texas

The stats are shocking: In the past five years, drug overdose deaths in Texas have soared by more than 75%. While fentanyl continues to capture headlines here and across the U.S., Texas law enforcement officials warn that it’s far from the only drug issue, with meth, heroin, cocaine, benzos, and synthetic cannabis (known as spice or K2) also making their way into communities throughout Texas.

While Dallas, El Paso, and Houston have earned the dubious distinction of being what the DEA calls transportation hubs, the sobering truth is that opioids have infiltrated every corner of the state, from the affluent suburbs that surround the major metros to deep within rural counties.

Drug use and overdose statistics provide a glimpse into the extent of the epidemic here, but they don’t tell the whole story. According to an ongoing University of Texas project know as Texans Connecting Overdose Prevention Efforts (TxCOPE), up to 70% of all overdoses go unreported. Just 15 of the state’s 254 counties have medical examiner’s offices, and many don’t perform toxicology tests to determine the cause of death, so it’s expected that the number of overdoses deaths in the Lone Star State is much, much higher.

Adding to Texas’ already growing drug problem is the emergence of xylazine – known on the streets as tranq— a literal animal tranquilizer that targets the central nervous system. It’s being used in combination with fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and other drugs, often with deadly consequences. Dubbed the “zombie drug” due its powerful sedative effects, it’s already something that chemical dependency counselors in Austin and parts of West Texas are contending with.

Despite the Grim Statistics, Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselors Continue the Fight in Texas

At the state level, there are programs like the Texas Health and Human Services’ Texas Targeted Opioid Response (TTOR) initiative, which aims to expand access to prevention, treatment, and recovery support services for those with opioid and stimulant use disorders.

Closer to home, regional programs that rely on dedicated chemical dependency counselors are also growing in numbers. Among them are:

A three-year partnership with Fort Worth-based Recovery Council, an addiction recovery nonprofit that provides follow-up addiction and recovery assistance for those who were saved from overdose death thanks to police intervention with Narcan
The San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Awareness (SACADA), a nonprofit that’s focused on prevention, intervention, and recovery support strategies for South Central Texas’ nearly 90,000 residents

Recovering from addiction is an uphill battle, but for countless Texans, it’s a battle worth fighting and one that chemical dependency counselors are positioned to tackle.

Whether a career in substance abuse counseling takes you to state- or city-run programs that are providing urgent interventions and resources to those in crisis, or to neighborhood clinics and residential programs in suburbs like Sugar Land or Plano, there is no shortage of opportunities to effect real change when you become a substance abuse counselor in Texas.

We’re here to help you get the education and credentials you need to start helping people navigate the path to recovery.

Steps to Becoming Licensed as a Substance Abuse Counselor in Texas

To become a substance abuse counselor in Texas, you’ll need to earn the Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) designation through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).

The Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) is the standard credential granting the legal authority to provide chemical dependency counseling services anywhere in Texas. You must hold the LCDC credential before you can pursue more advanced certification.

In this guide, we lay out the steps to earn the LCDC. But we’ve also detailed the optional advanced certification options available to you later in your career at the end of this guide in the section: With a Higher Degree and More Experience Comes Advanced Certification Options.

Here are the steps you’ll need to complete to become licensed as an LCDC with the Texas HHSC:

1. Earn an Associate Degree or Higher from an Accredited College

2. Apply for Counselor Intern Registration

3. Complete At Least 4,000 Hours of Approved Supervised Experience as a Counselor Intern

4. Take and Pass the IC&RC Exam

Becoming a substance abuse counselor in Texas is an involved, multi-step process. But not to worry! We’ve taken all the information you need to know and broken it down into easily manageable steps, so you can move forward with confidence.

1. Earn an Associate Degree or Higher from an Accredited College

Before you can earn licensure as an LCDC in Texas, you must first register as a counselor intern, and that means completing an associate degree or certificate program.

To qualify for counselor intern registration, you must (a) be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma; and (b) complete at least 270 classroom hours (18 semester hours) of chemical dependency curriculum and at least 300 hours of supervised work experience (practicum) at an accredited college, university, or career school.

You can register as a counselor intern with a community college undergraduate certificate in substance abuse counseling or a similar field, but you’ll need a minimum of an associate degree in substance abuse counseling or a related field to earn full LCDC licensure.

Some career and community colleges offer nine-month certificate programs that meet the requirement for registration as a counselor intern, although you’ll ultimately need to complete a minimum of an associate degree in a field like substance abuse counseling, human/health services, sociology, psychology, criminal justice, or in another area of behavioral health to earn a full LCDC license.

Because of this, for most students, an associate degree serves as the most direct path to the LCDC license.

However, if you’ve already completed an associate degree in a recognized area of study, a certificate program is the perfect way to meet the education requirements to become an LCDC. Or, if you want to first complete a certificate program to qualify for the counselor intern registration and then earn your associate degree as you work toward your full LCDC license, many community colleges allow you to stack the certificate with an associate degree in substance abuse counseling or a related field.

If you choose to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in chemical dependency counseling, sociology, psychology, or another recognized major in human behavior and development, or you already have one, then you’ll be exempt from completing the required hours and practicum. Instead, you’ll qualify for counselor intern registration through the HHSC’s educational waiver.

2. Apply for Counselor Intern Registration

Once you’ve completed the required education and practicum hours (or if you qualify for the educational waiver with a bachelor’s or master’s degree), you’ll apply for counselor intern registration by completing Form 3248 – Chemical Dependency Counselor Intern Registration Application. You’ll also need to submit all of the necessary documentation outlining your education and submit your fingerprints to the HHSC. (You’ll need to schedule an appointment at an IdentoGo enrollment center.)

Once you receive your counselor intern registration, you’ll have five years to complete all licensing requirements for full LCDC licensure.

3. Complete At Least 4,000 Hours of Approved Supervised Experience as a Counselor Intern

Now that you’ve earned the counselor intern registration, it’s time to begin a period of supervised work experience. This means landing a job and working alongside a certified clinical supervisor (CCS) who will document at least 4,000 hours of approved supervised experience. (Note: The 300 practicum hours you completed in your certificate or associate degree program cannot be counted toward your supervised experience hours.) In a full-time position, you can expect to fulfill the required hours in about two years.

You can complete the required supervised hours in any number of treatment facilities, such as private hospitals, detox facilities, long-term care facilities, community mental health centers, recovery centers, federal facilities, schools, churches, and outpatient care facilities.

If you hold a master’s or doctoral degree in social work or in a counseling-related field or have completed 48 semester hours of graduate-level courses, the HHSC may waive the 4,000 supervised experience requirement. Contact HHSC for more information on this.

4. Take and Pass the IC&RC Exam

Once you’ve satisfied the supervised experience requirement, your supervisor will submit all necessary documentation to the HHCS, who will then send you a letter with instructions for obtaining a full LCDC license. You’ll need this letter to pre-register to take the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) Examination for Alcohol and Drug Counselors (ADC examination).

The Texas Certification Board administers the IC&RC ADC exam. Once you have the letter from the HHCS, you’ll pre-register by completing the LCDC Examination Pre-Registration form with the TCB. Note: the pre-registration process may take 2-4 weeks.

After the TCB has approved you for registration, they’ll email you an Admission Letter and instructions detailing how to register for your exam with ISO Quality Testing (SMT). You’ll also receive an email from ISO Quality Testing that includes a user name and password that you’ll use to register for the exam. You’ll pick the day, time, and location for your exam (they have testing centers located throughout Texas), and you’ll bring your Admission Letter with you, along with your valid photo ID, to the testing site. Once the TCB has pre-registered you with SMT Testing, you’ll have 60 days to schedule and take the IC&RC ADC exam.

The ADC is a computer-based exam that consists of 150 multiple-choice questions. You’ll have three hours to complete the exam, and you’ll receive a preliminary score immediately after you take it. The score range is 200-800, with 500 being a passing score.

You’ll receive your official score from ISO Quality Testing about two weeks after the exam.

You won’t need to apply for full LCDC licensure after passing the exam; HHSC will provide you with an official notice of full licensure after you have passed the exam.

You’ll need to keep your LCDC license current by renewing it online every two years. LCDCs must complete at least 40 hours of continuing education during this two-year period, three hours of which must be ethics training and six hours of which must be in HIV, Hepatitis C, and sexually transmitted diseases.

If you hold a master’s degree or higher, you’ll only need to complete 24 hours of continuing education during each two-year licensure period.

With a Higher Degree and More Experience Comes Advanced Certification Options

The TCB offers a number of optional advanced certification options for LCDCs who have completed additional education or experience. These include:

A master’s degree in a human services behavioral sciences field
180 hours of coursework in alcohol and other drug abuse, including at least six hours of professional ethics and six hours specific to HIV/AIDS, STDs, and hepatitis
2,000 hours of supervised work experience in the alcohol and drug abuse counseling field
300-hour chemical dependency counseling practicum
ICRC International Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor exam

300-hour chemical dependency counseling program (training must be specifically related to the knowledge and skills necessary to perform all 12 Core Functions of the Substance Abuse Counselor and include at least 10 hours in each core function)
IC&RC International ADC exam
300 chemical dependency education hours, six of which must be in HIV/AIDS and six of which must be in ethics
At least 6,000 hours of chemical dependency counseling experience (some hours can be substituted for degrees: associate degree in behavioral science = 1,000 hours; bachelor’s degree in behavioral science = 2,000 hours; master’s degree in behavioral science = 4,000 hours)
Resident of Texas; 51% of work should be done in Texas

Associate degree
10,000 hours of alcohol and other drug (AOD) prevention work experience (or bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree plus 4,000 hours)
200 prevention education hours, of which 24 hours must be in AOD training and six must be in ethics education specific to prevention
IC&RC International Written Prevention Specialist exam
120 practicum hours to include six hours in the prevention domains
Resident of Texas; 51% of work should be done in Texas

High school diploma or GED
120 continuing education hours across all prevention domains – 90 hours must be prevention specific; 24 hours must be AOD specific; and 6 hours must be prevention specific ethics
IC&RC International Prevention Specialist exam
120 supervised practicum hours with at least 10 hours in each of the six prevention domains
2,000 hours of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) prevention work experience

High school diploma or GED
120 hours of education, 90 of which must be prevention specific and must be completed through Substance Abuse Prevention coursework; six hours must be specific to prevention ethics; and 24 must be AOD specific
120-hour practicum with at least 10 hours in each of the six prevention domains
3,000 hours of substance abuse prevention work experience

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Texas

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Travis County reported the highest number of opioid overdose deaths in the State of Texas between August 2022 and July 2023, with a rate of 32.5 deaths per 100,000 people. Of those deaths, 62 percent were related to fentanyl.

However, Travis County wasn’t the only county in the state to report high rates of opioid deaths during this time. Jefferson County reported a rate of 30.3 deaths per 100,000 people, Orange County reported a rate of 29.4, Bowie County reported a rate of 26.1, and Dallas County reported a rate of 26.0. Fentanyl was responsible for between 39 and 60 percent of all overdose deaths in these counties during this time.

The number of substance abuse treatment facilities has increased in Texas in recent years to meet this rising demand. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), substance abuse treatment facilities in Texas have grown steadily, rising from 431 in 2017 to 509 in 2020. As of 2020, SAMHSA reported that 27,078 people sought treatment in Texas facilities.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Texas ranked fifth in the nation for its number of substance abuse counselors as of May 2022, with a total employment of 16,830. As expected, this number will continue to grow at a rapid pace in the coming years.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment among these professionals is projected to grow by 28 percent in the decade leading up to 2030. During this time, the state should see about 1,860 annual job openings in the field due to a blend of new job growth, retirements, and natural job turnover.

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Dallas/Fort Worth

The DFW metro area is massive, covering more than 9,000 square miles, making the fight to control the flow of illegal drugs a monumental one. Through the DEA Dallas Division’s special operation called Operation Last Mile, they’ve successfully removed some 3.5 million deadly doses of fentanyl and 1,300 pounds of meth from the region. Meanwhile, hundreds of organizations here are helping those afflicted by drug abuse.

Substance abuse counselors in the DFW region work for nonprofits like the Salvation Army of North Texas which, through both its Dallas and Fort Worth Adult Rehabilitation Centers, serves the region with drug rehab programs focused on skilled counseling, group therapy, work therapy, and spiritual guidance. They are also one of the largest residential treatment partners of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in the North Texas region.

They also lend their talents to private programs like Homeward Bound, which offers alcohol and drug detox, as well as inpatient and outpatient programs, and to hospital-based programs like the Dallas-based Texas Health Resources, which opened a $37 million residential treatment facility in 2017 to provide intensive treatment for both adolescents and adults with drug and alcohol addictions. Their programs include adult partial hospitalization programs, adult intensive outpatient programs, and detox.

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Houston

Houston’s Harris County, the most populous county in the state, has witnessed a truly astounding increase of fentanyl-related deaths in recent years, rising from 104 in 2019 to 579 in 2022 – a 457 percent increase. But major efforts to heal those affected by substance use are everywhere you turn, making jobs for substance abuse counselors widely available here.

These skilled professionals are found working in small rehab centers like The Right Step, which offers an inpatient rehab program based on the 12-step recovery principles, and in major operations like Houston’s Recovery Center, a large-scale sobering center that has been providing short-term sober stays since April 2013. Houston Recovery Center has EMTs and behavioral health professionals on hand to help clients and to point them to available referrals and recovery resources. They also offer a Partners in Recovery program, which pairs clients with licensed substance abuse counselors for six months of intensive case management and 18 months of peer recovery support.

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in San Antonio

Substance abuse counselors in San Antonio lend their talents to some of the most innovative treatment facilities in the region. Like the San Antonio Recovery Center, which offers both residential and inpatient services to clients in the region, and the Soba Recovery Center, a residential treatment center offering detox, inpatient, partial hospitalization, outpatient, and sober living programs.

San Antonio is also home to a growing number of community programs that provide substance abuse treatment and counseling at no cost. For example, the San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Awareness (SACADA) provides education, resources, and services to prevent alcohol and substance use disorders. They also offer recovery support services to individuals with alcohol and drug problems (or those at risk).

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Corpus Christi

Every day, Corpus Christi’s substance abuse counselors are making a positive difference in the lives of those affected by substance use. From nonprofits to private facilities to hospitals, there’s no shortage of opportunities for substance abuse counselors here.

For example, the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse – Coastal Bend, a private nonprofit, provides a continuum of care for individuals, families, and communities affected by alcoholism and drug abuse. Their “no wrong door” policy ensures that they will either provide clients with the necessary treatment, often free of charge to those in need, or pair them with another program that meets their needs.

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Austin

In May 2022, the Travis County Commissioners Court declared a public health crisis in response to skyrocketing drug overdoses in Austin and throughout the county. This public health crisis declaration expands Narcan access and funding for harm reduction supplies. Efforts like these are supporting the work of the region’s substance abuse counselors, who are working hard in settings ranging from hospitals to nonprofits to private rehab facilities to provide care to those affected by substance abuse.

Just some of the facilities located throughout Austin include:

Heartwood Recovery, a men’s only treatment facility that offers both residential treatment and sober living programs
Driftwood Recovery, which offers residential medical detoxification/stabilization services, as well as residential treatment, supportive housing, and outpatient services
New Hope Ranch, which offers services ranging from medical detoxification to recreational and holistic treatments to family therapy and aftercare programs

Substance Abuse Counselor Salary in Amarillo, Austin, DFW, El Paso, Houston, San Antonio, and Waco, Texas

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Texas substance abuse counselors earned a median salary of $47,140 as of May 2022, just shy of the national median of $49,710 for this profession. Those with top credentials and extensive experience earned about $76,640 during this time.

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Amarillo

The BLS reported that substance abuse counselors in the Amarillo metro area earned a median salary of $49,900 as of May 2022. Those newest to the profession earned about $36,600 during this time, while those at the top of the pay scale earned about $77,760.

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Austin

According to the BLS, substance abuse counselors in the Austin metro area (also includes the city of Round Rock) earned a median salary of $48,280 as of May 2022. Substance abuse counselors here with just a few years of experience earned about $37,720, while the highest paid earned about $76,450.

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Dallas-Fort Worth

The BLS reported that as of May 2022, substance abuse counselors in the DFW metro area (which also includes Arlington) earned a median salary of $47,640. Substance abuse counselors who are fairly new to the profession earned about $38,210 during this time, while those with extensive experience and likely advanced degrees and credentials earned about $77,960.

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in El Paso

BLS stats reveal that substance abuse counselors in the El Paso metro area earned a median salary of $45,360 as of May 2022. Those fairly new to the profession earned about $34,970 during this time, while those at the top of the field earned about $67,540.

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Houston

According to the BLS, substance abuse counselors in the Houston metro area, which also includes Sugar Land and the Woodlands, earned a median salary of $49,550 as of May 2022. Those newest to the profession earned about $38,280 during this time, while those at the top of the pay scale earned about $77,080.

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in San Antonio

BLS statistics reveal that substance abuse counselors in San Antonio earned a median salary of $48,120 as of May 2022. During this time, those with just a few years of experience earned about $35,650, while those with advanced degrees and professional certificates earned about $77,780.

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Waco

According to the BLS, substance abuse counselors in Waco earned one of the highest median salaries in Texas, at $50,430. Those newest to the profession also earned more than other parts of the state, at $40,170, while those at the top of the pay scale here earned about $78,060.

Substance Abuse Counselor Degree Options in Texas

Substance abuse counselor degrees in Texas are widely available, ranging from nine-month certificate programs that provide students with the education and fieldwork experience necessary to earn counselor intern registration, to master’s and even doctoral degrees for substance abuse counselors interested in becoming leaders in their field.

However, most programs in the state are offered as associate degrees that meet the coursework and practicum requirements for full licensure as an LCDC. For example, the University of St. Thomas in Houston offers an AAS in Drug and Alcohol Counseling, while Tyler Junior College offers an AAS in Addiction Counseling.

For students interested in first earning a certificate program that qualifies them for the counselor intern registration, institutions like Lone Star College in the Woodlands offers a Basic Chemical Dependency Counselor Certificate I that can then be stacked with their AAS in Human Services: Substance Abuse Counseling concentration.

But there are benefits to pursuing a higher degree, too. For example, individuals who complete a bachelor’s degree in an area related to substance abuse counseling can waive the 300-hours supervised practicum to qualify for the counselor intern registration. And there’s no shortage of bachelor’s degrees in the field in Texas. For example, Texas Tech University in Lubbock offers a BS in Counseling and Addiction Recovery Sciences, while the University of Houston – Clear Lake offers a BS in Addictions Counseling.

Accreditation: SACSCOC
Campus

Associate Degrees

St. Edward’s University

School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Campus

Undergraduate Certificates

San Antonio College, Alamo Colleges District

Department of Public Policy and Service
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Campus

Undergraduate Certificates

Associate Degrees

San Jacinto Community College

Health Sciences
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Online

Undergraduate Certificates

Southwestern Assemblies of God University

(transitioning to Nelson University)

Accreditation: SACSCOC
Campus, Online

Associate Degrees

Tarrant County College District

Health Science pathway
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Campus

Undergraduate Certificates

Associate Degrees

Texas State Technical College

Allied Health
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Online

Undergraduate Certificates

Associate Degrees

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

School of Health Professions
Accreditation: SACSCOC
On-campus

Master's Degrees

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

College of Health Professions, School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Online

Bachelor's Degrees

Tyler Junior College

Public Service
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Campus, Hybrid

Undergraduate Certificates

Associate Degrees

University of North Texas

College of Health and Public Service
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Campus

Undergraduate Certificates

Bachelor's Degrees

Master's Degrees

University of St. Thomas

Kolbe School of Innovation and Professional Studies
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Campus, Online

Undergraduate Certificates

Associate Degrees

Weatherford College

Accreditation: SACSCOC
Campus

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.