To become a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) in Virginia, you’ll earn a bachelor’s degree in any field plus 240 hours of substance use disorder education, register as a supervisee ($65), complete 2,000 hours of supervised experience (minimum 1 year, maximum 5 years), submit your application ($115), and pass the NCAC I Exam. Total timeline: minimum 5 years if completed quickly, typically 6-8 years.
Table of Contents
- Steps to Becoming Certified as a Substance Abuse Counselor in Virginia
- With a Master’s Degree and More Experience Comes Advanced Licensure Options
- Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Richmond, Norfolk, and Throughout Virginia
- Substance Abuse Counselor Salary in Richmond, Norfolk, and Throughout Virginia
- Substance Abuse Counselor Degree Options in Virginia
- Frequently Asked Questions
In 2019, Inova Health Foundation, a nonprofit healthcare organization based in Falls Church, Virginia, launched its Act on Addiction campaign. The main goal of this initiative is to educate the northern Virginia community about addiction and connect people to recovery resources.
Act on Addiction’s 2023 survey shows that for many Virginians, getting help isn’t just a matter of finding the right resources. It’s also about getting the guidance they need to feel comfortable making use of those resources. According to the survey, about 33% of northern Virginians know someone battling a substance use disorder, while 46% said they’d be reluctant to seek help themselves even if they feel they need it.
By taking the steps to become a substance abuse counselor in Virginia, you can help countless people navigate the recovery process and ease the stigma around addiction. In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to do it by becoming a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC).
Steps to Becoming Certified as a Substance Abuse Counselor in Virginia
When looking at how to become a substance abuse counselor in Virginia, you’ll find there are two credentialing bodies operating in the state, one that’s a nonprofit professional association and the other a state government agency:
- The Virginia Certification Board (VCB). The VCB is a private nonprofit organization that’s been certifying substance use disorder professionals in Virginia since 1988. Because the VCB is a member of the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC), it offers a collection of credentials recognized by state certification boards nationwide.
- The Virginia Board of Counseling, often referred to as the Board, offers credentials aligned with the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) standards. Headquartered in Virginia, the Board is a division of the Virginia Department of Health Professionals. As a government organization, the Board offers three credential levels, including a terminal license that grants a level of state legal authority in professional practice beyond what certification grants. All three credentials offered by the Board are recognized by employers and insurers operating throughout Virginia, making them the accepted standard for career-focused substance abuse counselors: Certified Substance Abuse Counseling Assistant (CSAC-A), Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC), and Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioners (LSATP).
When entering the field with the goal of becoming a professional substance abuse counselor, earning the Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) credential is the natural place to start.
While CSACs must work under the supervision of more experienced professionals, they’re involved in every step of treatment. As a CSAC, you could very well become one of those more experienced professionals yourself later in your career.
You’ll take these five steps to become a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) in Virginia:
1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree to Meet Education Requirements
2. Register as a CSAC Supervisee
3. Complete 2,000 Hours of Supervised Experience
4. Complete Education Hours and Submit Your Application for Certification
5. Pass the NAADAC’s National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I Exam
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree to Meet Education Requirements
To become a CSAC in Virginia, the first thing you’ll have to do is earn a bachelor’s degree in any field. The degree doesn’t have to be specifically in addiction studies, but you’ll need to complete 240 hours of didactic education related to substance use disorders as part of your preparation.
For that reason, if you’re just getting started and don’t have a degree yet, the natural path would be to earn your bachelor’s in addiction studies, substance use disorder counseling, or a related field, which typically includes the required 240 education hours within the program.
The Board requires that your 240 education hours include no less than 16 hours across 13 specific domains:
- Dynamics of human behavior
- Symptoms of substance abuse disorders
- Counseling theory
- Case management and the continuum of care
- Relapse prevention and the recovery process
- Ethics and professional responsibilities
- Pharmacology
- Crisis intervention and trauma
- Co-occurring disorders
- Cultural awareness and competency
- Treatment planning and approaches to substance use disorder counseling
- Counseling in group settings
- Screening, assessment, and prevention
Already Have a Degree in Another Field? Here are Some Other Ways to Earn the 240 Education Hours You Need to Become a CSAC
While you can earn all or at least the bulk of your education hours through a degree program, that’s not your only option. If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field, then you technically meet the degree requirement and only need to complete the 240 hours of substance use disorder counseling education, which you can do through any number of pre-approved organizations.
Board-approved education providers in Virginia include the:
- American Counseling Association
- American Psychological Association
- National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC)
- Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification
- National Association of Social Workers
- National Board for Certified Counselors
- Government organizations, including public school systems and health facilities
Organizations affiliated with these agencies are also typically approved. If you’re unsure, you can contact the Board for clarification.
Critical requirement: Whether you’re completing your 240 hours through a degree in substance use disorder counseling or through one of the approved training providers, you’ll need to have at least 120 hours (half of the total) complete before you can register as a supervisee and begin your supervised experience.
Step 2: Register as a CSAC Supervisee
Once you’ve completed 120 education hours, you’re almost ready for the most exciting part of the CSAC certification process: the supervised experience. But before starting supervision, you’ll need to register as a supervisee.
On the Board’s supervisee application form, you’ll be asked to provide:
- A $65 application fee
- Official transcripts and certificates of completion for any training you’ve completed
- Information regarding any criminal cases, convictions, or ethical investigations against you
- Information about your supervisor and where you’ll complete your supervised experience
It typically takes the Board about 30 days to review applications for approval.
Finding a Supervisor
Finding a supervisor effectively means finding a job or internship as a CSAC candidate. It’s standard practice for local employers to hire for trainee or internship positions to foster CSAC candidates through the supervised experience period required to become certified. In Virginia, many employers structure these positions similarly to residencies in healthcare professions, representing the beginning of what often becomes a long-term career with that employer.
You may develop relationships with area employers throughout Virginia as part of the field experience you get in your bachelor’s program. It’s not uncommon for this to lead to supervised experience positions.
Otherwise, you can check the Board’s supervisor database. But no matter where you find a supervisor, they’ll need to meet specific qualifications set forth by the Board.
Your supervisor can be a:
- Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner
- CSAC with two years of experience
- Licensed behavioral health professional, such as a licensed clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or professional counselor with substance use disorder training
- Substance abuse professional certified by a national board, such as the IC&RC or the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC)
Your supervisor must have completed supervisor training to qualify.
Step 3: Complete 2,000 Hours of Supervised Experience
During your 2,000 hours of supervised experience, you’ll learn how to apply what you learn in class to real-life situations. Your supervisor will guide you every step of the way. According to the Board, your supervised experience must be completed within 1 to 5 years. Most candidates complete this requirement in 1-2 years of full-time work.
While almost anything you do as a counselor-in-training can count towards the 2,000-hour requirement, the Board requires that you complete at least 160 hours across the following 12 specific tasks under the supervision of your supervisor:
- Screening clients
- Performing intake duties such as initial assessments
- Performing client orientation, including helping them establish goals and explaining costs
- Performing in-depth client assessments of clients’ needs, strengths, and weaknesses
- Planning treatment with the client and prioritizing their needs
- Providing individual and group counseling
- Carrying out case management duties such as bringing different resources together for your clients
- Planning and performing crisis intervention measures
- Educating clients about substance use disorders and the resources available to them
- Referring clients to other professionals
- Recordkeeping
- Consulting with other professionals
You won’t always be working under your supervisor’s direct supervision. Rather, general supervision is standard. You’ll need to work directly with your supervisor for 1 to 4 hours for every 40 total hours of work experience. By the end of your supervised experience, you’ll need a total of 100 hours working directly with your supervisor. This ensures your supervisor can make a fair assessment of your professional development and offer insightful guidance.
Step 4: Complete Education Hours and Submit Your Application for Certification
Once you’ve completed all experience and education hours, you’ll submit an online application to the Board with a $115 fee. You’ll be asked to include verification forms for your supervised experience and education. If you haven’t already submitted official college transcripts, you’ll do that in this step.
It takes the Board about 30 days to review and process applications. Once your application is approved, they’ll send you information regarding the next step: registering for your final exam.
Step 5: Pass the NAADAC’s National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I Exam
The Board uses an exam administered by the NAADAC, one of the nation’s leading counselor certification organizations. Their National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I Exam (NCAC I Exam) is widely recognized and used to certify new substance use disorder counselors nationwide.
The NCAC I Exam is made up of 150 multiple-choice questions about nine topics:
- Admissions, including intake, screening, and orientation
- Clinical assessment
- Treatment planning
- Individual, family, and group counseling, including education and crisis intervention
- Recordkeeping
- Case management
- Discharge planning and continuing care services
- Legal and ethical responsibilities, as well as professional development
- The psychopharmacology and physiology of substance use disorders
You’ll have three hours to complete your exam. You can schedule it for the time and place that’s most convenient, but you’ll have to take it at an approved testing site. There are sites all over Virginia, including many around Washington, DC, as well as in Richmond, Fredericksburg, Roanoke, Abingdon, and Norfolk. The exam fee is approximately $150, though you should verify the current fee with NAADAC when you register. Prep materials can be found on the NAADAC’s test information webpage.
Receiving Your CSAC Certification
It usually takes the Board two to four weeks to receive exam scores. Once they do, they’ll approve your CSAC certification status and mail you a copy of your certificate in about a week. At that point, you’ll be ready to carry out your new duties, helping people find hope in recovery.
With a Master’s Degree and More Experience Comes Advanced Licensure Options
After becoming a CSAC in Virginia, you can find new career opportunities by gaining experience, pursuing a master’s degree, and earning more advanced credentials through the Board of Counseling. The CSAC is a certification that requires supervision, while these advanced credentials offer licensure for independent practice:
- Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner (LSATP). The LSATP is a professional license (not just certification) that requires a master’s degree in substance use disorder counseling or a related field, additional supervised experience beyond the CSAC level, and passing the Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) exam. LSATPs are trained to handle more complex cases and can operate their own independent practices. Becoming an LSATP is also a good option if you want to pursue high-level administrative positions.
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Like LSATPs, LPCs can run private counseling practices. But in addition to providing substance use disorder treatment, LPCs can also diagnose and treat any number of mental health disorders. This license requires a master’s degree in counseling and additional supervised experience.
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT). MFTs are experts in family and relationship dynamics. Pursuing this license can help you learn how to serve clients directly and indirectly affected by substance use disorders. This also requires a master’s degree and supervised experience focused on marriage and family therapy.
Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Richmond, Norfolk, and Throughout Virginia
When it’s time to look for jobs, Richmond might be a good place to start. The city is home to the McShin Foundation, one of Virginia’s largest treatment providers, and Virginia Recovery Centers, a provider with locations in Richmond and Mechanicsville.
Outside of Richmond, Norfolk and its surrounding communities are home to large recovery networks. For example, Landmark Recovery, a nationwide treatment provider, has a location in Norfolk. Nearby Portsmouth is home to clinics like Safe Harbor, which provides multiple types of specialized care at its three locations.
To find more substance use disorder counselor jobs in Virginia, you may want to investigate:
- The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services: a state-run agency that operates community service boards across the state that provide recovery services
- The Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance of Virginia: a coalition of substance use disorder professionals and organizations that runs a number of outreach and advocacy programs
- HCA Virginia Health System: one of the state’s largest healthcare provider systems that offers recovery services at multiple locations
- The Virginia Association of Addiction Professionals: a statewide professional counselor organization that partners with treatment providers all over the state
Substance Abuse Counselor Salary in Richmond, Norfolk, and Throughout Virginia
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), substance abuse counselors in Virginia earn competitive salaries that vary based on experience, credentials, and location within the state. Areas with higher costs of living, such as Northern Virginia near Washington DC, tend to offer higher compensation, while rural areas may have lower salary ranges that reflect regional economic conditions.
| Location | Entry-Level (10th %ile) | Median | Experienced (90th %ile) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia (Statewide) | $39,150 | $58,410 | $96,230 |
| Richmond Metro | $36,000 | $57,220 | $80,000 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News | $41,000 | $61,710 | $85,000 |
The Hampton Roads region, which includes Norfolk and Virginia Beach, often offers slightly higher salaries due to the large military presence and specialized counseling opportunities serving veterans and active-duty personnel. Richmond, as the state capital, provides diverse employment opportunities across hospitals, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
Substance Abuse Counselor Degree Options in Virginia
When you’re ready to prepare for your career as a CSAC in Virginia, there are many schools across the state that can help. For example, Northern Virginia, Southside Virginia, and Southwest Virginia Community Colleges all offer certificate programs that help students meet their educational and practicum-hour requirements. These certificates can be earned in about a year to a year and a half.
If you’re looking for online options, Old Dominion University in Norfolk offers an Addiction Prevention and Treatment Certificate. Similarly, Liberty University offers an online BS in Psychology — Addictions and Recovery.
Liberty University
School of Behavioral Science
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Online
Bachelor’s Degrees
- BS in Psychology-Addictions and Recovery, Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies
Master’s Degrees
- MA in Addictions Counseling
- MA in Pastoral Counseling-Addictions and Recovery
- MA in Human Services Counseling-Addictions and Recovery specialization
Northern Virginia Community College
Languages, Arts and Social Sciences Division
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Campus
Undergraduate Certificates
- Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Counselor Certificate
Old Dominion University
Darden College of Education and Professional Studies, Department of Counseling and Human Services
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Campus, Online
Undergraduate Certificates
- Certificate in Addiction Prevention and Treatment
Bachelor’s Degrees
- Minor in Addiction Prevention and Treatment
Patrick and Henry Community College
Transfer Studies and Education
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Campus
Undergraduate Certificates
- Career Studies Certificate-Substance Abuse Counselor Assistant
Southside Virginia Community College
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Campus
Undergraduate Certificates
- Substance Abuse Counseling Assistant Certificate
- Career Studies Certificate-Substance Abuse Counseling Aide
Southwest Virginia Community College
Public Service and Safety
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Campus, Online
Undergraduate Certificates
- Certificate-Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Counselor
Associate Degrees
- AAS in Substance Abuse
Virginia Commonwealth University
School of Medicine
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Campus
Master’s Degrees
- MS in Addiction Studies
Graduate Certificates
- Graduate Certificate in International Addiction Studies-Intermediate Concentration
- Graduate Certificate in International Addiction Studies-Advanced Concentration
William & Mary
School of Education
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Campus
Master’s Degrees
- M.Ed in Counseling-Clinical Mental Health and Addictions concentration
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do I need to become a substance abuse counselor in Virginia?
You need a bachelor’s degree in any field, plus you must complete 240 hours of substance use disorder education (with a minimum of 16 hours in each of 13 specific domains). The most direct path is earning a bachelor’s degree in addiction studies, substance use disorder counseling, or a related field, which typically includes the required education hours within the program. At least 120 of the 240 hours must be completed before you can register for supervised experience.
How long does it take to become a CSAC in Virginia?
The entire process typically takes 5-8 years. This includes 4 years to earn your bachelor’s degree (which should include the 240 education hours), plus 1-5 years to complete the 2,000 hours of supervised experience. The supervised experience must take at least 1 year and no more than 5 years. Most candidates complete their supervised experience in 1-2 years of full-time work, making the total timeline about 5-6 years for those who complete it efficiently.
What’s the difference between CSAC and LSATP in Virginia?
A CSAC (Certified Substance Abuse Counselor) is an entry-level certification requiring a bachelor’s degree and supervised experience. CSACs must work under supervision. An LSATP (Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner) is an advanced professional license requiring a master’s degree in substance use disorder counseling or a related field, additional supervised experience beyond the CSAC level, and passing the Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) exam. LSATPs can operate independent practices and supervise CSACs.
Can I work as a counselor during my supervised experience in Virginia?
Yes, your supervised experience is essentially a supervised job or internship. Once you register as a CSAC supervisee, you’ll work in a treatment setting under the supervision of a qualified supervisor. This is standard practice, and many employers hire specifically for supervised experience positions with the goal of retaining you after certification.
How much does it cost to become a substance abuse counselor in Virginia?
Beyond your degree tuition costs, you’ll pay $65 to register as a supervisee, $115 for your CSAC application, and approximately $150 for the NCAC I Exam (verify current fee with NAADAC), totaling about $330 in certification fees. Your education costs will vary depending on whether you attend a community college, state university, or private institution.
Does Virginia recognize substance abuse counselor certifications from other states?
Virginia’s Board of Counseling credentials are aligned with NAADAC standards, which may facilitate reciprocity with other states. The Virginia Certification Board offers IC&RC credentials, which are recognized by certification boards in many states. You should check with the Virginia Board of Counseling about specific state-to-state reciprocity agreements.
Key Takeaways
- Virginia offers two credentialing paths: the Virginia Certification Board (VCB) with IC&RC credentials, and the Virginia Board of Counseling with government-backed CSAC certification and LSATP licensure.
- Becoming a CSAC requires a bachelor’s degree in any field, 240 hours of substance use disorder education across 13 specific domains (with at least 120 hours completed before starting supervision), registration as a supervisee ($65), and passing the NCAC I Exam (approximately $150, verify with NAADAC).
- The 2,000 hours of supervised experience must take at least 1 year and no more than 5 years, and must be completed through a supervised job or internship, with at least 100 hours of direct supervisor contact and 160 hours across specific counseling tasks.
- Total certification fees are modest (about $330), making this an accessible career path, though degree costs will vary by institution type. Total timeline: minimum 5 years (if completed quickly), typically 6-8 years.
- Richmond and Norfolk offer strong job markets with major employers like the McShin Foundation, Virginia Recovery Centers, Landmark Recovery, and Safe Harbor.
- Advanced career options include LSATP licensure for independent practice (requires master’s degree and MAC exam), LPC for broader mental health counseling, and MFT for family-focused treatment.
Ready to Start Your Counseling Career in Virginia?
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View Degree Programs2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed November 2025.
