How to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor in Washington

In Washington State, one word describes the opioid epidemic: devastating.

A cascade of fatalities from opioid use – largely fentanyl-related – continue to plague the Evergreen State, hitting a new high in 2022 with 2,001 deaths in that one year alone.

Seattle has become the poster child for this grim reality. Against the backdrop of a vibrant downtown scene, just steps from the famed Pike Place Market, victims of heroin, meth, and fentanyl addiction line the streets and serve as a stark reminder of a growing problem.

Overdose deaths in Seattle skyrocketed 72 percent between 2021 and 2022, with the Seattle Fire Department responding to an average of 15 overdose calls daily in 2023, blowing 2022 numbers out of the water by early fall.

Local residents and business owners can only describe the open and unchecked use of drugs on the streets of the Emerald City as madness. Everyone witnessing the devastation first-hand is sounding the alarm — from state and local officials to first responders and community members to outreach workers out on the frontline.

But the substance use disorder professional community in Washington are bringing the fight to the streets. Whether you’re along the I-5 corridor in Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, or Everett, or out east in the Tri-Cities or Spokane, you’re bearing witness to the efforts to combat the crisis in real time. Washington’s Substance Use Disorder Professionals (SUDP), are leading the charge, fully committed to saving lives and taking their communities back one success story at a time.

Whether out there, on those streets, working with mobile crisis teams to provide immediate resources to the homeless, lending expertise in small community clinics and residential treatment facilities, or serving the major hospital systems of Harborview or Overlake on the Eastside, becoming a substance abuse counselor in Washington means being a vital part of the state’s layered network of services that combat addiction and save lives.

Steps to Becoming Certified as a Substance Abuse Counselor in Washington

The Washington State Department of Health oversees the credentialing of substance abuse counselors in Washington. If you want to assess and diagnose substance use disorders and engage in substance use disorder treatment planning and referral, patient and family education, individual and group counseling, relapse prevention counseling, and case management, you’ll need to become a Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP).

Here are the steps you’ll take to become an SUDP in Washington:

1. Earn an Associate or Higher Degree: Complete 60 College Credits, Including 30 Credits in Substance Use Disorder Counseling

2. Earn a Substance Use Disorder Professional Trainee (SUDPT) Certificate

3. Complete 2,500 Hours of Supervised Experience (or fewer with a degree)

4. Apply for SUDP Certification through the Washington State Department of Health

5. Take and Pass the NAADAC Level I Exam

The process of becoming an SUDP in Washington may seem like a complicated process, but we’re here to help. We’ve broken down the process into easily manageable steps that will allow you to move forward with confidence.

1. Earn an Associate or Higher Degree: 60 College Credits, Including 30 Credits in Substance Use Disorder Counseling

To become an SUDP in Washington State, you’ll need to complete a course of education that’s equal to 60 semester college credits from an approved school. Of the 60 credits, at least half of them (30 credits) must be in courses related to the substance use disorder profession and must include specific topics required by the Department of Health.

If you haven’t yet earned a degree in the human services field, the standard path to meeting the educational requirements for SUDP certification is through an associate degree in substance abuse counseling or a similar focus. These programs satisfy the 60-credit requirement, as well as the 30-credit requirement for courses related to the substance use disorder profession.

If you’ve already completed an associate degree or higher in a human services (e.g., health education, behavioral science, psychology, mental health counseling, social work, criminal justice, counseling education) or related field, you may also pursue a certificate program that satisfies the required 30 credits related to the substance use disorder profession. A number of community colleges throughout Washington offer certificate programs that meet these requirements.

Earning a bachelor’s degree or higher instead of an associate degree can be a smart move, as it eliminates some of the required experience hours necessary for certification (see Step 3) and positions you for advanced certification and the job opportunities that come with it. (See the section below: With a Higher Degree and More Experience Comes Advanced Certification Options)

2. Earn a Substance Use Disorder Professional Trainee (SUDPT) Certificate

Once you’ve either completed the required education or are currently enrolled in a degree program, you’ll apply to become a Substance Use Disorder Professional Trainee (SUDPT). But first, you’ll have to find a provider and approved supervisor who will take you on as a trainee. So, how do you do this?

A degree program’s practicum (internship) is a great way to get connected with a local provider who may end up hiring you on as a trainee and provide supervision and support while you gain and document the experience hours necessary for SUDP certification. Most schools will help you find a provider for your practicum, which can then lead to employment as a trainee while you complete the necessary experience – even while you’re still working toward your degree.

Once you’ve landed a job, you’ll complete the SUDPT application process, which includes:

The completion of a background check
Your signed declaration that you are enrolled in an approved education program (or have completed all educational requirements) and are obtaining the required experience
A Verification of Substance Use Disorder Professional Supervision and Experience form completed and signed by your direct supervisor.

3. Complete 2,500 Hours of Supervised Experience (or fewer with a degree)

Working under the SUDPT certificate, you’ll begin accruing the necessary hours for SUDP certification. If you’ve completed a certificate program or associate degree, you’ll need to complete a minimum of 2,500 hours of experience in substance use disorder counseling, the first 50 of which must be under the direct observation of your approved supervisor or other substance use disorder professional. If you’ve earned an associate degree or higher, you’ll meet this 50-hour requirement through your program’s practicum (internship).

If you are in the process of earning, or have already earned, a bachelor’s degree or higher in human services or a related field, you won’t need to complete as many hours of experience:

4. Apply for SUDP Certification through the Washington Department of Health

The last step to becoming a substance abuse counselor in Washington State requires passing the exam. But before you can take the exam, you must satisfy all education and experience requirements and gain approval from the Department of Health by applying for SUDP certification.

You’ll complete and submit the Substance Use Disorder Professional Certification Application Packet (either online or through a paper application). The school where you received your degree must send transcripts directly to the Department of Health. As part of the application, you’ll need to complete the Verification of Substance Use Disorder Professional Supervision and Experience form, and your supervisor must submit and sign the Substance Use Disorder Professional Statement of Qualification form.

Once the Department of Health has received your application and has approved your education and supervised experience, they’ll send you an email that includes instructions on how to register for the exam. You’ll need the code/link provided by the department to register for the exam.

5. Pass the NAADAC Level I Exam

You must take and pass the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) Level I exam to qualify for certification as a SUPD counselor in Washington State.

If you are currently residing in another state that uses the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) Alcohol Drug Counselor (ADC) exam, you will be recognized on the basis of having passed this exam. However, this exam is not available in Washington State.

The NAADAC exam is a 150 multiple-choice exam that must be completed in three hours. The exam assesses your knowledge of (1) the treatment process; (2) assessment; (3) ongoing treatment planning and implementation; (4) addition counseling practices and skills; and (5) professional practices. You’ll need to score at least 67 percent (100 out of 150 questions) to pass.

You’ll choose the day, time, and location of your exam. There are currently four testing centers in Washington: Bellevue, Tacoma, Ellensburg, and Federal Way.

Once you pass the exam, the NCC AP will forward your test results to the department, who will then issue you the SUDP certification.

You must renew your SUDP certification every year on or before your birthday. You must also complete at least 40 hours of continuing education every two years and submit an enhancement plan that details your completed CE in the required topics. You must also complete at least three hours of training in suicide assessment, including screening and referral, every three years.

With a Higher Degree and More Experience Comes Advanced Certification Options in Washington State

Though Washington State doesn’t offer advanced certification options for SUDPs, it is possible to earn advanced nationally-recognized credentials through the NCC AP. These credentials reflect your advanced education and experience and position you for career advancement in the field:

Bachelor’s degree or higher in substance use disorders/addiction and/or related counseling subjects (i.e., social work, mental health counseling, marriage & family, psychology)
SUDP certification through the Washington Department of Health
At least three years of full-time experience (or 6,000 hours of supervised experience) as a substance abuse counselor
At least 450 contact hours of education and training in substance use disorders/addiction
Passing score of the NAADAC Level II exam through the NCC AP

Master’s degree or higher in substance use disorders/addiction and/or related counseling subjects (i.e., social work, mental health counseling marriage & family psychology, medical doctor)
SUDP certification through the Washington Department of Health
At least three years of full-time experience (or 6,000 hours of supervised experience) as a substance abuse counselor
At least 500 contact hours of education and training in substance use disorders/addiction
Passing score of the Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) exam through the NCC AP

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Washington

In June 2023, Washington’s new drug law, called the “Blake” bill, went into effect. This law makes drug possession and the public use of drugs gross misdemeanors instead of felonies. This legislation also includes language encouraging law enforcement to offer offenders referrals to treatment and creates a framework for judges to send people with substance use disorder to treatment instead of jail. This landmark legislation is just one of the ways Washington is fighting the drug epidemic in the state. It’s also a clear indicator that jobs for substance abuse counselors will remain in high demand here.

Substance abuse counselor jobs here in Washington are plentiful and wide-reaching, with opportunities available in correctional facilities, private residential treatment facilities, outpatient treatment centers, hospitals, community programs, and more. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) 2020 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services reports that Washington State was home to 457 substance abuse treatment facilities that treated nearly 34,000 people in 2020 alone.

According to the Department of Labor, the number of substance abuse counselor jobs in Washington is expected to grow by 23 percent in the decade leading up to 2030. During this ten-year period, the state should see about 4,100 annual job openings in the field due to a blend of new job creation, retirements, and natural job turnover.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) statistics, there is a clear need for substance abuse counselors across Washington, although in some counties, demand is likely much higher due to the sheer number of opioid overdose deaths. The following Washington counties reported rates of opioid overdose deaths, which far exceed the national death rate of 32.5 deaths per 100,000 people between September 2022 – August 2023:

Grays Harbor County (Aberdeen): 87 deaths per 100,000 people
King County (Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond): 56 deaths per 100,000 people
Mason County (Shelton): 54.3 deaths per 100,000 people
Clallam County (Port Angeles): 51.4 deaths per 100,000 people
Whatcom County (Bellingham): 49 deaths per 100,000 people
Lewis County (Centralia): 48 deaths per 100,000 people
Pierce County (Tacoma): 48 deaths per 100,000 people
Spokane County: 46.8 deaths per 100,000 people

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Seattle

King County is making serious strides in its fight against drug addiction. Thanks to the passage of a $1.25 billion tax levy, they have plans to create five crisis care centers across the county that will treat those with mental health and substance use disorders. They’re also expanding efforts to distribute naloxone, increasing funding for mobile methadone clinics, and increasing the number of mobile crisis teams. And in July 2023, the Seattle Fire Department launched their newest team, called Health 99, to swiftly respond to overdose calls and connect patients to life-saving treatment and resources.

Substance abuse counselors in Seattle are found making a difference in places like the Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Program, which is a free drug and alcohol rehab for those battling addiction in the Seattle area. They also often work for private treatment centers like Northpoint Seattle, which offers a wide range of evidence-based rehab programs for both adolescents and adults, including partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and traditional outpatient programs.

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Spokane

At the intersection of Second Avenue and Division Street in downtown Spokane, largely considered the main gateway into the city, the homeless and drug addicted line the streets in various stages of suffering and distress. Fentanyl is the big killer here, often putting this spot in Spokane front and center on the evening news. But there’s hope here, too, with social advocacy and nonprofits providing care, shelter, and supportive housing throughout the area.

Substance abuse counselors are found in many of the area’s private inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities, like the Spokane Falls Recovery Center, which offers a range of detox programs, a residential treatment program, a partial hospitalization program, and outpatient treatment programs.

And they’re lending their expertise to nonprofits like the Spokane Addiction Recovery Centers, which has been providing support and treatment services for alcoholism and drug addiction for decades. Today, this organization is home to an intensive inpatient program, a recovery house, and a variety of outpatient services and resources.

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Tacoma

In Tacoma, substance abuse counselors are making a difference at private treatment centers like Prosperity Wellness Center, where they’ve been offering trauma-informed SUD since 1992 through both residential and intensive outpatient programs. They’re also part of public programs like those offered through the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, which provides medications for opioid use disorder and substance use disorder treatment and offers group and individual counseling and education.

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Vancouver

Vancouver’s substance abuse counselors are found helping patients at facilities like Lifeline Connections, which offers a number of treatment programs aimed at mental health and substance use disorders. Its Vancouver location offers community-based services, detox services, individual therapy, both men’s and women’s recovery residences, offender re-entry community support programs, jail transition services, and more.

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Bellevue

Bellevue is home to a number of substance abuse treatment facilities where substance abuse counselors are engaged in rewarding counseling work. For example, Hotel California by the Sea provides a full range of drug and alcohol treatment options, including detox services, residential treatment programs, and outpatient programs that help patients transition back into independent life.

And they’re an important part of programs like Bellevue’s Hazelden Betty Ford, an outpatient center that provides evidence-based addiction treatment therapies and programs for drug and alcohol addiction. Programs here include both virtual and in-person options.

Substance Abuse Counselor Salary in Seattle, Bellingham, Spokane, Bremerton, Olympia, and Throughout Washington

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), substance abuse counselors in Washington earned a median salary of $58,540 as of May 2023, which was about $5,000 higher than the national median for this profession during this time. Washington’s early career professionals in substance abuse counseling earned about $48,080 during this time, while the highest paid professionals made more than $92,970.

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Seattle

According to the BLS, substance abuse counselors in the Seattle metro area, which also includes Tacoma and Bellevue, earned a starting salary of about $48,970, a median salary of $59,770, and a top salary of $95,890 or more as of May 2023.

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Bellingham

As of May 2023, the BLS reported that substance abuse counselors in Bellingham earned a median salary of $62,480 – the highest median salary for these professionals in Washington State. Early career professionals here earned about $49,580, while those at the top of the pay scale earned $96,160 or more – the highest top salary for substance abuse counselors in Washington.

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Spokane

According to May 2023 stats from the BLS, substance abuse counselors in Spokane earned a starting salary of about $45,650, a median salary of $55,590, and a top salary of more than $84,450.

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Bremerton

According to the BLS, substance abuse counselors in the Bremerton metro area, which also includes Silverdale, earned a median salary of $51,800 as of May 2023. With just a couple years of experience, these professionals earned about $47,770, while those at the top of their profession earned more than $84,580.

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Olympia

The BLS reported that as of May 2023, substance abuse counselors in the Olympia metro area, which also includes Tumwater, earned a starting salary of about $46,290, a median salary of $57,030, and a top salary stating at $84,170.

Substance Abuse Counselor Degree Options in Washington

You’ll find plenty of options to get the education you’ll need to become an SUDP in Washington. Many community colleges offer associate degrees in the field that satisfy all the requirements for certification. For example, Centralia College offers the AAS in Substance Use Disorder, while Lake Washington Institute of Technology offers an AAS in Behavioral and Social Services.

You’ll also find a number of certificate programs designed for students who have already completed an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree in one of the human services fields but still need to complete the required substance abuse counselor coursework for certification. Eastern Washington University, for example, offers an online Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies program that meets the requirements for SUDP certification for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher in the human services field. And Edmonds College offers a Chemical Dependency Specialist Certificate for students who have completed an associate’s degree or higher in a field related to human services.

Antioch University

Seattle Campus
Accreditation: HLC
Low residency

Bachelor's Degrees

Master's Degrees

Graduate Certificates

Centralia College

Social Sciences and Human Services
Accreditation: NWCCU
Campus, Online, Hybrid

Associate Degrees

City University of Seattle

School of Health and Social Sciences
Accreditation: NWCCU
Campus

Graduate Certificates

Clark College

Addiction Counselor Education Department
Accreditation: NWCCU
Campus

Undergraduate Certificates

Associate Degrees

Eastern Washington University

College of Professional Programs, School of Social Work
Accreditation: NWCCU
Campus, Online

Undergraduate Certificates

Bachelor's Degrees

Master's Degrees

Graduate Certificates

Edmonds College

Human Services and Behavioral Health
Accreditation: NWCCU
Campus

Undergraduate Certificates

Associate Degrees

Grays Harbor College

Accreditation: NWCCU
Campus

Undergraduate Certificates

Associate Degrees

Highline College

Education and Human Services
Accreditation: NWCCU
Campus

Undergraduate Certificates

Associate Degrees

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

School of Health Sciences
Accreditation: NWCCU
Campus

Undergraduate Certificates

Associate Degrees

Lower Columbia College

Health Sciences and Wellness
Accreditation: NWCCU
Campus

Associate Degrees

Northwest Indiana College

Accreditation: NWCCU
Campus, Online

Associate Degrees

Olympic College

Social Science, Service and Education pathway
Accreditation: NWCCU
Campus

Undergraduate Certificates

Associate Degrees

Peninsula College

Accreditation: NWCCU
Campus

Undergraduate Certificates

Addiction Studies Short Term Certificate
Addiction Studies Counseling and Wellness Short Term Certificate
Addiction Studies Counseling and Case Management Short Term Certificate
Addiction Studies Addictive Drugs Studies Short Term Certificate
Addiction Studies Youth Addiction Studies Short Term Certificate

Associate Degrees

Seattle Central College

Education and Human Services
Accreditation: NWCCU
Campus

Undergraduate Certificates

Associate Degrees

Seattle University

College of Education
Accreditation: NWCCU
Campus, Online

Master's Degrees

Skagit Valley College

Public Service and Social Science
Accreditation: NWCCU
Campus

Undergraduate Certificates

Associate Degrees

Spokane Falls Community College

Education, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Accreditation: NWCCU
Campus, Online

Associate Degrees

Wenatchee Valley College

Health and Human Services
Accreditation: NWCCU
Campus

Undergraduate Certificates

Associate Degrees

Whatcom Community College

Healthcare and Social Services
Accreditation: NWCCU
Campus

Undergraduate Certificates

Associate Degrees

Yakima Valley College

Social Sciences and Education
Accreditation: NWCCU
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.