In the majority of states, an associate degree meets or exceeds the requirement for substance abuse counselor certification. In several states, it’s all you need to meet the education requirements for the highest-level certification, reserved for independent practitioners and supervisors.
Associate degree programs are often the first step toward a professional career in substance use disorder (SUD) counseling. —
They offer an affordable and effective education that can get you in at the ground level in a profession that is vitally important to American society today.
Addiction counseling is one of the fastest-growing positions in human services. In many communities, it’s easy to look around and see why
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, predicts that positions will grow at an eye-popping rate of 18 percent during the ten-year run up to 2032.
Yet that’s a drop in the bucket compared to the overall need for experts capable of helping people with substance use disorders in America.
According to CDC data from 2021, overdose death rates jumped by nearly that amount — 16 percent in one year alone between 2020 and 2021. Synthetic opioid deaths increased by 22 percent. And nothing so far has been able to stem the tide.
The urgency of this situation speaks for itself. And it’s exactly why fast, effective educational programs designed to prepare professionals who can treat substance use disorders are so critical today.
An associate degree strikes that perfect balance between quick completion times and depth of knowledge you need to get out onto the front lines in your community.
Associate Degrees in Substance Abuse Counseling as a Fast-Path to State Certification
An associate degree is enough to get you to certification as a SUD counselor or associate-level counselor in these states (SAMHSA defines Associate-level professionals as those who hold non-provisional licenses and who can provide services under supervision; while SUD counselors only need supervision when providing clinical services.)
State | Certification Titles |
Alaska | Chemical Dependency Counselor I/Chemical Dependency Counselor II |
Alabama | Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor |
Arizona | Certified Addiction Counselor |
California | Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor I (Associate-level) |
Colorado | Certified Addiction Counselor II |
Connecticut | Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor-Provisional / Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor |
Washington DC | Certified Addiction Counselor I / Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor |
Delaware | Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor |
Georgia | Certified Addiction Counselor I / Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor |
Hawaii | Certified Substance Abuse Counselor |
Iowa | Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor |
Idaho | Certified Alcohol-Drug Counselor |
Illinois | Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor |
Indiana | Certified Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselor II |
Massachusetts | Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (Associate-level) |
Maine | Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor/Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor/Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor II |
Michigan | Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor |
Missouri | Addiction Counselor II/Missouri Associate Alcohol & Drug Counselor II |
Montana | Licensed Addiction Counselor (Associate-Level) |
North Carolina | Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor |
Nebraska | Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor |
New Hampshire | Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor |
New Jersey | Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor |
New Mexico | Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (Associate-level) |
New York | Credentialed Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Counselor II |
Ohio | Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor II |
Oregon | Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor I (Associate-level) |
Pennsylvania | Certified Associate Addiction Counselor |
Rhode Island | Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor/Licensed Chemical Dependency Professional |
South Dakota | Certified Addiction Counselor |
Tennessee | Level I Licensed Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor |
Texas | Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse Counselor/Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor |
Utah | Substance Use Disorder Counselor |
Washington | Substance Use Disorder Professional |
Wisconsin | Substance Abuse Counselor/Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor |
West Virginia | Alcohol & Drug Counselor |
In a handful of these states, an associate degree meets or exceeds the requirements to go all the way to the top of the ladder, qualified for certification as an independent SUD counselor or supervisor.
State | Certification Titles |
Alaska | Chemical Dependency Counselor II |
Hawaii | Certified Substance Abuse Counselor |
Maine | Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor II |
Montana | Licensed Addiction Counselor |
Nebraska | Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor |
New Mexico | Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor |
Washington | Substance Use Disorder Professional |
Wisconsin | Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor |
If you don’t see your state in one of these tables, it means the entry-point into the field requires at least a bachelor’s degree. Even in these states, an associate degree plays an important role in offering a more affordable path to completing the first two years of study, providing credits that are transferrable to the bachelor’s in substance abuse counseling you’ll need.
Understanding Your Options with Associate Degree Programs in Substance Abuse Counseling
What you already know is that an associate degree in substance use disorder counseling is a two-year college program.
But what you might not know is that it both gives you targeted skills in treating people experiencing substance dependency, while building your written and verbal communication skills and general knowledge in liberal arts and sciences. This makes you more employable in general, and sets you up to excel at the many duties you’ll have outside of one-on-one and group counseling.
Associate degrees have some practical benefits whether you live in a state where an associate degree is all you need for SUD counselor certification or one where a bachelor’s is required.
Since the per-credit costs for an associate program are often lower than a bachelor’s, that can be both a good way to save money, and a great way to get started even if you can’t immediately afford a full four-year program.
These programs are commonly found with degree titles like:
- Associate of Arts in Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counseling
- Associate of Applied Sciences in Substance Use Disorder Counseling
- Associate of Applied Science in Addiction Counseling
- Associate of Applied Science in Addiction Studies
- Associate of Science in Substance Abuse Counseling
- Associate of Science in Alcohol and Other Drug Studies
Associate Transfer Degrees
Some associate degrees are designed specifically to serve as transfer degrees that can cover the first half of a full four-year bachelor’s program. This is often the case in states where a bachelor’s is required for SUD counselor certification. This usually involves a transfer agreement between the community college or vocation school offering the associate degree and the local university offering the bachelor’s completion options.
Often, universities offer both the associate transfer degree and the bachelor’s completion option, creating a comprehensive path that can be tackled in two-year spans. Students often go into the workforce as trainees after completing the associate option, gaining much of the experience they need for certification before going on to complete the bachelor’s
What’s the Difference Between Associate (AA & AS) and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degrees?
You’ll notice that many of the programs listed above are AAS, or associate of applied science, degrees. These differ from associate of arts (AA) or associate of science (AS) programs since they’re more focused on technical skills and preparation in a particular career field than in general education.
While you’ll still take college level courses in fields like social studies and the science, an AAS may not be the best choice if you intend to continue on to earn a bachelor’s or eventually a master’s. It’s also not necessarily the best options if your goal is to land a job that isn’t exclusively focused on substance use disorders.
For example, if your plan is to go on to earn a bachelor’s in psychology, an AAS may not transfer as easily as an AA or an AS. Or if you eventually want to work in human services more broadly, you might not get all the same general business and social studies coursework you need.
On the other hand, an AAS offers more practical training in SUD counseling than an AA or AS. You’ll be able to hit the ground running with the right qualifications for entry-level work in addictions therapy.
As a general rule, you’re more likely to find AAS options in states where an associate degree in addiction counseling is all you need for certification and advancement in the field. In states that require a bachelor’s, you’re more likely to find associate degrees that transfer easily to a bachelor’s.
Many Human Services Degrees Offer Specializations in Substance Use Disorders
Because SUD counseling is an interdisciplinary field, with expertise coming from social services, psychology, and other human services disciplines, you can also find substance abuse counseling specializations added on to associate degrees in those fields. These have titles like:
- Associate of Applied Science in Human Services Substance Abuse Counseling Specialization
- Associate of Arts with a Concentration in Addictions
- Associate of Arts in Community Social Services, Substance Abuse
- Associate of Applied Science in Human Services Technology - Substance Abuse
- Associate in Behavioral Sciences with an Emphasis in Alcohol and Other Drug Studies
- Associate of Applied Sciences in Mental Health & Human Services, Substance Abuse Counseling
- Associate of Applied Science in Mental Health/Social Work with a Certificate in Addiction Studies
While these can include much of the same important coursework as a dedicated addiction studies degree, they may not completely cover state licensing requirements for the job. You’ll have to check carefully to make sure a program covers all the required subjects and with the required education hours to meet licensing or certification qualifications where you live.
Associate Degrees Offer a Path To Higher Credentials if All You Have is a Certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling
If you live in a state that offers a path into SUD counseling without a requiring an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree, it’s likely you picked up a certificate or diploma to meet the basic training requirements.
Certificate and diploma programs often overlap with the scientific and clinical side of an associate in addiction counseling. In fact, at many community colleges and technical schools, they are basically identical, with the associate program simply including the more general math, science, and social studies courses.
If you planned ahead or are just lucky, you may be able to count some of those earlier classes toward your degree.
Particularly if you are continuing your studies at the same college, it’s possible to apply credits earned in a certificate program toward completing an associate in the same major. There may be a time limit on doing so, or you might find that not every credit will be recognized. But it’s still an excellent way to cut down on both the time and cost of an associate degree.
The Importance of Accreditation When Selecting an Associate Degree in Substance Abuse Counseling
Most programs will make it crystal clear whether or not they meet state standards required for licensing. You’ll typically find that information front and center on their websites.
Some state licensing agencies directly evaluate and accredit schools offering approved programs in their state. Many of these agencies maintain a list of colleges with degrees that fulfill the education hour requirements for licensing or certification.
It’s crucial to ensure that your program fulfills the requirements in the state where you plan to work.
Still other states rely on approval from the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission (NASAC), a national organization affiliated with NAADAC, the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, which administers national certification and related exams in the field.
In other cases, there may be a variety of organizations at the state level that review and approve programs, like CAADE, CCAP, and CADTP in California. No matter what, this approval from your state licensing board is absolutely critical to finding a degree that will actually count toward your credentials.
Comprehensive Coursework in Substance Abuse and Addiction Comes With Associate Programs in Sud Counseling
Coursework in an associate degree is split roughly half and half between standard college general education classes and classes that build professional skills in your field. With only two years to work with, that will mean jamming in subjects like:
- Human Biology and Psychology
- Psychopharmacology and Chemical Dependency
- Assessment and Treatment Techniques
- Addiction and Trauma
- Group Counseling Methods
- Special Populations in Addiction Treatment
- Co-occurring Disorders in Substance Use
- Professional Ethics and Regulations in Substance Abuse Treatment
There is also usually some training in larger processes and systems involved with human services delivery in the United States. Case management and referrals are a big part of treatment programs. Addiction counseling associate degree training helps paint a picture of the resources available for counselors.
Despite the tight class load, there is also room for a few electives in these programs. You may choose to build on your basic expertise with more big picture subjects, like social issues in addictions or drug policy in America. Or you might decide to zoom in to hone your counseling skills with classes in interviewing skills or interpersonal communications effectiveness.
An associates degree in substance abuse counseling offers a complete package of the knowledge and skills you need to get started as a substance abuse counselor.
Frequently, substance abuse associate degree studies go even further by actually putting you on the job through brief internship or practicum opportunities. These placements allow you to put into practice some of the theory you learn in the classroom, all under the watchful eye of expert counselors and instructors who can keep you on the rails. Just as important, these hours of supervised patient contact will start the clock on the several thousand practice hours required for licensure or certification.
Even a Two-Year College Degree Has More To Offer Than Just Technical Information About Addiction
While addiction and substance use studies are clearly the highlights of these programs, you shouldn’t sleep on the liberal arts coursework that makes a college degree a college degree. There’s a good reason an associate in substance abuse counseling goes further and qualifies you for more responsibility than a certificate that comes with the same addiction studies classes.
That reason is the extra social, communication, and creative thinking skills that a traditional college education brings you. With broader perspective, you have more insights into the human condition and the context of drug and alcohol use in America today. You may build deeper connections and deliver stronger treatment.
Finding the Right School for Your Associate Degree in Addiction Counseling
Not all associate degrees in substance abuse counseling are created equal. While those that meet state standards for licensing or certification will contain the same number of hours of required coursework, there can be big differences in how that material is delivered and how it shapes you into an effective SUD counselor.
Those differences come down to the qualities of the school behind the program. Since you’ll probably have a few different choices on the menu, it pays to investigate some of the biggest factors in getting a quality counseling education. Those include:
- Faculty - One big benefit to associate degrees even over high-level programs like bachelor’s and master’s degrees is that your professors are far more likely to come from the neighborhood. That can be a big deal in a street-level position like substance abuse counseling. But in either case, you want to study under instructors who both have strong academic credentials and the kind of world-wise street smarts that build connections with individuals experiencing addiction.
- Experiential Opportunities - Earning an associate degree in substance abuse counseling can be a pretty dry and detached exercise without real-world exposure to the community and population you hope to serve. So it’s a good idea to check on internship and practicum options, both required and available, with schools you are considering to make sure they get you out where your lessons can do some good.
- Community Relationships - On a related note, finding out what kind of relationships exist between the school and local and regional service providers is also useful in making your choices. A school with strong ties and faculty networks connected back to real-world human services in your area is one that offers you a ready-made network for job hunting and career building after graduation. And it’s also likely to offer more chances for interesting internships that may lead you to job offers later.
Associate Degrees Offer an Affordable Education in Substance Abuse Counseling
Many people opting for an associate degree have cost as one of their primary considerations. You’ll probably find that most degrees at this level have similar tuition costs. And they’ll be much more affordable than a bachelor’s program.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average cost of tuition and fees at two-year colleges was $4,481 per year for the 2021-22 school year. That compares to nearly $20,000 annually at the typical four-year college.
Of course, some associate degrees are offered by four-year schools. So be prepared for higher per-credit costs if you opt for one of those versus a smaller community college. NCES puts the average annual rate there at an eye-watering $19,806 each year… about what it would cost for the full degree at a two-year school.
On the other hand, public universities can be less expensive in both cases—$9,678 per year for full-time students at the four-year level, and $3,970 for two-year schools.
Should You Get Your Substance Abuse Counselor Associate Degree Online?
Another factor that many students are concerned about when choosing schools today is whether or not the program is available online.
There are many reasons to build this into your considerations. For starters, plenty of people interested in getting into substance use disorder counseling aren’t coming from traditional backgrounds. They may be older than the average students, have families to support and jobs to hold down.
Cost is often an issue for those folks, particularly the cost associated with relocating for school.
Time is another big factor. Traditional on campus classes often conflict with working hours. They certainly don’t offer the flexibility to pick kids up after school or run to the pharmacy to pick up prescriptions for elderly relatives.
An associate degree in addiction counseling online can help you manage all the other complexities of modern life.
All of that can really cut down on your choice of colleges. There may be only one school nearby that offers part-time or evening classes. And it might not be the best school.
Earning an associate degree in substance abuse counseling online opens up schools around the state or even across the country. The asynchronous schedules allows you to shuffle your class times to any moments you have free to do the work. And you can do that from anywhere, whether it’s the kitchen table after everyone is tucked in bed, or the break room at work on your lunch hour.
A Look at the Jobs That an Associate Degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling Can Help You Land
The kind of license you are able to achieve with a two-year degree in addiction counseling is probably also going to dictate the sorts of job opportunities you find. But in nearly every state, it’s going to unlock options across the board in:
- Outreach
- Inpatient therapy
- Prevention
- Individual outpatient counseling
- Prison and jail program
You’ll find those positions open in programs addressing all the various kinds of populations in desperate need of help with substance use disorders. Everything from homeless veterans to high school students have unique needs and specialized treatments.
According to SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency), an associate degree is the standard qualification for roles as an associate substance use disorder counselor. Those roles basically act as assistants to more highly qualified counselors, performing basic treatment services under their supervision.
But as you know from the licensing section above, it’s possible in some states for an associate to unlock far more significant roles. How far you can go will depend greatly on what state you are practicing in.
A Look at Associate Degree in Substance Abuse Counseling Salary Levels
Something similar is true of what kind of salary you can expect with a two-year degree.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts all substance abuse counselors in the general job category of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors for tracking employment and compensation data. For 2023, the average salary in that group was $53,710 per year.
Naturally, in states where associate graduates are restricted to less lofty certification levels, you probably shouldn’t expect that kind of money. Instead, something toward the average $44,600 per year earned by those in the lower 25 percent of the profession may be more realistic for a substance abuse counselor salary with associate degree.
On the other hand, in states where even an associate can get you into clinical or supervisory roles, with enough time under your belt you may edge into the top ten percent of the field, which can bring you $89,920 or more each year.
On the whole, of course, a higher level degree will lead to more senior positions earlier in your career. You’ll have to count on your experience to make up the difference with only an associate education.
But the difference that you will make in the process of building that experience is priceless. The lives you change through your practice as a counselor are just as important no matter what your education. And many graduates with two-year degrees go on to build up to higher level studies over the course of their career. With an associate degree, you’re halfway to a bachelor’s, which puts you a long way toward making even more of an impact.
2023 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed April 2024.