Each state determines its own rules for substance abuse counseling certification. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some states allow candidates with a high school diploma to become certified as long as they have completed specific substance abuse education and have passed an examination. Other states may have more stringent education requirements, such as college degrees in counseling. All states require candidates who work in private practice to hold state licensure. This generally requires a master's degree, completing a specific number of hours of experience, passing a national certification exam and participating in continuing education courses on a regular basis.
In most states, passing a national certification exam is a part of the process for becoming a certified substance abuse counselor. The International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium and the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Counselors are the two main testing organizations that administer certification exams for substance abuse counseling. Depending on your state, you will take the certification examination offered by one of these organizations. The tests evaluate your knowledge in eight domains -- clinical evaluation, treatment planning, referral, service coordination, counseling, client, family and community education, documentation and professional and ethical responsibilities.
Substance abuse counselor education programs provide comprehensive information about the topics covered on the certification examination. These courses are offered by colleges, universities and private training institutes. Some students also find it helpful to enroll in prep courses to get ready for the certification exam. Formal substance abuse certification preparation courses are often offered by universities and private substance abuse training institutes. These courses provide structured education and review of the topics covered on the certification exams. But some students may decide to use home study prep courses or free review materials provided by different certification boards and professional substance abuse counselor organizations.
Although individual preparation is always advisable before taking the certification exam, formal preparation courses may be helpful for students who need a more structured, supportive review process. Such courses can be especially beneficial for students who have difficulty focusing when studying on their own or who feel that they need additional review of the examination topics. Substance abuse certification preparation courses usually provide mock examinations that allow students to sample the experience of taking the certification exam, which may alleviate concerns like test anxiety.