Health Careers
Alcohol & Substance Abuse Counselor
Professional Activities
Alcohol and substance abuse counselors use their knowledge and skills to assess a client’s problems with alcohol and drugs, and to help them make changes that will eliminate these problems. The assessment is based on conversations with the client, and may include an evaluation of the client’s family, education, work, friends, and living conditions.
The counselor’s strategy is to use verbal counseling to help the client understand his or her problem and to develop a plan that will change the behavior, lifestyle, or environmental surroundings that contribute to this problem. The alcohol and substance abuse counselor acts much like a teacher, training clients to understand and solve their own problems. Frequently, counselors refer clients to additional information and professional services, including physicians, social workers, financial and housing assistance agencies, educational programs, mental health counselors, and other services.
Alcohol and substance abuse counselors are finding new opportunities for employment in rural Alaska. Many regional health corporations are developing programs that are coordinated in the regional centers but also employ counselors in smaller villages. Other employers include local, state, and federal governmental agencies, schools, churches, and non-profit organizations.
Educational Requirements
Alcohol and substance abuse counselor certification in the state of Alaska recognizes four levels of competency: Counselor Technician, Chemical Dependency Counselor Level I, Chemical Dependency Counselor Level II, and Chemical Dependency Counselor Supervisor. (Note: Recognition is given for individuals who hold a degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education in a behavioral health related field. For more information, contact the Alaska Commission for Behavioral Health Certification.)
- Graduation from high school or completion of a GED.
- Certification for Counselor Technician requires a minimum of one year full time work experience. Training includes 100 supervised practicum hours in the following competencies: Ethics; Confidentiality, Documentation, HIV/AIDS & Blood-Borne Pathogens, CPR/First Aid, Introduction to Addictive Behaviors, Crisis Intervention, Introduction to Counseling, Introduction to Group Counseling, Working with Diverse Population, Survey of Community Resources and Case Management, and Recovery, Health & Wellness.
- Certification for Chemical Dependency Counselor Level I requires two years full time work experience with increasingly specialized experience in chemical dependency treatment. Training includes a minimum of 240 approved contact training hours addressing knowledge and skills listed in the counselor competency and completion of a 100 hour supervised practicum by a chemical dependency counselor.
- Certification at Chemical Dependency Counselor Level II requires four years work experience with increasingly specialized experience in chemical dependency treatment. Training includes a minimum of 312 approved contact training hours addressing knowledge and skills listed in the counselor competency and completion of a 100 hour supervised practicum by a chemical dependency counselor.
- Certification at Chemical Dependency Counselor Supervisor requires six years work experience with increasingly specialized experience in chemical dependency treatment. Training includes a minimum of 312 approved contact training hours addressing knowledge and skills listed in the counselor competency and completion of a 100 hour supervised practicum by a chemical dependency counselor.
- For more details on the Certification requirements, contact the Alaska Commission for Behavioral Health Certification at (907) 332-4333 or visit their website at http://www.akcertification.org/index.html .
Academic Programs
For course and training information contact:
The Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor Training Program (RADACT)
3901 Old Seward Highway, Suite 8
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 563-9202
Fax: (907) 562-7948
Web site: http://www.radact.com/
University of Alaska Anchorage
College of Health and Social Welfare
Human Services Department, BMH 106
3211 Providence Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99508
Phone: (907) 786- 6437
Fax: (907) 786-6436
Web site: http://hums.uaa.alaska.edu/
Contacts
State Contacts:
Department of Health and Social Services
Division of Behavioral Health
3601 C Street, Suite 934
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 269-3600
Toll free: (800) 770-3930
Fax: (907) 269-8166
Email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site: http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dbh/
Alaska Commission for Behavioral Health Certification
207 E. Northern Lights Blvd., Suite 201
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 332-4333
Fax: (907) 332-4334
Email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site: http://www.akcertification.org
National Contact:
NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals
1001 N. Fairfax St. Suite 201
Alexandria, VA 22314
Toll free: (800) 548-0497
Fax: (800) 377-1136
Web site: http://www.naadac.org
This page was last updated by Janice Troyer on October 14, 2009
