Education · 1 of 4

The path

One of the few health careers you can enter with a high school diploma and finish qualified.

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   Psychology, biology and English. Volunteer or work at a shelter, crisis line or youth program to find out whether this work suits you.

2. 2

   Get a support role

   0 to 1 year

   Recovery support specialist, behavioral health technician, residential aide. Paid, and it starts your supervised hours.

3. 3

   Addiction specific education

   1 to 2 years, often part time

   The entry credential from IC&RC (the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium) requires 300 hours of education in the counselor domains, including six hours of ethics. Community colleges run exactly these courses.

4. 4

   Supervised hours and work experience

   1 to 3 years

   The number depends on your education: about 300 supervised hours with a high school diploma, falling to around 100 with a master's, plus 2,000 to 6,000 hours of work experience.

5. 5

   Exam and state certification

   Months

   Pass the credentialing exam and register with your state board. A master's degree later opens full clinical licensure.