Substance Abuse Counselor Certification Requirements: Is It Time for a Change?

✍ Scribed by Beverly L. Mustaine; Paul L. West; Barry K. Wyrick

• Book ID: 102870740
• Publisher: American Counseling Association
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 556 KB
• Volume: 23
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1055-3835
• DOI: 10.1002/j.2161-1874.2003.tb00174.x

✦ Synopsis

The minimum professional training requirements of 32 state certifying bodies for substance abuse counselors were analyzed. Only 14 of the certifying boards included any of the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs core knowledge areas in their training components for Certified Addictions Counselors. Specific training in counseling and drug and alcohol treatment issues also appeared to be minimal. The lack of specific drug and alcohol training brings the quality of preparation for substance abuse counselors into question.