Alcohol and drug counselor education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an alcohol and drug counselor. Alcohol and drug counselors usually study psychology, social work, or criminal justice. 53% of alcohol and drug counselors hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 6,903 real alcohol and drug counselor resumes to see exactly what alcohol and drug counselor education sections show.

The most common colleges for alcohol and drug counselors are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online alcohol and drug counselor courses to help get the education required to be an alcohol and drug counselor.

There are certain alcohol and drug counselor certifications that you should consider. These alcohol and drug counselor certifications include Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC).

What education do you need to become an alcohol and drug counselor?

What degree do you need to be an alcohol and drug counselor?

The most common degree for alcohol and drug counselors is bachelor's degree, with 53% of alcohol and drug counselors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 22% and master's degree degree at 18%.

Bachelor's, 53%

Master's, 22%

Associate, 18%

High School Diploma, 2%

Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become an alcohol and drug counselor?

You should major in psychology to become an alcohol and drug counselor. 23% of alcohol and drug counselors major in psychology. Other common majors for an alcohol and drug counselor include social work and criminal justice.

Psychology, 23%

Social Work, 13%

Criminal Justice, 9%

Human Services, 8%

Other Majors, 47%

Most common colleges for alcohol and drug counselors

Alcohol and drug counselors often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Pennsylvania State University, and Metropolitan State University. Here are the most common colleges for alcohol and drug counselors in the US based on their resumes.

Alcohol and drug counselor common college	Percentages
University of Phoenix	12.23%
Pennsylvania State University	7.62%
Metropolitan State University	6.91%
University of Pittsburgh	6.03%
Minnesota State University - Mankato	5.50%

Show more common alcohol and drug counselor colleges

Best majors for alcohol and drug counselors

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Psychology	23.5%
2	Social Work	12.5%
3	Criminal Justice	8.6%
4	Human Services	7.6%
5	Mental Health Counseling	6.6%

Show more common alcohol and drug counselor majors

Best colleges for alcohol and drug counselors

The best colleges for alcohol and drug counselors are Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, and University of Pennsylvania.

An alcohol and drug counselor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for alcohol and drug counselors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become alcohol and drug counselors.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

2. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Enrollment

16,205

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

4. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

7. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

8. SUNY at Albany

Albany, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$10,011

Enrollment

13,434

9. San Jose State University

San Jose, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,796

Enrollment

27,125

10. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

20 best online courses for alcohol and drug counselors

Advertising disclosure

1. Drug Commercialization

The University of California San Diego, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Drug Commercialization course brings you lectures from both faculty and industry experts. With this course, recorded on campus at UCSD, we seek to share our access to top people in the field who bring an unprecedented range of expertise on drug commercialization. This course will cover pharmacoeconomic, marketing strategy, intellectual property strategy, portfolio management, managed markets and...

2. Drug Development

The University of California San Diego, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Drug Development course brings you lectures from both faculty and industry experts. With this course, recorded on campus at UCSD, we seek to share our access to top people in the field who bring an unprecedented range of expertise on drug development. In this course you will learn the different stages of clinical development as well as the regulatory including but not limited to, an Investigational New...

3. Addiction & Mental Health (Dual Diagnosis) Integrative 12hrs

4.7

(1,529)

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions: Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health - Integrative Holistic Approach...

4. Addiction & Mental Health - Chemically Speaking Two (2hrs)

4.7

(311)

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions - Understand Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health. How to help people...

5. Drug Discovery

The University of California San Diego, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Drug Discovery course brings you lectures from both faculty and industry experts. With this course, recorded on campus at UCSD, we seek to share our access to top people in the field who bring an unprecedented range of expertise on drug discovery. In this course you will learn the drug discovery process up to the filing of an Initial New Drug Application or IND. Each week you will learn the steps that...

6. Drug Development Product Management

Pharmaceutical and biotech companies are spending years and millions of dollars developing drugs or promising new biologics, all with the hopes of saving or enhancing patients’ lives. This specialization will provide you with a 30,000 feet view of the entire process of drug discovery and development. In the first course you will begin with learning how scientists go from selecting a drug discovery target to filing an Initial New Drug application. In the second course you will learn the...

7. [Accredited] Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Counselor

4.3

(419)

Learn DBT in depth, start conducting sessions with ready to use templates, and set up counseling practice within weeks!...

8. Alcohol and Drug Addictions: Psychology - ACCREDITED CERT

4.8

(792)

Learn psychology of human behaviour related to addictions, alcohol- and drug treatments, diagnose & symptoms, overdose...

9. Crisis Intervention Seminar

4.4

(634)

The emphasis is on the development of fundamental clinical skills in the area of crisis intervention...

10. Psychology and Therapy of Addictions -ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE

4.8

(1,618)

Working with alcohol and drugs addictions, substance misuse and rehabilitation helper, counselling, psychotherapy, coach...

11. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): The Complete Course

4.7

(291)

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)...

12. Anger Management & Conflict Resolution Program - (4 hours)

4.3

(676)

How to manage anger and ensure it does not explode into rage. Enhance your life by building quality relationships...

13. Managing mental health issues in the workplace

4.1

(891)

Learn how to support your own mental health and wellbeing and that of your staff...

14. Abnormal Behavior & Clinical Psychology (Certificate)

4.4

(383)

Guiding students into the field of mental health services for either personal and/or professional development...

15. Pharmaceutical Industry Drug Regulatory Affairs (DRA)

4.5

(256)

Empowering Professionals in the Pharmaceutical Industry: A Comprehensive Online Course in Drug Regulatory Affairs...

16. CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Therapists & Coaches

4.6

(1,500)

Comprehensive CBT Therapy Training Cognitive Behavior Therapy Practitioner Level Treat Anxiety, Depression & More...

17. Mental Health and Wellness Professional (MHW) Diploma Course

4.7

(982)

Discover a flexible and comprehensive way of understanding mental health as a Certified Mental Health Professional (MHP)...

18. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) Certificate

4.7

(296)

Become a Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) practitioner and help people improve their mental health...

19. Certificate Course in Drug Regulatory Affairs (DRA)

4.2

(1,430)

Pharma course (NDA, ANDA, CTD, DMF, USFDA, Regulatory strategy, GMP, Clinical Research, Orange Book, Pharmaceuticals)...

20. Metacognitive Therapy

4.8

(315)

Learn MCT, a cognitive psychotherapy based on CBT, that helps clients tackle the root of their anxiety and depression...

Top 10 most affordable universities for alcohol and drug counselors

The most affordable schools for alcohol and drug counselors are Baruch College of the City University of New York, hunter college of the city university of new york, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for alcohol and drug counselors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for alcohol and drug counselors.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

2. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

3. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

4. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

5. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

6. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

7. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

8. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

9. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$7,064

Cost of attendance

15,576

10. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for alcohol and drug counselors

The hardest universities for alcohol and drug counselors to get into are Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, and University of Pennsylvania.

Some great schools for alcohol and drug counselors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for alcohol and drug counselors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

2. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,492

4. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

5. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,512

6. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

7. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

8. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

9. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

10. Fordham University

Bronx, NY • Private

Admissions rate

46%

SAT average

1,354

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for alcohol and drug counselors

The easiest schools for alcohol and drug counselors to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, mount saint mary's university, and barry university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an alcohol and drug counselor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for alcohol and drug counselors.

1. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

2. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

3. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

4. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

5. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

6. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

979

7. Texas Woman's University

Denton, TX • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,059

8. College of New Rochelle, The

New Rochelle, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

982

9. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

10. Rosemont College

Rosemont, PA • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,026

Average alcohol and drug counselor salary by education level

According to our data, alcohol and drug counselors with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $53,223 annually. Alcohol and drug counselors with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $41,994.

Alcohol and drug counselor education level	Alcohol and drug counselor salary
Master's Degree	$53,223
Bachelor's Degree	$41,994

Alcohol and drug counselor education FAQs

What is the best college for Alcohol And Drug Counselors?

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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