Post job

Certified alcohol counselor education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a certified alcohol counselor. Certified alcohol counselors usually study psychology, business, or social work. 55% of certified alcohol counselors hold a bachelor's degree, and 19% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 918 real certified alcohol counselor resumes to see exactly what certified alcohol counselor education sections show.

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

There are also many online certified alcohol counselor courses to help get the education required to be a certified alcohol counselor.

There are certain certified alcohol counselor certifications that you should consider. These certified alcohol counselor certifications include Certified Professional Counselor and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

What education do you need to become a certified alcohol counselor?

What degree do you need to be a certified alcohol counselor?

The most common degree for certified alcohol counselors is bachelor's degree, with 55% of certified alcohol counselors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 19% and master's degree degree at 15%.
  • Bachelor's, 55%
  • Master's, 19%
  • Associate, 15%
  • High School Diploma, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 7%

What should I major in to become a certified alcohol counselor?

You should major in psychology to become a certified alcohol counselor. 19% of certified alcohol counselors major in psychology. Other common majors for a certified alcohol counselor include business and social work.

Most common colleges for certified alcohol counselors

Certified alcohol counselors often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Wayne State University, and Liberty University. Here are the most common colleges for certified alcohol counselors in the US based on their resumes.
Certified alcohol counselor common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix9.68%
Wayne State University7.53%
Liberty University6.45%
Florida Atlantic University6.45%
Arizona State University5.38%

Best majors for certified alcohol counselors

RankMajorPercentages
1Psychology19.2%
2Business13.6%
3Social Work5.8%
4Counseling Psychology5.8%
5School Counseling5.1%

Best colleges for certified alcohol counselors

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

A certified alcohol 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 certified alcohol 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 certified alcohol counselors.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

4. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

6. SUNY at Albany

Albany, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$10,011

Enrollment

13,434

7. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

8. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

9. SUNY College at Oswego

Oswego, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,440

Enrollment

7,039

10. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

20 best online courses for certified alcohol counselors

Advertising disclosure

1. Health Care Delivery in Healthcare Organizations

coursera

Have you ever needed health care and thought that there must be better ways to get or deliver health care? For example, have you found yourself thinking that there should be a way to get a diagnostic test or treatment at home? Or do you work in a healthcare organization and find yourself thinking that there must be better ways to deliver health care? If you have, this course is for you. Course content includes an overview of health care delivery including healthcare consumerism, the patient's...

2. Health Care IT: Challenges and Opportunities

coursera

A strong argument can be made that the health care field is one of the most information-intensive sectors in the U.S. economy and avoidance of the rapid advances in information technology is no longer an option. Consequently, the study of health care information technology and systems has become central to health care delivery effectiveness. This course covers the modern application of information technology that is critical to supporting the vision and operational knowledge of the health care...

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

udemy
4.7
(1,529)

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

4. Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist

udemy
4.4
(811)

Health Information Technology HIT...

5. Health for All Through Primary Health Care

coursera

This course explores why primary health care is central for achieving Health for All. It provides examples of how primary health care has been instrumental in approaching this goal in selected populations and how the principles of primary health care can guide future policies and actions. Two of the most inspiring, least understood, and most often derided terms in global health discourse are “Health for All” and “Primary Health Care.” In this course, we will explore these terms in the context...

6. Program Design & Evaluation for Health Systems Strengthening

coursera

This course provides an introduction to designing and evaluating to strengthen the health system. After successful completion of all learning activities, course participants will be able to: 1. Define health systems strengthening 2. Describe health systems frameworks and how to incorporate them into evaluation planning 3. Describe how to design and prioritize implementation of health systems programs 4. Detail approaches to evaluate health systems programs, including data sources and study...

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

udemy
4.7
(311)

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

8. Fundamentals of Insurance - 2

udemy
4.4
(5,370)

Part 2...

9. Evaluation of Digital Health Interventions

coursera

This course focuses on data, evaluation methods and the economic evaluation of digital health interventions. This module focuses on key data considerations for digital health including data management, data visualisation and methods for evaluating digital health interventions. The key focus is on experimental and quasi-experimental design approaches that can be applied to evaluating digital health interventions and key considerations for the economic evaluation of digital health interventions...

10. Healthcare Marketplace

coursera

The first course, Healthcare Marketplace Overview, covers all of the major sub-sectors of the healthcare industry including the physician, hospital, insurer and medical technology markets, including a historical perspective. The second course, Healthcare Delivery Providers, takes an in-depth look at the system of healthcare delivery and the transformations occurring to improve the health of populations and communities. The third course,Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Innovations, gives the...

11. Fundamentals of Insurance - 1

udemy
4.4
(8,948)

Part 1...

12. Home Health Aide, Nurse Aide, Caregiver Certification Course

udemy
4.6
(1,178)

Become A Certified Home Health Aide, Personal Care Aide, Nurse Aide/ Caregiver At The End Of This Course. Enroll Now!!...

13. Population Health: Syndemics

coursera

Do you wish to contribute to breaking cycles of ill-health in disadvantaged populations? And explore co-occurrence of diseases, such as substance abuse, infectious and chronic disease, and the relation with social factors (disparities)? Are you disappointed in the poor effectiveness of interventions for combined social and medical problems? Then this syndemics course might provide you with some answers. In medicine, diseases are generally approached as distinct entities, in isolation from other...

14. Health Data 101

udemy
4.4
(1,787)

An Introduction to Health Data for data analysts...

15. Health Coaching Certification Holistic Wellness Health Coach

udemy
4.4
(3,299)

Health Coaching Practitioner Course Graduates Prepared Health Coaching Specialists in Holistic Wellness Health Coaching...

16. Mental Health Ambassador Certificate

udemy
4.6
(1,115)

Be a leader in improving society's mental health and learn to provide mental health first aid...

17. Crisis Intervention Seminar

udemy
4.4
(634)

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

18. Excel Skills for Insurance Professionals

udemy
4.5
(1,046)

From Vlookups to Pivot Tables: Learn the Excel basics anyone working in the insurance industry needs to know!...

19. Certified Spiritual Counselor & Psychology EmpathACCREDITED

udemy
4.7
(301)

Use a humanistic, soul care approach using strategy, positive psychology, emotional/impulse responses & natural empathy...

20. Internationally Accredited Diploma in Health & Wellness

udemy
4.7
(594)

Learn about holistic health, wellness, key biomarkers, good sleep and ways to optimize your health...

Top 10 most affordable universities for certified alcohol counselors

The most affordable schools for certified alcohol 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 certified alcohol 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 certified alcohol 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. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

5. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

6. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

7. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

8. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

9. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

10. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for certified alcohol counselors

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

Some great schools for certified alcohol 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 certified alcohol 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

8%

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

8%

SAT average

1,492

4. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

6. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

7. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

8. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

9. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

10. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for certified alcohol counselors

The easiest schools for certified alcohol counselors to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, life university, and kean university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a certified alcohol 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 certified alcohol counselors.

1. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

2. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

979

3. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

4. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

5. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

6. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

7. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

8. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

9. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

10. Holy Family University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,017

Average certified alcohol counselor salary by education level

According to our data, certified alcohol counselors with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $53,160 annually. Certified alcohol counselors with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $45,762.
Certified alcohol counselor education levelCertified alcohol counselor salary
Master's Degree$53,160
Bachelor's Degree$45,762

Certified alcohol counselor education FAQs

Search for certified alcohol counselor jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
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.

Browse community and social services jobs