How to hire a certified alcohol counselor

How to hire a certified alcohol counselor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step certified alcohol counselor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a certified alcohol counselor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new certified alcohol counselor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The certified alcohol counselor hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a certified alcohol counselor to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a certified alcohol counselor that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of certified alcohol counselors.

   Type of Certified Alcohol Counselor	Description	Hourly rate
   Certified Alcohol Counselor	Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists help people manage and overcome mental and emotional disorders and problems with family and other relationships. They listen to clients and ask questions to help the clients understand their problems and develop strategies to improve their lives.	$17-31
   Graduate Clinician	A Graduate Clinician provides speech and language therapy for students. They develop transitional programs for students in preparation for post-graduation.	$20-41
   Behavioral Health Professional	Behavioral health professionals are responsible for providing direction and counsel to individuals who are dealing with behavioral health challenges such as mental illness, addiction, and physical limitations. They often work with a team of other specialists in providing recommendations for a patient's behavioral and emotional care... Show more	$12-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Substance Abuse
   • Mental Health
   • Crisis Intervention
   • Medicaid
   • Community Resources
   • Community Outreach
   • CAC
   • Social Security
   • Application Assistance
   • CPR
   • Health Insurance
   • Hippa
   • Outreach Events

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Experience working with manage care systems utilizing ASAM placement criteria and DSM-IV-TR o determine appropriate treatment setting for clients.
   • Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
   • Gather contact information of local health clinics and community resources available for consumers that qualify under the Medicaid gap.
   • Administer CPR, and/or apply first aid when necessary.
   • Advance access to healthcare by serving as a public CAC.
   • Assist consumers in applying for coverage in QHP and insurance affordability.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your certified alcohol counselor job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A certified alcohol counselor can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, certified alcohol counselors' average salary in arkansas is 43% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level certified alcohol counselors 45% less than senior-level certified alcohol counselors.
   • Certifications. A certified alcohol counselor with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a certified alcohol counselor's salary.

   Average certified alcohol counselor salary

   $48,706yearly

   $23.42 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level certified alcohol counselor salary

   $36,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

4. Writing a certified alcohol counselor job description

   A good certified alcohol counselor job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a certified alcohol counselor job description:

   Certified alcohol counselor job description example

   + DEFINITION/PRIMARY FUNCTION
   
   + Under the supervision of the Program Manager, the Certified Application Counselor facilitates enrollment of uninsured and underinsured patients and community members into a Qualified Health Plan through the Marketplace and/or other health insurance programs such as Medicaid and CHIP, and assists qualified individuals in making informed decisions on the selection of a health plan. The Certified Application Counselor must be an expert in federal and state regulations, and knowledgeable about community resources in order to inform patients about their eligibility for Health Safety Net benefits, MassHealth disability supplements, Medical Hardships, Prescription Assistance programs, or to link eligible patients with free or reduced cost primary and specialty care services when possible. The Certified Application Counselor interacts with clients and patients of all social backgrounds.
   
   + POSITION QUALIFICATIONS (Minimum qualifications are required unless stated otherwise.)
   
   + Experience:
   
   + 1 - 3 years healthcare outreach, counseling, human services, or legal advocacy
   
   + Education and Training:
   
   + A Bachelor's degree (in a health, business, or legal-related discipline) or Certified Application Counselor designation may be substituted for the required experience.
   
   + License, Certification & Registration:
   
   + CAC - Certified Application Counselor within 3 months of hire
   
   + Other Requirements:
   
   + Knowledge of the principles and correct usage of the English language for effective written and spoken communication including: grammar, spelling, sentence structure, word meaning, and punctuation.
   
   + Knowledge of interviewing techniques and the ability to perceive and understand reaction of others.
   
   + Ability to assess, prioritize, and organize many tasks.
   
   + Ability to read, interpret, apply, and explain the provisions of the laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, specifications, standards and guidelines governing agency operations and assigned unit activities
   
   + Ability to gather and assemble items of information in accordance with established procedures, such as: questioning and observing individuals and by examining records and documents.
   
   + Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, such as: giving written and oral instructions in a precise, understandable manner, accurately recording information provided orally, and writing concisely with a clear expression of thoughts and the development of ideas in logical sequence.
   
   + Ability to maintain accurate records on information provided either orally or in writing.
   
   + Ability to determine the applicability of client data, to draw conclusions and make appropriate recommendations.
   
   + Ability to deal tactfully and establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with others, including, for example, working in a team setting, functioning successfully in group situations, establishing rapport with persons from different ethnic, cultural and/or economic backgrounds, interacting with and demonstrating empathy to people who are under physical and/or emotional stress and maintaining a calm manner in stressful and/or emergency situations.
   
   + Ability to exercise sound judgment, including the exercise of discretion in handling confidential information.
   
   + Ability to demonstrate problem solving skills.
   
   + Ability to meet deadlines even with a high volume of interruptions.
   
   + Strong customer service skills and a strong service orientation.
   
   + Proven ability to learn quickly as technology and insurance requirements change.
   
   + Must be able to effectively interact appropriately to an individual's level and physical ability.
   
   + Ability to analyze complex financial documents such as taxes, insurance information, and medical records.
   
   + Demonstrated ability to complete complex insurance applications while educating the consumer.
   
   + Ability to use multiple personal computer (PC) based systems and applications.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right certified alcohol counselor for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your certified alcohol counselor job on Zippia to find and recruit certified alcohol counselor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit certified alcohol counselors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new certified alcohol counselor

   Once you've found the certified alcohol counselor candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new certified alcohol counselor. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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