Missouri Education Requirements & Certification for Substance Abuse Counselors

Overview

The field of substance abuse counseling is growing; the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a projected job growth of 13 percent in Missouri over the next 10 years. The median annual income for counselors is $37,280 and the highest ten percent earned $50,238; both figures are slightly lower than the national average but do not reflect Missouri's lower cost of living as a whole.

Springfield, Missouri has the third highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in the nation with an annual mean wage on par with other metropolitan areas. This infers that the lower overall median wage is due to those employed in rural areas where wages are typically considerably lower.

Missouri is one of the few states that allow an entry level certification with minimal experience and education. That means if you wish you can enter the field while attending school and accrue experience while you earn your education. Although there is no minimum education over 50 percent of substance abuse counselors hold a master's degree or higher so you should make this degree your long-term educational goal.

Missouri Credentialing Levels

Missouri has five credential levels for substance abuse counselors: Recognized Associate Substance Abuse Counselor I and II, Certified Substance Counselor I and II, and Certified Advanced Substance Abuse Counselor. Credentials are awarded by the Missouri Substance Abuse Counselors Certification credentialing Board, which is sometimes referred to as the Missouri Credentialing Board (MCB). To earn each credential, you must complete specific educational and experience requirements.

Once you have the education and clinical supervised experience you must pass an exam as required by the MCB. When you pass the exam, you will have earned the level title of your credential.

Your credential must be renewed after a specific time frame, and during the period it is valid you must complete certain continuing education requirements before renewal. To navigate the path to licensure you should plan to join one or more professional organizations as soon as you begin your career path as a substance abuse counselor.

Missouri Licensing & Certifications for Associates & Independent Counselors

There are five levels of substance abuse counselor certifications in the state of Missouri, and each has specific requirements before you can earn the credential. Each level must have a high school diploma or GED and must complete a State of Missouri Caregiver Background Screening. Here's a look at each certification:

Education Requirements

All coursework and degrees must be from institutions that appear in a national directory of accredited programs, so your first step should be to verify your school of choice is accredited. Because the work hours requirement varies depending on your level of education you should choose an applicable degree. The following are examples of degrees accepted to reduce or eliminate your required work hours:

You should plan your education in tandem with the requirements for each level; for example, since the CSAC I level requires 30 hours of both counseling and substance abuse coursework and the higher levels require 45 hours of each your class load should always work to meet these requirements. Because all levels require nine hours of substance abuse ethics this should be taken in your first or second semester of schooling.

Here are samples topics from the degrees you might take:

Because each of the four higher levels requires a supervised practicum you should look for internships that qualify so you can begin building that experience. Likewise, any employment or volunteer work you perform should be under clinical supervision if at all possible. Always ask if hours can be applied towards this requirement and make sure hours are logged as required to give you practicum credit.

CACREP Accredited Online Certification

Two types of accreditation are recognized in the United States; institutional and specialized. Institutional accreditation takes the entire institution into account while the specialized focus on professional preparation programs. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is a specialized accreditation that focuses on master’s and doctoral degree programs in counseling at colleges and universities worldwide. Only already-accredited institutions are eligible for CACREP review. The review for accreditation will center on programs offering graduate degrees in counseling.

Choosing a CACREP-accredited program ensures that the program meets the highest of quality standards. Many counseling specialties are accredited bythe CACREP, including addiction counseling. Accredited addiction counseling programs prepare individuals to work with those affected by addictive behavior and their families. Addictive behaviors include alcohol, drugs, food, gambling, sex, and anything else that negatively affects your personal or work life by creating addiction behaviors.

CACREP-accredited programs will focus on treatment models and the phases of addiction including prevention, recovery, and relapse prevention. These 60-semester hour programs will include the application of interventions. When students choose a CACREP-accredited program they can be confident that:

Counselor Testing & Examination Process

As previously stated you must have at least a high school diploma or GED to begin earning your credentials. You will need to show proof of this as well as official transcripts of all coursework. In addition, you will need:

Once your application is processed and approved you'll be notified of the date, time, and location for your written exam (if required). Once you pass the exam your credential will be issued.

Clinical Supervision Explained

Clinical supervision in your required practicum hours means you are working under the direction of a person specifically certified to train others in the field of substance abuse counseling. Your clinical supervisor will be mentor, coach, advanced alcohol drug counselor, and trainer and will help you learn every aspect of the counseling field as needed. Clinical supervisors help counselors as needed so they can grow in the areas they lack experience in. For example, if you're great on face-to-face counseling client but lacking in the skills need to document your cases your clinical supervisor will help bring your documentation skills up to par and not focus as much on your counseling skills.

Renewal and Continuing Education

You will need to renew your credential every two years, and in the interim 24 month you must complete 40 hours of continuing education. 20 of the hours may be online and the remaining 20 must be in person. The following are examples of acceptable continuing education:

The following continuing education providers are accepted in Missouri:

Associations & Organizations

As soon as you enroll in school you should join one or more professional associations. Membership in these organizations can provide mentorship, networking opportunities, and a source for information on the latest news and legislative changes that may affect your career. You'll also find they're a great source for continuing education and other classes, finding information on conferences, workshops, and seminars, and local meetings where you can interact with your peers. Memberships in associations often come with perks such as reduced rates on books and other materials as well as discounts to conferences and other events. Here are a few substance abuse counselor associations you can join in Missouri:

• Missouri Addiction Counselors Association (MACA)
• The Missouri Association of Addiction Professionals
• The Association of Christian Alcohol & Drug Counselors (ACADC)
• American Counseling Association of Missouri
• Missouri Mental Health Counselors Association