Online Master’s Degrees in Addiction Counseling
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“Early in my career, I found myself working with justice-involved individuals experiencing reentry to our communities. These individuals regularly presented with co-occurring conditions that were either overlooked or misunderstood. I wanted to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. As such, I pursued a career in community counseling with a concentration in substance use disorder counseling. I then went on to obtain my PhD in counselor education and supervision with the goal of being able to ‘do more.’”
Kelley McNichols, PhD, Assistant Professor of Counseling, Assistant Program Director, Waynesburg University
People who earn master’s degrees in addiction counseling go on to work with individuals who want to overcome unhealthy dependencies on a variety of substances and unhealthy behaviors such as gambling addiction.
Addiction counselors work with patients to understand the sources and motivations behind of their addictions and provide strategies to help their patients overcome their unhealthy dependencies. Addiction counselors can help with a range of abuse issues, but typically the focus is on problematic behaviors related to abuse of substances such as illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, and behavioral addictions to food, sex, gambling, the internet, plastic surgery, or social media. Even over-the-counter medications, such as cough medicine, can be abused.
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 48.7 million Americans aged 12 and older battled a substance use disorder in 2022. The vast majority of those disorders, 29.5 million people, were related to alcohol use disorder, while 27.2 million had a drug use disorder and 8 million had both. Drug abuse and addiction take a heavy toll on society in lost workplace productivity, healthcare expenses, and crime-related costs.
Addiction counselors may work in individual or group counseling settings or even within prisons, in-patient clinics, hospitals, or outpatient substance abuse centers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024), jobs for addiction counselors (substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors) are projected to grow 18 percent between 2022 and 2032, which is much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations (3 percent). Driving the demand for addiction counselors, in part, is a continued opioid epidemic across the United States. In addition, many states acknowledge the role of addiction in crime. They are making strides toward offering more treatment and counseling services rather than policing and arresting people for substance use.
Addiction counselors with a master’s degree learn enhanced and specialized skills with greater job opportunities. Read on to learn what to expect from accredited online master’s degrees in addiction counseling, including details on coursework and tuition.
| Featured Substance Abuse & Addiction Counseling Programs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Southern New Hampshire University | Online BA in Psychology - Addictions | Visit Site |
| Walden University | BS - Psychology: Addiction | Visit Site |
| Purdue Global | BS - Psychology: Addictions | Visit Site |
| Arizona State University | Addiction and Substance-Use Related Disorders (Graduate Certificate) | Visit Site |
| Arizona State University | Addiction Psychology (MS) | Visit Site |
| Campbellsville University | Master of Social Work - Substance Use Disorder | Visit Site |
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Ask an Expert: Kelley McNichols, PhD, LPC, NCC, CADC, CCDP, CCTP
Dr. Kelley McNichols is the assistant program director for the master of arts in counseling programs at Waynesburg University, an assistant professor of counseling, and the grant advisor. She serves as assistant director of the graduate counseling programs and as core faculty in the program following an extensive work history in the field of community behavioral health, which includes working with individuals across the lifespan in various settings and levels of care. Much of her work has focused on addictions and justice-involved individuals advocating for fair and just treatment of marginalized populations.
Dr. McNichols is passionate about addiction counseling and emphasizing trauma-informed care. She is committed to advancing counselor education and supervision. Her research interests include advocacy for justice-involved individuals focusing on addiction, co-occurring conditions, and trauma-informed care initiatives. She received her BA from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and her MSEd and PhD degrees from Duquesne University.
CounselingSchools.com: What drew you to a career in counseling and this program specifically?
Dr. McNichols: Early in my career, I found myself working with justice-involved individuals experiencing reentry to our communities. These individuals regularly presented with co-occurring conditions that were either overlooked or misunderstood. I wanted to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. As such, I pursued a career in community counseling with a concentration in substance use disorder counseling. I then went on to obtain my PhD in counselor education and supervision with the goal of being able to “do more.”
Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work in a wide array of systems alongside diverse individuals, which fostered my commitment to advocacy and social justice. Becoming a tenured faculty member at Waynesburg University was a natural fit. I am honored to work in one of the few universities offering an addiction counseling track. My hope is to give back to the field by training the next generation of SUD counselors effectively and comprehensively.
CounselingSchools.com: What are some of the core values or philosophies that guide the curriculum?
Dr. McNichols: The counseling and certificate programs fulfill the mission of Waynesburg University to educate students to make connections between faith, learning, and serving so they might faithfully transform their communities and the world. As a Christian comprehensive university, we strive to inspire and challenge every undergraduate and graduate student to a life of leadership and purpose for the glory of God. Waynesburg University is committed to addressing the unmet needs of the behavioral health workforce and recognizes the necessity for properly trained, competent, and effective clinical supervisors and SUD counselors.
Less than 1 percent of CACREP-accredited counseling programs have an addiction counseling track. Waynesburg University is a CACREP-accredited university that offers a master’s level addiction counseling track. In fact, we are one of two universities in the state of Pennsylvania to offer this specialized program. What makes us unique is that WU has an addiction counseling track and WU has a 100 percent asynchronous online certificate in addiction counseling program, and WU takes pride in having subject matter experts teach the addiction counseling program with emphasis given to the trauma and SUD connection and multicultural competence, for example.
WU has recently developed and implemented a certificate in clinical supervision program. The certificate in clinical supervision program has been proven to enhance the professional identity and competence of clinical supervisors in the behavioral health workforce by offering an advanced educational training program. Clinical supervision is a required component of the counseling profession. Yet, the vast majority of state licensing boards do not require a doctoral degree to function in the capacity of a supervisor and master’s-level counseling curriculum does not prepare counselors to become supervisors. There are limited education and training opportunities that specifically address the core competencies of clinical supervision. Many clinical supervisors are deemed a good “fit” for the position of supervisor because they were good counselors first and/or have tenure in a profession that suffers from high turnover rates.
Typical Admissions Requirements for Online Master’s Degrees in Addiction Counseling
An online master’s degree in addiction counseling offers flexibility for today’s modern students who are also likely already working and juggling family responsibilities. Online programs allow students to complete coursework during evenings and weekends on a more personalized schedule, giving them time to focus on schooling in between for other responsibilities.
The requirements to become a licensed or certified addiction counselor can vary significantly from state to state. Typically, candidates hold at least a bachelor’s degree to work in this field. Some states may qualify substance abuse counselors with an associate’s degree in chemical dependency, counseling, psychology, social work, or another related field. However, earning a higher degree, including a master’s degree, can greatly shorten the path to licensure.
If the individual has only an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, that individual must have many hours of on-the-job clinical experience. In Pennsylvania, a bachelor’s degree in a behavioral science field with clinical application is required, and individuals are expected to have logged at least 4,000 hours of experience over two years in professional supervised employment. Students typically earn these hours of experience throughout doing their practicums and internships during their master’s degree.
In New York, eligible professionals are considered Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselors (CASAC) based on their education, work experience, and passing an IC&RC examination. A CASAC must have at least a high school diploma or equivalency. A student with a college degree can substitute their degree for a portion of the experience requirement. A CASAC must also document at least 6,000 hours (approximately three years) of supervised work experience in an approved setting, including 300 hours of supervised practical training.
The Association for Addiction Professionals offers voluntary national certification for substance use professionals. Students who wish to become a Nationally Certified Addiction Counselor I (NCAC I), who have only a high school diploma must have at least three years full-time or 6,000 hours of supervised experience as a substance use disorder or addiction counselor. However, some states have counselor certifications requiring fewer supervised work hours. NCAC II certifications are given only to students with a bachelor’s degree. A MAC, or Master Addiction Counselor, is only available to students who have completed a master’s degree.
Admission to a master’s program requires that a student have a bachelor’s degree. While many schools do not have a requirement on the type of bachelor’s degree, it is often an advantage for a student to have a counseling or counseling-related bachelor’s degree, such as psychology, sociology, or even education. As each state is different, students should determine the requirements for licensure in the state or states they would like to practice in the future.
Typical admissions requirements for online master’s degrees in addiction counseling include:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- A 3.0 minimum GPA
- Official transcripts from the student’s previous school(s)
- An essay explaining interest in the program
- Letters of recommendation
- Resume or CV outlining relevant work and volunteer history
- A GRE, MAT, or another standardized test score, if required
- A completed official application and application fee
Volunteer experience in addiction-related environments can boost their resumes and chances of admission. For example, counseling students might work at a substance abuse hotline or start a support group in their community or school.
While working through a master’s degree, students will complete many hours of supervised direct experience. Each state and each degree program is slightly different in their requirements.
Courses in Online Master’s Degrees in Addiction Counseling
Classes in online addiction counseling master’s degree programs include:
- Multicultural Counseling
- Issues in Addiction Recovery
- Psychopharmacology
- Psychopathology
- Theories and Treatment of Addiction
- Counseling Addicted Families
- Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethics
- Introduction to Addictions and Substance Use Disorders
- Group Counseling Theory and Practice
- Co-Occurring Disorders
- Family Issues and Addictive Disorders
- Diagnostics, Assessment, and Treatment of Substance Abuse Disorders
- Counseling Chemical Dependency Adolescents
- Psychology of Addiction
- Substance Abuse Prevention
- Neurobiology of Addiction
- Advanced Addiction Theories
- Drug Enforcement
- Research and Evaluation of Methods and Practice
- Human Growth and Development
- Etiology and Diagnosis of Mental Disorders
- Counseling During Grief and Crisis
- Family Therapy in Addiction Treatment
- Spirituality and Values in Counseling
- Survey of Research in Human Development for Addiction Professionals
- Principles of Integrated Addiction and Mental Health Treatment
- Supervision and Program Management in Addiction Treatment
- Medication Management
Supervised Clinical Hour Requirements & Internships – Online Master’s Degrees in Addiction Counseling
While each program is slightly different, the standard for a master’s degree in addiction counseling is a minimum of 600 hours of supervised fieldwork. Other non-licensure programs may require as little as 300 hours, while the licensure track master’s degree program at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation (profiled below), requires students to complete 900 hours of clinical or internship experiences throughout their study.
The primary certifying body for counseling education, including addiction counseling specialties, is the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs, or CACREP, which accredits master’s and doctoral degree programs in counseling and its specialties in the United States and worldwide.
Practicum and internships approved by CACREP have specific requirements as well. A practicum is a supervised period of observation and documentation to understand the work environments of an addiction counselor. An internship is a supervised experience similar to what a student would face in a post-graduation job.
CACREP-approved practicum experiences must total a minimum of 100 clock hours over a full academic term that is a minimum of 10 weeks. Practicum students complete at least 40 hours of direct service with actual clients, contributing to developing counseling skills. Internships must be at least 600 supervised clock hours in a setting relevant to addiction. Internship students must complete at least 240 clock-hours of direct service with actual clients.
Program Accreditation for Online Master’s Degrees in Addiction Counseling
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredits master’s and doctoral degree programs in counseling and its specialties in the United States and worldwide. CACREP certifies all counseling specialties, including rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, clinical mental health counseling, marriage and family counseling, and addiction counseling.
CACREP approves addiction counseling programs requiring students to take at least 60 semester-credit-hours (or 90 quarter-credit-hours) of coursework. CACREP requires students to be taught by core program faculty to ensure high-quality education. Throughout the year, the number of course hours taught by core faculty must be higher than those taught by non-core faculty.
CACREP accreditation is important because it asserts that the program meets a broad range of requirements designed to give the students the highest-quality educational experience. It evaluates a school on its overall learning environment, the level of education of core faculty, and the resources available to the students.
Featured Online Master’s Degrees in Addiction Counseling Programs
Waynesburg University’s addictions concentration in their online master of arts program in counseling was the first CACREP-accredited addictions counseling program in Pennsylvania. This concentration provides students with all the necessary academic requirements needed for licensure as Professional Counselors (LPC). Graduates will also be prepared to meet the academic requirements for the Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC) certification.
The program’s 60-credit curriculum is designed to train practicing counselors, counselors in training, educators, and other professionals to address issues of religion and spirituality in various counseling and ministry settings, including private practice, hospitals, community agencies, faith-based organizations, churches, and chaplaincies. It includes courses such as foundations of counseling; introduction to mental disorders; psychopathology and diagnosis; theories of addiction and recovery; pharmacology of psychoactive substances; addiction counseling techniques; addiction, stress, and trauma; and family counseling in addiction.
Notably, Waynesburg University also offers a 12-credit certificate in addiction counseling. All credits earned in this certificate can be transferred to the master of arts in counseling program upon completion.
- Location: Waynesburg, Pennsylvania
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE); CACREP
- Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, 20 months
The University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky offers a flexible online master of arts degree in addiction studies. The program puts students on track to broaden their expertise as mental health counselors or those who want to become licensed alcohol and drug counselors (LADC).
Aligning with ICRC standards and preparing students to become Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors (LADC) in the state of Kentucky, this 30-credit program provides students with the skills and knowledge needed for work in settings that treat substance use disorders. The curriculum includes courses such as legal & ethical issues in counseling; clinical management of addictions; family therapy in addiction treatment; psychopharmacology & addictions; motivation, change, and treatment in addictions; theory and practice of multicultural counseling; and co-occurring disorders.
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in counseling, human services, psychology, or a closely related field with a minimum 3.0 grade point average.
Notably, the University of the Cumberlands also offers a CACREP-accredited online master of arts in clinical mental health counseling (CMHC) program comprising 60 credits providing professionals with the expertise required to become addiction counselors and mental health counselors in community settings.
- Location: Williamsburg, Kentucky
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); MA in CMHC (CACREP)
- Expected Time to Completion: MA in addiction studies (30 credits); MA in CMHC (60 credits), two to three years
The goal of Indiana Wesleyan University’s online master of arts in clinical addictions counseling is to provide the world with highly qualified counselors who can help the world from a foundation of Christian values in character, scholarship, and leadership. The program adheres to current evidence-based practice while integrating a Christian worldview with a behavioral and social sciences orientation. Courses and practicums are completed at the university’s Marion or Indianapolis (North) sites or entirely online. Graduates from this program will be prepared to work with patients with substance abuse issues and addictive behaviors such as eating, sexual, and gambling disorders. Graduates can pursue state licensure and/or national certification.
This 48-credit program includes courses such as counseling addicted families; theories and treatment of addiction; psychopathology; issues in addiction recovery; legal, ethical, and professional issues; appraisal of individuals and families; theory and techniques in group counseling; and multicultural counseling.
- Location: Marion, Indiana
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission (NASAC)
- Expected Time to Completion: 48 credits, two to three years
Regent University – School of Psychology and Counseling
Regent was founded in 1977 on a 70-acre parcel in Virginia by Dr. Pat Robertson. Regent’s master of arts in human services – addictions counseling requires no GRE or other entrance exam. This faith-based, non-licensure track program will prepare students to intervene in problematic food, drug, sexual, and other addictions. Delivered entirely online, the program’s courses are taught with small-group projects, real-time interaction with professors, podcast lectures, and asynchronous chat room discussions.
The 30-credit curriculum includes courses such as foundations of human services; advanced counseling skills & techniques; addictive behaviors & substance abuse; addiction intervention; process addictions; behavioral science foundations; and multicultural awareness & individual diversity.
The school also offers a master of science in psychology with a concentration in addiction, similarly meant to prepare students to apply principles of psychology while assessing addictive disorders and constructing treatment plans and faith-based interventions. This 39-credit program includes courses such as psychopathology; addictive behaviors & substance abuse; addiction intervention; process addictions; research methods in psychology; lifespan psychology; and integrative psychology, among others.
- Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Expected Time to Completion: MA in human services – addictions counseling (30 credits); MS in psychology – addictions (39 credits), two to three years
Capella University offers an online and in-person master of science program in school counseling with a concentration option in addiction treatment and recovery. Students in this specialization will be able to expand their counseling skills and knowledge in addiction, compulsive behaviors, and substance abuse. The program requires students to complete 13thirteen core courses, four specialization courses, two in-person residencies, one practicum, and two internships.
The 90-credit curriculum includes courses such as life planning and career development; theories of addiction treatment; interventions for substance-related and addictive disorders; psychopharmacology and medication management; and group therapy and treatment of substance-related and addictive behaviors.
Notably, Capella University also offers an online master of science program in clinical mental health counseling in addiction treatment and recovery.
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); CACREP; CAEP
- Expected Time to Completion: 90 credits, three years
Walden University – School of Counseling and Social Service
Walden has long been a pioneer in online learning; in 1995 Walden offered the nation’s first fully online master’s program in education. Today, Walden offers a master of science program in clinical mental health counseling. Within the general clinical mental health counseling program, students can choose from six specialties, one of which includes the addiction counseling concentration.
This concentration prepares students to address the emotional challenges families and individuals face as they find their way to healing and hope. In addition to the several types of addictive behaviors, students will study intervention models and contemporary treatments used for promoting recovery. Graduates can gain the insights and skills needed for providing addiction counseling services to several clients in businesses, schools, community agencies, and other settings.
Made up of 100 to 106 quarter-credits, including practicum and internship requirements, the program includes courses such as theories, treatment, and case management of addiction; assessment in counseling and addiction; crisis, trauma, and disaster response; counseling addictive disorders; ethics and legal issues in counseling; and group process and dynamics.
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); CACREP
- Expected Time to Completion: 100 to 106 credits, three years
Faith-based Liberty University is a leader in online education. Liberty offers a fully online master’s in addiction counseling with eight-week courses that most students complete in two years. Liberty’s addiction counseling degree program meets the requirements for licensure as a Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Provider (LSATP) in Virginia with the completion of 12 additional credits. It can also allow students to obtain certification as a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC).
Comprising 48 credits, the program includes courses such as ethical & legal issues in counseling; multicultural counseling; techniques in addiction counseling; client, family, & community education in addiction counseling; case management & relapse prevention in addiction counseling; diagnosis & treatment planning of addictive disorders; pharmacology of addiction & recovery; and diagnosis & treatment of behavioral addictions.
- Location: Lynchburg, Virginia
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Expected Time to Completion: 48 credits, two years
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation – Graduate School of Addiction Studies
The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is the nation’s largest nonprofit treatment provider, offering addiction services since 1949. Betty Ford, the wife of United States President Gerald Ford, started the foundation. The Foundation offers 12-step-based prevention and recovery solutions across the nation.
The school’s 60-credit accredited graduate degree program in addiction studies offers students full- and part-time options, allowing them to complete the program that best fits on their schedule. The program offers three start dates each year in January, May, and September. The online master’s program curriculum meets academic licensure requirements for Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) credentials in Minnesota.
Full-time students will take up to four classes each semester across six semesters, with practicum hours starting in the third semester. Part-time students will take two courses per semester over 10ten semesters, with practicum starting in the sixth semester. Part-time students can finish the program within seven years.
Although most courses are online, online master’s students participate in two on-campus residency experiences in Minnesota. Each on-campus visit lasts four days for a total of eight days.
The curriculum includes courses such as foundations of addiction, alcohol, and drug counseling; etiology, screening, and assessment of co-occurring disorders; medical issues, psychopharmacology, and medication management; advanced assessment and diagnosis for co-occurring disorders; group counseling; evidence-based counseling and theory; behavioral addictions; and medications for addiction treatment (MAT) and counseling.
- Location: Center City, Minnesota
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits; full-time (six semesters); part-time (ten semesters)
Central Michigan University offers an online CACREP-accredited master of arts counseling program with a concentration in addiction counseling. Students in this program will be able to understand the factors that lead to addiction, and how it can be prevented, and how ongoing addiction issues can be addressedtaken care of. Graduates will be ready for work at higher education institutions, community-based social service agencies, public and private schools, criminal justice institutions, and private practice. Students will be prepared for licensure as Professional Counselors (LPC) in Michigan.
The 60-credit curriculum includes courses such as neuropsychopharmacology; etiology of addiction; addiction-oriented systems and methods of care; family counseling and therapy; diagnosis and treatment planning in counseling; crisis and trauma counseling; psychopathology in counseling; and introduction to counseling for addictions.
- Location: Mount Pleasant, Michigan
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); CACREP
- Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, three years
What Can I Do With a Master’s in Addiction Counseling?
Substance abuse counselors can work in a variety of settings. Their basic job description is to support people recovering from eating disorders, drug and alcohol issues, gambling addictions, and other behavioral issues.
The counselor helps their patients understand their addiction and provides support and resources for immediate crisis intervention and long-term addiction management issues. The counselor will likely work with the patient to develop a lifestyle plan to minimize relapse risk and recognize the warning signs. They may also meet with family members of the addicted individual to provide guidance and support.
Enter Private Practice
Substance abuse counselors frequently work in their own private practices. In private practice, addiction counselors may meet one-on-one with clients for individual therapy sessions or host support group meetings of the 12-step or other modalities in person or online.
Work at Substance Abuse & Addiction Treatment Centers
Detox centers may house patients on an emergency basis or as recovery residences (formerly known as halfway houses) to give people in recovery the support they need to reintegrate into society.
Work for Substance Abuse Hotlines
An addiction counselor may staff a substance abuse hotline, which is always available for crisis calls and intervention.
Substance abuse counselors may work in a variety of other settings, including:
- Hospitals
- Prisons
- Probation and parole agencies
- Juvenile detention facilities
- Drug testing facilities
Vanessa Salvia
WriterVanessa Salvia is an Oregon-based freelance writer and editor with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. As fun as rigorous studies in math and science were, Vanessa took an independent path and developed a prolific career covering lifestyle and healthcare topics for magazines and newspapers, important industries such as concrete construction and building waterproofing, and even hard science. You can get in touch at Sage Media and Marketing.