Drug and Alcohol Counselors are individuals who have been trained to work with those suffering from addiction. Counselors can play a vital role in helping an alcoholic or drug addict with their recovery.

Some drug and alcohol counselors are in recovery themselves. If that is the case, they have likely been in recovery for a substantial period of time. The fact that they have personal experience with addiction makes these individuals uniquely qualified to work with other alcoholics or addicts.

Others enter the field because they are drawn to the helping profession. These people see a need in their community to do something for those who are having a difficult time trying to help themselves. Many enter the field right after college and after completion of an internship at a drug and alcohol treatment or rehabilitation center. Others have obtained a degree in social work, psychology or counseling and are looking for a specialization.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the field for drug abuse counselors will grow by a whopping 34% by the year 2016, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This is good news for those with an interest in the profession, although admittedly, it's also quite a sad reflection of the magnitude of the substance abuse issues facing society today.

For those interested in becoming a drug and alcohol counselor there is a fairly consistent path to becoming qualified to enter the field. Educational classes are required for all drug and alcohol counselors. These classes usually consist of basic pharmacology, dual disorders, assessments, counseling, family dynamics, individual and group therapy and more. Many times these classes are taught at community colleges as part of a certification program. If a student wishes, they can also complete community college general education classes so upon graduation they are qualified to receive an associate's degree. Most in the field, agree that obtaining an associate's degree is fast becoming the minimum standard for entering the drug and alcohol field.

Like most other professions, the more education one has, the better the opportunities will be for career advancement, and subsequently, for better pay. Degrees that will enable a person to work as a drug and alcohol counselor include social work, psychology, counseling, behavioral health or education. Upon the completion of a baccalaureate degree, many student continue on to a master's degree program. A master's degree can usually be obtained within one to three years depending on if the individual is attending school full or part time.

Some states will not require any post secondary education, while others will require a minimum of an associates, bachelor's or master's degree. For the states that do not require any education beyond a high school diploma or G.E.D., you should still plan to take specific drug and alcohol classes and most states require a certain number of educational hours in the classes listed above. Some states will allow all, or a portion, of those classes to be taken online. The states that allow this option will usually post a list of approved schools on the their website.

One additional step that some counselors take is to obtain licensure. The requirements for licensure vary by state. Not all states require drug and alcohol counselors to be licensed. It's important to check the specific requirements for the state you plan to practice in.

Once in the field, one typically begins as an entry level drug and alcohol counselor. At that point, or possibly while still in school, they can register with a state association for drug and alcohol counselors. Some states will only have one association, while others will have three or more. It is up to the individual to decide which professional association to join. The associations will likely have specific hours requirements one must meet in order to be certified as a certain level counselor. For example, a Counselor I might only need 2000 practice hours or so, while a Counselor II might need double that or even more. Again, be sure to check each professional association to see what their individual requirements are. There are also national associations drug and alcohol counselors might be interested in joining.

Drug and alcohol counselors work with individuals, groups and families. For the first few years their work will be supervised by a more senior person in the field. Most counselors work with both alcoholics and drug addicts. Some counselors choose to work with only men, or only women, but can also specialize in counseling adolescents or seniors.

Drug and alcohol counselors can be found in rehabilitation and treatment centers, state agencies, medical offices, sober living facilities, social service agencies, jails and prisons, hospitals or private or group practice. The median annual wage of a drug and alcohol counselor in 2006 (the last year available) was $34,040 with counselors employed by the government earning at the highest levels and residential care facilities typically paying the lowest.

Unfortunately, burn out is a real problem for drug and alcohol counselors. It is challenging to work with addicted individuals every day and the job can be emotionally draining. It's important for counselors to practice good self care from the very beginning and to allow themselves enough personal time.

While one might never get rich being a drug and alcohol counselor, there are still many, many rewards to be had in this ever changing field.