Career Options

The University of Minnesota's Addiction Studies certificates prepare students for a variety of positions in human service agencies, substance abuse treatment, and prevention settings. Employment opportunities include, but are not limited to:

  • Community Mental Health Center
  • Community Substance Abuse Treatment agencies
  • Department of Corrections
  • Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
  • Group Practice and Private Practice
  • Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)
  • Hospital settings (In-patient and Out-patient treatment)
  • Insurance Companies
  • Prevention Consultants
  • Substance Abuse Counselor for Adolescents in Middle and Senior High Schools
  • Therapeutic Communities

Job Outlook
According to economists in the National Bureau's Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections, the job outlook for substance abuse counselors is "excellent." The demand for substance abuse counselors is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2010. That means that employment is projected to increase by 36% or more and job openings will greatly out number job seekers (U.S. Department of Labor and Statistics, Nov. 15, 2001).

Demand for substance abuse counselors is expected to be strong for a variety of reasons:

  • Many counselors are reaching retirement age.
  • Increasing availability of funds to build statewide networks to improve services for children, adolescents, and families.
  • Insurance companies increasingly provide for reimbursement of counselors.
  • Expanded coverage of services by HMOs and insurance companies.
  • Employers are increasingly offering employee assistance programs (EAPs) that provide alcohol and drug abuse services.

Employers generally seek individuals with advanced education and training in the science and practice of chemical addiction and counseling. Previous personal experience with addiction, substance abuse, or treatment does not make a person more qualified, competent, or skilled at being an effective counselor than someone who has not had personal experience with chemical dependency. Most agencies and clinics do, however, require a minimum of two years of sobriety prior to being hired. Similarly, the state may deny, revoke, or suspend a license if an individual has "habitually overindulged in the use of or the dependence on alcohol within the past two years" and/or has engaged in the use of any controlled substance within the past two years.

  MARRCH is a professional association of chemical health agencies and individuals striving to raise awareness about the important issues surrounding chemical dependency and the power of recovery.

  Online Resources for Employment and Salary Outlook

The University Libraries Careers and Jobs Web site is a comprehensive site for many aspects of your career exploration.

CCE’s online career planning resources Web site

Careers in Addiction Counseling:  http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos067.htm

General employment resources:    http://www.cce.umn.edu/career/tools/resources.html

Labor statistics: Bureau of Labor Statistics  http://www.bls.gov/

State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for Minnesota: http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_mn.htm