Moreover, students gain clinical counseling skills that focus on promoting client mental health wellness to sustain recovery. Union College, a private institution in Barbourville, Kentucky, provides premier graduate programs to learners from all walks of life. Individuals interested in counseling careers can benefit from the online master of science in substance abuse counseling program. Of the school’s 12 master’s programs, all of them are available online, connecting 1,026 remote degree-seekers worldwide. In the counseling program, participants collaborate with peers and faculty, and they can access institutional resources through a robust online learning environment. Enrollees can collaborate with their faculty advisor and other faculty members to produce original research and secure counseling internships.
What jobs can I get with a master’s in addiction psychology?
In general, however, a master’s degree in counseling is a necessary steppingstone toward pursuing licensure. Since you’re interested in working in the substance abuse counseling subfield, it’s a good idea to choose a degree with an emphasis in substance abuse and addictive disorders. Master’s degree programs for mental health counseling careers include supervised work with patients as well as academic course work in a classroom or online environment. Master’s degree students learn therapeutic techniques, diagnostic criteria, and research methods.
Should You Enroll in an Online Master’s in Addiction Counseling Program?
Bureau of Labor Statistics.2 During this same timeframe, government and hospitals were the top-paying employers for substance abuse counselors. Programmatic accreditation applies to specific degree programs and departments within colleges and universities. Depending on the professional credential you pursue, you may need an accredited degree to qualify for licensure. Programmatic accreditors like NASAC and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs evaluate curricula and faculty quality against industry standards in counseling. VCU’s online MS in addiction studies takes an international and cross-cultural approach to the discipline, collaborating with King’s College London and the University of Adelaide.
Why Choose Touro University Worldwide for Your Education
We inspire students to become socially aware critical thinkers and global citizens. Degree-seekers should speak with the financial aid office to explore funding opportunities, such as internal scholarships and external financial aid. Additionally, considering full-time vs. part-time enrollment is crucial as it impacts the duration of the program and your ability to balance studies with your personal and professional commitments. If you plan to work while completing your master’s degree, part-time enrollment may be best for you.
You will gain hands-on experience in the field as you complete your internship in addictions counseling. Because of the intricate nature of the brain and chemical processes involved in our bodies, you will also study the biological aspects of addiction. This is important in being able to diagnose when a patient substance abuse counseling may need a referral to other health care professionals for additional care beyond counseling. Liberty University’s Master of Arts in Addiction Counseling degree online encompasses an enriching and challenging curriculum to empower students with the tools needed to succeed in the field of addiction counseling.
Forbes Advisor’s education editors are committed to producing unbiased rankings and informative articles covering online colleges, tech bootcamps and career paths. Our ranking methodologies use data from the National Center for Education Statistics, education providers, and reputable educational and professional organizations. An advisory board of educators and other subject matter experts reviews and verifies our content to bring you trustworthy, up-to-date information. Students attending in-state public schools usually pay the most affordable tuition. Master’s degrees cost an average of $59,684, according to EducationData.org.
Continuing Education and Certification
- Submitting the FAFSA could qualify you for federal loans, grants and work-study programs, plus scholarships at the national, regional and institutional levels.
- As you continue your addiction studies, you can learn the latest in counseling theory and its applications to treating and helping clients in the recovery process.
- With a large deficit in education and training in the field of addiction psychology, less than 20% of those in need receive any treatment.
- Many employers offer tuition assistance programs, so speak with your human resource representative to find out if additional financial support is available to you to fund your degree specializing in addiction counseling.
The pandemic may also impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the BLS. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers from across the country with varying levels of education and experience and does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors. It does not reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country.
- Institutional accreditation provides quality assurance to prospective students like you.
- According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the median annual total cost for an online master’s program is about $24,300.
- Being in private practice often means setting your own schedule, doing your own marketing, and taking care of or hiring out administrative tasks such as billing.
- The Master of Science in Addiction Counseling program at GCU is accredited by the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission (NASAC).
- Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us.
- When it comes to pay for substance misuse and mental health counselors specifically, your employer and the industry you work in can greatly impact your earnings.
Student Experience
The institution offers 38 master’s programs, all of which offer the option to pursue remote study. The flexibility of the master of science in clinical mental health counseling often benefits working professionals. Individuals looking to advance in the counseling field often benefit from Capella University’s online master’s in clinical mental health counseling. The BLS projects 18% growth for substance misuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors between 2022 and 2032.