Substance Abuse Counselor Requirements in Alaska
Whether they’re in the indigenous communities, in the urban hubs of Juneau and Fairbanks, or in the many rural, often remote, communities scattered throughout the state’s expansive wilderness, Alaska’s chemical dependency counseling community provides compassionate support and evidence-based interventions for people with substance use disorder.
The Alaska Commission for Behavioral Health certifies Alaska’s chemical dependency professionals. Certification is based on coursework, experience, and examination. A college degree is not required, but candidates with degrees in related fields need to complete fewer contact hours of specific, Commission-mandated coursework.
Select an Alaska Substance Abuse Counselor/Chemical Dependency Professional Topic Below…
- Education Pathways for Chemical Dependency Professionals
- Non-Degree Track Certification Pathways
- Application Process: Forms and Necessary Materials
- Reciprocal Certification
- Contacts and Additional Information Sources
Degree Track
The easiest way to understand the requirements for certification is through the Commission’s Chemical Dependency Matrix with Degree. You can use this matrix to determine the experience, practicum, training, class content hours, and exam you’ll need if you have an accredited degree in a behavioral health-related field like sociology, psychology, addiction studies, counseling, psychiatric nursing, human services or social work. All applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine eligibility.
Counselor Technician
At the technician level, candidate must have 20 contact hours of training that includes:
- NAADAC Ethics within the last two years (3)
- NAADAC Confidentiality within the last two years (3)
- Infectious Diseases and HIV/AIDS (6)
- Intro to Addictive Behavior (8)
No practicum, exam, or experience is required.
Chemical Dependency Counselor I
A counselor technician does not need any additional coursework to move up to the Counselor I level, provided NAADAC ethics and confidentially coursework was taken within the prior two years. Additional requirements to become a Counselor I include:
- One year of experience
- 100 hours of a supervised practicum that must include:
- Supervised client evaluations (35)
- Supervised community readiness evaluation and prevention plan development (35)
- Supervised treatment planning and case management (30)
Chemical Dependency Counselor II
To move from Chemical Dependency Counselor I to Counselor II, applicants must have three years of experience (6,000 hours), along with:
- Counselor I practicum requirements PLUS an additional 100 practicum hours in:
- Evaluation, treatment planning and case management (60)
- Quality assurance case review (20)
- Clinical team leadership (20)
- 28 contact hours (in addition to the 20 contact hour requirement for Counselor Technician and Counselor I) in:
- Special Issues in Behavioral Health Services (16)
- Documentation Quality Assurance (12)
- NAADAC level I or II or the MAC examination
Clinical Supervisor
Five years (10,000 hours) of experience is required to become a Clinical Supervisor, along with:
- Counselor II practicum requirements PLUS an additional 100 practicum hours in:
- Clinical team leadership (60)
- Role modeling (20)
- Consulting (20)
- 30 contact hours (in addition to the 48 contact hour requirement for Counselor II) in Principles & Practices in Supervision (30)
- NAADAC level I or II or the MAC examination
Non-Degree Track
Counselor Technician
The Commission provides a Chemical Dependency Matrix Without Degree for easy reference of the experience, practicum, training, class content hours, and exam requirements you’ll need to satisfy if you don’t have a degree.
At the technician level, a candidate is required to have 48 contact hours of training in:
- NAADAC Ethics within the last two years (3)
- NAADAC Confidentiality within the last two years (3)
- Infectious Diseases and HIV/AIDS (6)
- Intro to Addictive Behavior (8)
- Documentation (8)
- Crisis Intervention (8)
- Intro to Client Centered Counseling (12)
- Intro to Group Counseling (8)
- Working with Diverse Populations (12)
- Community Resources & Case Management (8)
- Recovery, Health, Wellness, and Balance (8)
No practicum, exam, or experience is required.
Chemical Dependency Counselor I
A counselor technician must meet the following requirements to advance to the Counselor I level:
- Two years (4,000 hours) of experience
- 100 hours of supervised practicum in Transdisciplinary Foundations and Professional Practice Dimensions
- 100 hours of contact training (in addition to the 48 hour training requirements for counselor technician) in:
- Psycho-physiology (12)
- Motivational interviewing (16)
- DSM practice (12)
- ASAM practice (12)
- Co-occurring disorders (12)
Chemical Dependency Counselor II
To move from Chemical Dependency Counselor I to Counselor II, applicants must have three years of experience (6,000 hours), along with:
- Counselor I practicum requirements PLUS an additional 100 practicum hours in Transdisciplinary Foundations and Professional Practice Dimensions
- 28 contact hours (in addition to the 148 contact hour requirement for Counselor Technician and Counselor I) in:
- Special Issues in Behavioral Health Services (16)
- Documentation Quality Assurance (12)
- NAADAC level I or II or the MAC examination
Clinical Supervisor
Five years (10,000 hours) of experience is required to become a Clinical Supervisor, along with:
- Counselor II practicum requirements PLUS an additional 100 practicum hours in in Transdisciplinary Foundations and Professional Practice Dimensions
- 30 contact hours (in addition to the 176 contact hour requirement for Counselor II) in Principles & Practices in Supervision (30)
- NAADAC level I or II or the MAC examination
The Application Process
All applications are available on the Commission’s website.
Candidates at any level must submit recommendations. Candidates above the technician level must include at least one recommendation from a supervisor. The practicum supervisor must also rate the candidate on a competency form; this is separate. Employment verification may come from human resources personnel or from a supervisor. All documents filled out by third parties must be sent directly to the certifying agency from the source.
Initial fees are as follows:
- Counselor Technician: $180
- Chemical Dependency Counselor I: $195
- Chemical Dependency Counselor II: $210
- Clinical Supervisor: $230
Reciprocal Certification
Reciprocity candidates must provide evidence of certification by an acceptable certifying agency. A copy of the certification requirements and proof of recent continuing education, including coursework in ethics, confidentiality, and infectious diseases, are also required.
Reciprocity candidates must call the Commission at 907-332-4333 or e-mail them at [email protected] to receive instructions on applying by reciprocity.
Additional Information
Questions about the application and/or licensing process? You can contact the Commission at 907-332-4333 or e-mail them at [email protected].
The Alaska Counseling Association is also a good source of information about the profession.