NEVER HOPELESS –

March 24, 2022 – The argument against SUD licensure has been, “Why should SUD licensure be granted to individuals who did not obtain a master’s degree specific to addiction or at least in a related field?” It is a strong argument and one that I sympathize with. However, I think people forget that the scope of practice is limited for SUDs and would not require a long graduate program. The argument is valid and one of professional equality. We, as the addiction profession, cannot educate the public about the complexity and potentially life-threatening nature of SUD and then say that vocational SUD training, with no advanced education, is enough to justify licensure that would allow us to operate independently.   

When SUD counselor certification (then referred to as alcohol and drug counseling certification) first began decades ago, there were a lot of ideas about the causes of addiction, but not a lot of valid research. It was not until fairly recently that substance addiction was accepted as a brain disease. Some in the profession are still unconvinced, even in the face of mounting scientific research, which is disturbing, but that is another article. The point is that the addiction treatment community grew up in isolation away from the other helping disciplines early on due to stigma. Nobody wanted to deal with “addicts and alcoholics” so they embraced more spiritual solutions which proved effective for many, but not all. Spiritual 12-step programs eventually morphed into social model treatment. While the treatment and recovery communities have retained many of its early characteristics, SUD treatment has moved to a medical model of treatment that is grounded in scientific research and evidence-based practices. These changes significantly raise the required competency levels needed to be an effective SUD counselor in the new treatment environment, especially if we wish to operate as state-licensed SUD treatment professionals. Since the research on addiction has made significant advancements, increasing our understanding enough to justify graduate-level addiction studies programs that are increasingly springing up nationwide, there is no reason why a master’s degree should not be required for SUD licensure in any state including California.   

To be clear, the idea is not to replace certification with state licensure. As I mentioned earlier in the article, SUD licensure should only be required for the SUD counselor who wishes to practice independently, or who would like to be able to diagnose in the programs in which they work. Various levels of certification which are based on education level and experience should remain available on the SUD counselor career ladder. The various certification levels on the career ladder would serve two main purposes: 1) It provides a space for everyone who wishes to work as a SUD counselor to do so in accordance with their education and experience; 2) To allow SUD counselors to work and progress on the career ladder as they pursue state SUD licensure. No other related, licensed profession that I can think of has a career ladder like this available. It provides excellent opportunity for advancement while elevating public safety in the process.   

For certified counselors who are doing private practice in California, the current draft of CCAPP’s licensure bill includes special fairness protections that would grant an exemption from the license requirement. 

more@CounselorMagazine