• Drug counselors help drug addicts and victims of drug addiction.Man and pretty woman talking over coffee concept shot image by sumos from Fotolia.com
  
  Drug counselors, also known as substance abuse counselors, should have a strong educational background and practical experience. Drug counselors help individuals who struggle with drug and alcohol addiction, or are victims of family and friends who struggle from these issues. Counseling is frequently completed in a group setting, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but counselors are trained to establish personalized recovery programs that help patients develop the proper coping mechanisms and healthy decision-making skills that allow them to lead successful, substance-free lives at the end of their treatment program.
  
  

Education

• Education requirements vary based on state requirements for licensing. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a master's degree is generally required for a license or certificate in counseling. Most individuals with a master's degree study subjects that are closely related to the core areas of counseling, including human growth and development, counseling techniques, group work techniques, relationship management, assessment of research and program management and professional ethics. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 48 to 60 credit-hours of study are required from an accredited university for a master's degree.
  
  

Practicum

• Almost all accredited master's programs require a period of controlled and supervised clinical experience. Many employers hire student counselors with the aim of providing this required hands-on experience. Employers generally offer tuition assistance or credit in exchange for employment being used as hours toward the practicum requirement of the degree.
  
  

Licensing

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 49 states, the exception being California, and the District of Columbia require some sort of counseling license, given after passing an examination. The National Board for Certified Counselors administers these examinations. In addition to the National Counselor Examination for Certification and Licensure (NCE), drug counselors need to pass the Examination for Master Addictions Counselor (EMAC). Drug counselors can start working after passing only the NCE; however, they will not be known as a licensed drug counselor until passing the EMAC. In general, licenses are distributed to graduates of accredited master's programs with 3,000 hours or more of clinical experience and a passing score on the license exam. Drug counselors are generally licensed and regulated by a specific state agency that differs from the one that regulates other kinds of counselors, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.