Substance Abuse Counselor Training in Iowa - IA

Substance abuse counselor training in Iowa starts with a minimum of twenty-four semester hours of college level credit in a program related to substance abuse.  This may be Counseling, Psychology, Sociology, or Criminal Justice. These courses will need to be documented and presented to the certifying agency when the time comes to seek certification. The following list of categories is a sample of the areas of study you will be expected to be proficient in:

• Counseling Theories & Techniques
• Special Populations counseling
• Counseling Ethics
• Substance abuse and Racial/Ethnic factors
• Treatment planning
• Facility procedures, intake, screening, charting
• Social work

Substance abuse programs can be found throughout the state of Iowa.  Private universities will often be a good source for master’s programs. Another option to consider is online classes (limited to 50% of your coursework in Iowa). The goal of training is to prepare students with the skills and confidence needed to carry out their daily duties as a substance abuse counselor.