Substance Use Disorder Professional
What is a Substance Use Disorder Professional?
A Substance Use Disorder Professional assists individuals in overcoming alcohol and drug dependency, providing assessment, treatment, and recovery services to support their journey toward self-sufficiency and long-term recovery.
Requirements to become a Substance Use Disorder Professional
High school diploma or equivalent
Diploma / degree
An associate’s degree in human services or related field OR Successful completion of 90 quarter or 60 semester college credits in courses from an approved school
Training / supervised Hours
How many hours? The amount of hours required depends on your level of college education.
- Associate degree: 2,500 hours in substance abuse counseling
- Bachelor’s degree: 2,000 hours in substance abuse counseling
- Master’s degree: 1,500 hours in substance abuse counseling
Average annual salary*
Years of higher education needed
Hours of training needed
It's a very family oriented organization. So if I need to leave early for a parent teacher conference or a school play or a doctor's appointment or whatever, there's a lot of room for me to be able to do that.
Theresa Adkison
SUD Professional
Is Substance Use Disorder Professional the right career choice for you?
Yes. In addition to a high school diploma or GED, you’ll need at least an associate’s degree in human services or a related field. In lieu of a degree, you may also show successful completion of 90 quarter or 60 semester college credits in courses from an approved school.
You’ll need a certain amount of training/supervised hours in substance abuse counseling. This will vary by your level of college education:
- Associate degree: 2,500 hours
- Bachelor’s degree: 2,000 hours
- Master’s degree: 1,500 hours
The first part of your path will depend on your college education path and the degree you choose, on average 2-8 years depending on degree and course load. The next phase, supervised hours in substance abuse counseling, will vary based on your college education level and ranges from 1,500 – 2,500 hours.
Substance Use Disorder Professionals typically have an associate’s degree or higher, and work directly with individuals on their path to recovery. Substance Use Disorder Prevention Specialists offer important addiction education programs in schools and communities that promote mental health and drug/alcohol-free lifestyle.
Salaries vary depending on the organization, an individual’s experience and the location of a role. In Washington state, the average annual salary for a SUD Professional is about $55,000.
Additional resources and information.
Learn more about what substance use disorder professionals do, how to get started, and licensed.
*SUD Professional average salary: Source.