Best Online Addiction Counseling Degrees 2025

Accredited Online Colleges for Drug and Alcohol Counseling

Students pursue online addiction counseling degrees to work with individuals with substance use disorders. Addiction counseling careers include substance use and mental health counselors, community health workers, and community service managers.

Online addiction counseling degrees instruct students in counseling as it specifically relates to addiction. However, students also learn broader counseling techniques and ethics. Most online counseling degrees cover prevention tactics, human development, and trauma in families.

Institutions offer online addiction counseling degrees at several levels, but most commonly at the bachelor's and master's levels. Applicants need a high school diploma or equivalent for a bachelor's program, or a bachelor's degree for a master's program.

Online Addiction Counseling Degrees

Why Get a Degree in Addiction Counseling Online?

Students who want to help others living with addiction may benefit from earning a degree in addiction counseling. An addiction counseling degree lets students enter different addiction counseling careers, or other careers in counseling and social services. Online counseling degree-holders may specifically focus on addiction counseling, or become general mental health counselors.

Many schools offer addiction counseling degrees online. Online programs benefit students who need a flexible school schedule. They also do not require relocation, which can cost a lot and disrupt learners' lives.

How Much Does an Addiction Counseling Degree Cost?

Addiction counseling degree costs depend on the type of degree a student pursues. A bachelor's degree averages $36,436 per year according to the Education Data Initiative. However, in-state public institutions cost less on an average than private institutions.

The Education Data Initiative reports that a master's degree averages $59,684 total. Most master's degrees in addiction counseling take at least two years of study to complete. Part-time students require more time for their degree, since they take less credits per semester than full-time students.

Learners can pursue an addiction counseling degree online or in person. Depending on the degree level, students may need to complete an in-person clinical part of their program.

Additional Online Student Fees

Online degrees can offer more flexibility and affordability than in-person degrees. However, applicants should consider additional fees that come with earning an addiction counseling degree online. Extra fees include the cost of technology, such as a reliable computer and stable internet connection. Online counseling degree-seekers may also need to pay for tech support if anything goes wrong.

Some programs require enrollees to visit campus sometimes, or to complete a clinical internship. Learners should consider the cost of transportation for these visits, as well as any missed wages they may incur.

Other potential expenses include any necessary books, supplies, and software. Some schools charge fees for graduation or transcripts. Lastly, graduates may need to pay to apply for certifications or licenses in their field.

Addiction Counseling Majors Salary

With an online addiction counseling degree, students pursue careers in counseling and social services. Addiction counseling careers include substance use counselor, mental health counselor, community health worker, and clinical supervisor.

Addiction and substance use counselors and community health workers earn a median $59,190 and $63,000 per year, respectively.

Some jobs with more responsibility and education requirements offer higher salaries. For example, social and community service managers earn a median salary of $78,240 per year. Clinical supervisors, often requiring additional work experience, earn a $68,402 average annual salary according to April 2024 Payscale and BLS data.

Courses in Addiction Counseling

Addiction counseling degree-seekers take courses in subjects including counseling, addiction, and treatment planning. This interdisciplinary degree teaches a broad understanding of counseling techniques for individuals with addiction in different settings.

Some schools offer specialized elective classes for students to explore their interests. These include courses in theory of personality, drug policies in the United States, and community resources in mental health.

See below for a few courses students may take earning their addiction counseling degree online. Learners may not find these exact classes at every school. Rather, the selected descriptions represent a sample curriculum.

• Addiction Prevention

  The class covers different prevention techniques used with clients and how to implement them. Students learn about how to teach prevention in larger communities. Counselors and community health workers implement these techniques to help their communities and clients.

• Individual and Group Counseling for the Addicted Client

  Class participants learn how to counsel individuals living with addiction in both one-on-one and group sessions. The strategies and techniques students use may differ from those they use with clients who do not live with addiction. Graduates will need these techniques to serve as counselors or social workers to those with addictions.

• Theories of Drug Misuse and Alcoholism

  Learners explore why individuals may become addicted to drugs or alcohol. They also examine the socioeconomic and political forces behind addiction. Employees working with at-risk individuals and those living with addiction require an understanding of these complex topics.

How to Become an Addiction Counselor

Most addiction counseling careers require a bachelor's degree in psychology, counseling, or addiction counseling. Criteria vary by state, but most require counselors in private practice to hold a master's degree. Counselors working in public institutions, such as schools and prisons, may not need a master's or bachelor's degree.

Addiction counselors work in different settings, including private practices, schools, and prisons. They help individuals understand their addictions and implement recovery programs. Some counselors work with specific populations, such as teenagers or people with disabilities. Others work with individuals to help them get their careers back on track or work specifically in crisis intervention.

Licensure for Addiction Counseling

To work in private practice, addiction counselors must receive licensure from their state. Exact criteria vary, but every state requires a bachelor's or master's degree and 2,000-4,000 clinical experience hours. Find your state's requirements with this list.

For example, the Idaho Board of Alcohol/Drug Counselor Certification, Inc. offers different levels of certification with different education requirements. Options include certified peer recovery coach, advanced certified alcohol/drug counselor, and substance use disorder associate. The applications for these certifications cost $50-$80 and the tests cost $145-$235.

Graduates working outside private practice may experience more leeway when it comes to licensure. Students should check their state's requirements.

Besides licensure, addiction counselors may pursue certification from the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals. While they do not count as licensure on their own, the certifications set a national standard for addiction counselors' knowledge and skills. Earning the credential may set potential employees apart or help employees get a promotion.

Questions About Online Addiction Counseling

Can I complete an addiction counseling degree online?

Yes, many schools offer online addiction counseling degrees. Schools offer these programs at several levels, such as a bachelor's or master's degree.

Do addiction counselors need to be certified?

Addiction counselors need licensure in their state. Each state sets its own requirements for the level of education counselors need and any tests they must take

Are addiction counselors in demand?

Yes. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of substance use, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors to grow 19% in 2023-2033. The projection exceeds that of many other fields and the 3% growth projection for all occupations.