Tennessee Addiction Counseling Schools & Licensure Information

 

Licensure

The governing body over drug abuse and addiction counselors in Tennessee is the Board of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors. They set requirements for drug and addiction counselors in the state. The Board of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors is also in charge of interpreting the laws and regulations by which counselors would need to abide by, and investigating violations or misconduct and disciplining those who have been found to violate the "Practice Act".

 

Education Requirements

270 classroom contact course training, which can be obtained through training courses, workshops, or going to schools providing curriculum that fulfills the 12 primary functions:

  • Screening
  • Intake
  • Orientation
  • Counseling 
  • Case management
  • Crisis intervention
  • Assessment
  • Treatment planning
  • Client education
  • Referral
  • Reports and recordkeeping
  • Consultation with other professionals

 

Experience Requirements

6,000 hours of clinical supervision required. This requirement can fulfilled by working under the supervision of licensed counselor who has a "Certificate of Qualified Supervision" in a drug treatment or rehabilitation facility

For more information on education & experience requirements needed visit http://health.state.tn.us/boards/A&D/education.htm

 

 

Schools that offer Drug Abuse or Addiction Counseling Programs

 

Southwest Tennessee Community College

They offer a "Substance Abuse Counseling Technical Certification" course which covers 100% of the education requirement (12 primary functions). The program is 23 Credit hours, which based on the current 2013 tuition schedule of (135.00 per credit hour for In-State Students $557 per credit hour for Out-Of-State Students) should run about $3,500-$5,000 for the program for In-State Students and $13,000+ for Out-Of-State Students. To get more information this program visit: http://catalog.southwest.tn.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=1&poid=119

Some Classes Include:

  • Orientation to Function of Substance Abuse Counselor
  • Adult Development
  • Counseling Theories
  • Methods of Substance Abuse Treatment
  • Ethics for Substance Abuse Counselor

 

University of Memphis

Degree Offered: BPS (Bachelor of Professional Studies) with Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services as a Concentration

Program Information: http://www.memphis.edu/ugcatalog/collegeprog/univ_college/alcohol.php

Some Classes Include:

  • Social Response to Human Need
  • Human Interactions
  • Alcohol, Culture and Biology
  • Drug Addiction and Alcoholism
  • Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services
  • Alcohol, Drugs and Behavior