Substance Abuse Counseling
Substance Abuse Counseling
At a Glance
Degree Plans
Associate of Applied Science Certificate
Earning Potential
A career helping others heal starts here. LSCPA's Substance Abuse Counseling program prepares you to support individuals and families working through addiction and recovery — building counseling skills, understanding treatment approaches, and learning the ethics and practices that guide this vital field. You'll graduate ready to make a real difference, with a clear path to meaningful, in-demand work across Southeast Texas's growing behavioral health and human services fields.
Top Careers in Substance Abuse Counseling
Build the skills that open doors in Addiction Treatment — from guiding clients through recovery and leading group sessions to coordinating care across treatment programs and community agencies. LSCPA's Substance Abuse Counseling program covers addiction theory, counseling techniques, and the ethical practices that treatment centers, clinics, Probation & Parole offices, mental health hospitals, and human services organizations across Southeast Texas depend on every day. The curriculum blends classroom instruction with practical application, so you graduate ready to contribute from day one.
Salaries for behavioral health professionals in Southeast Texas are competitive: counselors in the Beaumont–Port Arthur area earn a range of $36,520 - $97,210 for behavioral addiction and substance use disorder counselors. Entry-level positions offer a solid foundation, while licensed counselors and program coordinators with experience and advanced credentials command significantly higher pay. Actual earnings vary by employer, role, and level of responsibility — but the trajectory is clear. Build your credentials at LSCPA and position yourself for steady advancement in one of the region's most meaningful and in-demand career fields.
Schedule a Meeting
Kimberly Arrington, M.Ed., LPC
Program Coordinator
Student Center 408
Phone: 409-984-6307
Email: arringtonkd@lamarpa.edu
Linda White, MA, LPC-S, LCDC-I
Adjunct Faculty
Email: whitel@lamarpa.edu
Robert White, LCDC, LPC-A
Adjunct Faculty
Email: whiterl@lamarpa.edu
Program Information
Notes:
Prior to enrollment in field experience courses DAAC 1164, & DAAC 1165, students must purchase liability insurance through the college business office and complete a background check from Castle Branch or with the agency providing the field experience. Below is the link to HHSC LCDC Criminal history standards: 26 TAC Section 562:31. View Directions
| Course | Title | SCH |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | ||
| BCIS 1305 | Business Computer Applications | 3 |
| SPCH 1315 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| DAAC 1304 | Pharmacology of Addiction | 3 |
| DAAC 1311 | Counseling Theories | 3 |
| DAAC 1317 | Basic Counseling Skills | 3 |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENGL 1301 | Composition | 3 |
| BIOL 1322 | Nutrition and Diet Therapy | 3 |
| DAAC 1305 | Co-Occurring Disorders | 3 |
| DAAC 1309 | Assessment of Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders | 3 |
| DAAC 2454 | Dynamics of Group Counseling | 4 |
| Third Semester | ||
| SOCW 2361 | Introduction to Social Work | 3 |
| ELECTIVE | Humanities/Fine Arts Elective | 3 |
| DAAC 1319 | Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders | 3 |
| DAAC 2307 | Addicted Family Intervention | 3 |
| DAAC 2330 | Multicultural Counseling | 3 |
| DAAC 1164 | Practicum (or Field Experience) - Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling | 1 |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| PSYC 2301 | General Psychology | 3 |
| DAAC 2306 | Substance Abuse Prevention I | 3 |
| DAAC 2341 | Counseling Alcohol and Other Drug Addictions | 3 |
| DAAC 2343 | Current Issues | 3 |
| DAAC 1165 | Practicum (or Field Experience) - Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling | 1 |
| Total | 60 | |
| course | title | sch |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | ||
| DAAC 1304 | Pharmacology of Addiction | 3 |
| DAAC 1311 | Counseling Theories | 3 |
| DAAC 1317 | Basic Counseling Skills | 3 |
| DAAC 2330 | Multicultural Counseling | 1 |
| DAAC 1164 | Practicum (or Field Experience) - Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling | 1 |
| Second Semester | ||
| DAAC 1305 | Co-Occurring Disorders | 3 |
| DAAC 1309 | Assessment of Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders | 3 |
| DAAC 2454 | Dynamics of Group Counseling | 4 |
| DAAC 1165 | Practicum (or Field Experience) - Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling | 1 |
| Total | 24 | |
Completing LSCPA's Substance Abuse Counseling program can open the door to a lasting career in behavioral health, addiction recovery, and human services support. Students who finish the program have several clear options for what comes next:
- Enter the workforce with job-ready skills. Graduates can apply to HHSC for Intern licensure and begin work in the field as a licensed intern within 2-3 months of graduation. You may also step into roles in Case Management and other staff support within treatment facilities and programs.
- Build on your education at your own pace. LSCPA offers certificate and Associate of Applied Science pathways in Substance Abuse Counseling, and many completed courses may apply toward related credentials or degrees depending on your goals and chosen institution.
- Transfer to a four-year university. Earning an Associate of Applied Science opens the door to Bachelor's programs in Social Work, Addiction Studies, Psychology, and other Human Science fields at universities across Texas.
- Advance into leadership over time. Experience, professional certifications, and continued education can move you into higher-level positions — Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, Program Coordinator, and Clinical Supervisor; Roles that offer both long-term stability and strong earning potential.
Each pathway builds on the last — letting you earn a credential, enter the workforce, and continue advancing your education and career in Substance Abuse Counseling when the time is right.
What is the Substance Abuse Counseling program at LSCPA?
The Associate of Applied Science Degree is a two-year program that consists of a total of 60 hours which includes 39 hours specific addiction counseling courses and 21 hours of academic courses that include English, Speech, Social Work, and Introduction to Computers.
What certifications or credentials can I earn through the Substance Abuse Counseling program?
Once completing the 39 SAC semester hours, which includes 320 hours of field observation, the student is eligible for a Counselor Intern licensure with the State of Texas and eligible to work as an Licensed Intern.
Once licensed as an Intern, and completing the 4000 hours of internship, they are then eligible to sit for the licensing exam. Full Licensure as a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, or LCDC, is granted after successful completion of the exam and internship hours.
The Licensure exam is administered through the Texas Certification Board (TCB). They are an autonomous arm of the Texas Association of Addiction Professionals. The certification board is committed to the setting of counselor standards and protection of the public good.
What kind of jobs can I get with this training?
Treatment centers, recovery clinics, hospitals, and human services agencies throughout Southeast Texas regularly hire LSCPA graduates for roles such as Licensed Intern, Case Manager — positions that form the backbone of any effective addiction recovery and behavioral health operation.
Is this program flexible for working adults?
LSCPA offers online and hybrid class formats so you can fit your Substance Abuse Counseling education around work and family, not the other way around. Talk to an advisor about building a schedule that works for your life.
How long does it take to complete the Substance Abuse Counseling program?
The Substance Abuse Counseling program is available as a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree or a shorter certificate for those who already have a Bachelors degree or higher. An LSCPA advisor can help you map out a plan that fits your timeline, your goals, and your life outside of school.
What is the salary potential for a Substance Abuse Counseling professional?
Salaries in this field vary by role, experience, and employer — but the numbers tell a promising story. Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors in the Beaumont–Port Arthur area average around $37,500 - $45,000 per year, while the statewide median sits at about $42,000 annually, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. Entry-level positions typically start lower, and those who earn licensure as a Chemical Dependency Counselor or move into program coordination and clinical supervision roles can earn well above that range. The field rewards experience and initiative — both of which you'll have more of with an LSCPA credential behind you.
Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Program
Texas Department of State health Services MC-1982
Mail Code 1982
P.O. Box 149347
Austin, Texas 78714-9347
Email: lcdc@hhsc.state.tx.us
Telephone: 512-834-6605
Fax: 512-834-6677
Website: Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Program
The LSCPA Advantage
LSCPA is where Southeast Texas students build careers that last. Small class sizes mean you get real attention from experienced faculty — not a seat in a lecture hall. Our Substance Abuse Counseling program is designed around the skills local behavioral health employers actually need, with coursework grounded in real counseling practices and recovery work rather than theory alone. Affordable tuition, flexible scheduling, and strong ties to area treatment centers and human services agencies make LSCPA the practical choice for anyone ready to step into a stable, meaningful role helping others heal.
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At a Glance
Degree Plans
Associate of Applied Science Certificate