What You Should Know About This Degree
There are a number of venues where the holder of a master’s in Addiction and Recovery may find work. Hospitals, community health centers, and employee assistance organizations all offer addictions counseling. As we learn more as a society about the challenges of addictions, courts are becoming more likely to send offenders to counseling rather than jail — leading to increased municipal recovery programs.
Health insurance companies may hire and work with addictions counselors to assist policyholders. Establishing a private practice may also be a rewarding, and financially satisfying, way of using your degree to help those in need.
Professional credentials or licensure are usually required to practice, but these vary from state to state. This is worth noting if you choose an online program in a different state from your own — you’ll want to be sure that your coursework will be acceptable for getting licensed in your own state.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching Addictions and Recovery degree programs:
- Am I eligible for this program? For many graduate programs in Addiction and Recovery, your primary requirement is an undergraduate degree at an accredited college or university with a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Some institutions privilege those whose bachelor’s degrees are in areas such as social work, psychology, health, or other social service majors. Check with an admissions counselor at your chosen institution to ensure that you’ve got all the necessary requirements to apply.
- Are courses offered synchronously or asynchronously? Online programs offer two options: you may attend classes at a predetermined time (synchronous), or you attend classes at your own convenience (asynchronous). There is often some flexibility in submitting assignments with the latter option. If you are continuing to work while attending graduate school, asynchronous course delivery may be a better option for you.
A good admissions counselor can be a great support when you are researching and applying to programs. They can answer questions, direct you to the appropriate resources, and facilitate your application. They may also be able to help with financial aid applications.
The financial aid available to you can play a major role in your decision on what college to attend. But don’t stop there: you may find scholarships, grants, or loans from professional organizations that you belong to, or even from your own employer.