Alcohol and Drug Counselor Jobs
Alcohol and Drug Counselor jobs are open across behavioral health, community health centers, hospital systems, and residential treatment facilities, from entry-level counselor to clinical supervisor and program director, with specializations in adolescent treatment, co-occurring disorders, and medication-assisted recovery. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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As a member of the Personnel Assurance group, you will serve as a Forensic Drug and Alcohol Technician for the Substance Abuse Program and reporting to the SP-PA Team Leader, you will serve a vital function for the Laboratory's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. You will perform qualitative and quantitative analysis of drug and alcohol specimens to determine compliance of donors with relevant Human Reliability Program (HRP), Department of Transportation (DOT), and testing designated position (TDP) federal mandates, and Laboratory substance abuse policies. Specific duties include interpretation, organization, and presentation of data to relational databases for archival and reporting requirements and management of a blind sample and proficiency program to verify equipment and laboratory accuracy. As a Forensic Drug and Alcohol Technician 3, the successful applicant works independently in performing his or her duties. The consequences of the work have direct impact on the national security of the Laboratory and DOE.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
- Experience with mechanical and operational systems in Mobile testing units.
- Knowledge of current adulterants, contaminants, and dilutions used to alter specimens as well as practices used to circumvent positives.
- Demonstrated effective interpersonal skills, dealing with all levels of employees and managers.
- Knowledge and demonstrated skill in collecting, labeling, packaging and tracking testing specimens.
- Demonstrated accuracy in work that requires strong attention to detail and where high levels of accuracy are mandatory.
- Knowledge of US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration and Department of Health and Human Services substance abuse collection procedures and, 42 CFR Chapter 1, 10CFR707 procedures for unusual occurrences.
- Knowledge of DOT collection procedures in 49CFR 40.
Training/Certifications:
The selected candidate will become certified through the National Drug & Alcohol Screening Association University (NDASA) CMI, and other internal certifications required to perform your essential job duties.
Education/Experience: Position requires a High School Diploma or equivalent and 2-4 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation. Technical institute graduate or Associate's Degree preferred.
Desired Qualifications:
- Knowledge and experience with applicable LANL, DOE, and DOT specifications and procedures for this job.
- Knowledge of LANL rules, regulations, and policies regarding substance abuse in the workplace.
- Excellent written communication skills and experience accurately interpreting official Laboratory forms.
- Skilled in problem solving within a customer service environment.
- Knowledge of LANLs internal drug & alcohol testing policies and procedures (P732).
- Active DOE Q clearance.
Work Environment:
Work Location: This position will be onsite and work location is Los Alamos, however; you may be required to work in Santa Fe as needed. All work locations are at the discretion of management.
Position Commitment: Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year.
Note to Applicants:
- Applicants are encouraged to include a comprehensive cover letter addressing how they meet the required and desired skills.
- Applicants are encouraged to apply soon; the position may close quickly depending on the number of highly qualified applicants received.
- While the posted salary range for this position is broad, it is highly unusual for selected applicants to be hired at the top end of the range and more common for selected candidates to grow into the full salary band over time.
- This position will support on call, swing shift and night shift operations and will require a flexible schedule.
- Position requires domestic travel.
- Must have a valid New Mexico driver's license.
Where You Will Work
Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:
- PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
- Dental and vision insurance
- Free basic life and disability insurance
- Paid childbirth and parental leave
- Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
- Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
- Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
- Onsite gyms and wellness programs
- Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)
Additional Details
Directive 206.2: Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.
Clearance: Q (Position will be cleared to this level). Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance. and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.
- Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 for additional information.
New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.
Regular Position: Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular-status positions are converted to regular status.
Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call 1-505-664-6947 option 2.
Alcohol and Drug Counselor Jobs by Experience Level
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Who's Hiring
- Pennsylvania Counseling Services19

- Merakey5

- Safety Center5

- Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems5

- Potomac Community Services4

Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in alcohol and drug counselor jobs.
- State licensure or certification such as CADC, LADC, LCDC, or equivalent credential
- Bachelor's or master's degree in counseling, social work, psychology, or a related field
- Experience conducting individual and group counseling sessions using evidence-based modalities
- Familiarity with 12-step facilitation, motivational interviewing, and cognitive behavioral therapy
- Ability to complete clinical documentation and maintain accurate case records in an EHR system
- Experience working with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder populations
Tips for Your Alcohol and Drug Counselor Job Search
List your credentials front and center
Employers scan for licensure first. Put your CADC, LADC, LPC, or state-specific credential in your resume header and repeat it in your summary. Buried credentials cost you callbacks, especially when an ATS filters by certification keyword before a human ever reads your application.
Tailor your resume to the setting
A residential treatment facility and an outpatient community clinic want very different things. Highlight inpatient group facilitation for the former and case management and community referrals for the latter. One generic resume sent everywhere performs far worse than two targeted versions.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists alcohol and drug counselor openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Filter openings by supervision requirements
If you're still accumulating supervised clinical hours toward full licensure, prioritize postings that explicitly mention clinical supervision or intern-to-hire tracks. Applying to roles that require full independent licensure before you have it wastes everyone's time and delays your search.
Prepare specific case examples for interviews
Behavioral interview questions in this field drill into your crisis intervention approach and your experience with specific populations. Before each interview, outline two or three concrete situations where you de-escalated a client, coordinated with a treatment team, or navigated a dual-diagnosis case.
Negotiate your continuing education benefit
Licensure renewal and CEU requirements are ongoing costs in this profession. During offer negotiations, ask specifically about annual CEU reimbursement, supervision hours toward licensure advancement, and paid time off for training days. These benefits vary widely and are almost always negotiable.
Alcohol and Drug Counselor Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most alcohol and drug counselors?
The most active employers for alcohol and drug counselors right now are Pennsylvania Counseling Services, Merakey, and Safety Center, and the most openings are in Pennsylvania, California, and Minnesota, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Demand tends to be highest at large behavioral health networks and integrated hospital systems.
How many alcohol and drug counselor jobs are remote?
About 15% of alcohol and drug counselor openings are fully remote or hybrid as of July 2026, which is lower than many counseling fields because direct client care often requires in-person contact. Telehealth roles are most available for individual outpatient sessions, case management coordination, and crisis line work rather than residential or intensive outpatient programs.
How do you become an alcohol and drug counselor?
You start by earning a degree in counseling, social work, or a related behavioral health field, then complete supervised clinical hours that your state board specifies for licensure. After that, you pass a certification exam such as the NCAC or CADC, submit your application to your state's licensing authority, and maintain your credential through continuing education each renewal cycle.
How do you get hired as an alcohol and drug counselor with little or no experience?
Target postings that explicitly offer clinical supervision toward licensure, since many treatment facilities actively seek pre-licensed counselors they can train. Volunteer or internship experience at a detox unit, sober living home, or community recovery center counts as direct exposure. Emphasize any peer support work, crisis hotline shifts, or case aide roles in your application to show firsthand knowledge of the population.
What does the alcohol and drug counselor interview process look like?
Most hiring processes include a phone screen with HR, followed by a panel interview with a clinical supervisor and often a senior counselor on the team. Expect scenario-based questions about handling a client in active crisis, managing ethical dilemmas, and your approach to motivational interviewing. Some employers add a short written case conceptualization exercise or ask you to review a mock client file before the final round.
Where can I find and apply to alcohol and drug counselor jobs?
You can find and apply to alcohol and drug counselor jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your licensure level, preferred setting, and location, then apply directly to each one that fits your background.
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