Chemical Dependency Counselor Jobs
Chemical Dependency Counselor jobs are open across community health centers, inpatient treatment facilities, and outpatient behavioral health organizations, with specializations in substance abuse counseling, co-occurring disorders, and adolescent treatment, from entry-level to senior and clinical supervisor roles. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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- Provide clinical leadership and oversight for IOP and SOP services
- Deliver direct substance use disorder counseling services with a caseload
- Supervise, mentor, and support counseling staff and interns
- Ensure compliance with CPS, DSHS, Federal, and licensing standards
- Assist with training and development within the Clinical Training Institute
- Review documentation for quality, accuracy, and timeliness
- Participate in program development, quality improvement, and audits
- Collaborate with leadership to maintain high standards of care
- Ensure 12 Core Functions is being Followed
- Conduct Group, Individual Sessions and Assessments
Job Types: Full-time, Contract
Pay: $28.00 - $30.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
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Find JobsChemical Dependency Counselor Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in chemical dependency counselor jobs.
- Active state licensure or certification such as CADC, LCDC, or CASAC
- Bachelor's or master's degree in counseling, social work, or a related behavioral health field
- Minimum two years of direct experience in substance abuse or addiction treatment settings
- Proficiency in EHR and case management documentation platforms
- Experience conducting individual, group, and family counseling sessions
- Knowledge of evidence-based modalities including motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy
Tips for Your Chemical Dependency Counselor Job Search
List your licensure status prominently
Employers screen for CADC, LCDC, CASAC, or state-equivalent credentials before reading anything else on your resume. Put your license type, number, and expiration date in your header or directly under your name so it's the first thing a hiring manager sees.
Tailor your resume to treatment setting
Inpatient, outpatient, and corrections-based roles expect different clinical emphases. Highlight case management and crisis intervention for residential settings, and shift your language toward individual therapy and documentation compliance when targeting outpatient or community mental health openings.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists chemical dependency counselor openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Address supervision hours in your materials
If you're accumulating supervised hours toward full licensure, say so explicitly on your resume and in your cover letter. Many employers budget for supervision and actively recruit counselors at the CADC-I or intern stage, but only if they can quickly confirm where you are in the process.
Prepare concrete examples of documentation skills
Interviewers for clinical roles almost always probe your SOAP note accuracy, treatment plan writing, and familiarity with EHR platforms like Netsmart or Qualifacts. Walk into the interview ready to describe your documentation workflow and the average daily caseload you've managed.
Negotiate continuing education support before accepting
Licensure renewal requires ongoing CEUs, and costs vary widely by provider. During the offer stage, ask directly whether the employer funds continuing education, covers licensure renewal fees, or offers paid time off to attend training, as these benefits can outweigh a modest salary difference.
Chemical Dependency Counselor Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most chemical dependency counselors?
The companies hiring the most chemical dependency counselors right now include Kaiser Permanente, Brazos Valley Council on Alcohol & Substance Abuse, and MedMark Treatment Centers, with the largest share of openings in Texas, Ohio, and New York, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is especially high at community mental health centers and integrated behavioral health systems.
How many chemical dependency counselor jobs are remote?
About 0% of chemical dependency counselor openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting growth in telehealth-delivered counseling services. Remote availability is highest for outpatient individual therapy and care coordination roles, while residential, detox, and corrections-based positions remain almost entirely on-site.
How do you become a chemical dependency counselor?
Start by earning a degree in counseling, social work, psychology, or a related field, then apply for a state-issued intern or trainee credential that allows you to begin accumulating supervised clinical hours in an addiction treatment setting. Once you complete the required hours and pass your state's credentialing exam, you can apply for full licensure, which is required for independent practice at most employers.
How do you get hired as a chemical dependency counselor with little experience?
Focus your search on programs that explicitly hire counselor trainees or CADC-I candidates, including federally qualified health centers, nonprofit outpatient clinics, and county-run treatment programs that build supervision into the role. Emphasize any practicum placements, volunteer crisis line work, or peer support experience in your application materials, since hands-on exposure to substance use populations carries real weight even before full licensure.
What does the chemical dependency counselor interview process look like?
Most employers use a two-stage process: an initial phone screen focused on licensure status and availability, followed by an in-person or video interview that includes scenario-based questions about client crises, documentation practices, and your approach to co-occurring disorders. Some residential and corrections programs add a panel interview with clinical supervisors or a brief writing exercise to assess treatment plan and SOAP note quality.
Where can I find and apply to chemical dependency counselor jobs?
You can find and apply to chemical dependency counselor jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search the listings to find roles that match your licensure level, treatment setting preference, and location, then apply directly to each opening that fits.
See All 57 Chemical Dependency Counselor Jobs
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