SUD Counselor Jobs
SUD Counselor jobs are open across community mental health centers, hospitals, residential treatment facilities, and correctional settings, at every level from entry-level counselor to clinical supervisor, with specializations in individual therapy, group facilitation, and case management. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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The Substance Use Disorder Counselor provides direct counseling, recovery support, client supervision, and treatment-related services to individuals receiving substance use disorder treatment. This position requires a compassionate, professional, and non-judgmental approach to supporting clients in achieving and maintaining recovery.
The SUD Counselor collaborates with the multidisciplinary treatment team to support a holistic approach to care, addressing the physical, emotional, behavioral, and social needs of each client. Responsibilities may include group counseling, individual counseling as appropriate, substance use assessments, treatment planning support, client documentation, safety monitoring, client accountability, and daily program support.
The level of responsibility, independence, counseling complexity, and leadership expectations vary based on credential level, experience, demonstrated competency, documentation quality, and organizational need.
PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Substance Use Disorder Counselor may perform the following duties within scope of certification, registration, training, and organizational policy:
- Facilitate substance use disorder counseling groups to support clients’ recovery, relapse prevention, coping skills, emotional regulation, accountability, and treatment engagement.
- Provide individual counseling or recovery support sessions as appropriate and within scope of credentialing and program needs.
- Conduct or assist with Substance Use Assessments and other client screenings as assigned.
- Assist with developing, implementing, reviewing, and updating individualized treatment plans, as appropriate to level, scope, and program requirements.
- Participate in case conferences, treatment planning meetings, shift handoffs, and multidisciplinary team communication.
- Address behavioral, emotional, and recovery-related issues contributing to substance use and treatment barriers.
- Support clients in identifying triggers, relapse warning signs, recovery goals, coping strategies, and healthy support systems.
- Monitor client behavior, participation, engagement, and progress in treatment.
- Maintain accurate, timely, objective, and confidential documentation of client interactions, group services, assessments, progress, and other required records.
- Ensure adherence to program rules and hold clients accountable when necessary using fair, consistent, trauma-informed, and progressive accountability practices.
- Conduct safety checks in accordance with regulatory requirements, facility protocols, and client safety needs.
- Conduct or assist with searches of client property and rooms in accordance with organizational policy and applicable regulations.
- Supervise client online orders to ensure compliance with DHCS and organizational requirements.
- Provide client support with daily activities, treatment schedules, and program expectations.
- Assist with general residential duties as needed, including serving meals, cleaning, room preparation, laundry support, and maintaining a safe and orderly environment.
- Collaborate with clinical staff, nursing staff, behavioral health technicians, program leadership, and other team members to support continuity of care.
- Maintain professional boundaries and uphold ethical standards applicable to SUD counseling and client care.
- Follow HIPAA, confidentiality, infection control, client rights, DHCS, Joint Commission, and organizational standards.
- Safely operate company vehicles, when assigned and authorized, to transport clients to appointments, treatment sessions, meetings, or other approved locations.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Completion of a Substance Use Disorder, Addiction Studies, Human Services, Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, or related program or degree preferred.
- Current substance use disorder counseling registration or certification recognized in California required.
- Credential level must align with assigned position level:
- SUD Counselor I: RADT, SUDRC, or equivalent entry-level registration.
- SUD Counselor II: RADT II, CADC I, CADC-CAS, SUDCC, or equivalent or higher.
- SUD Counselor III: CADC II, SUDCC II, LAADC, or equivalent or higher.
- Current CPR/First Aid certification required.
- Prior experience in substance use disorder treatment, behavioral health, residential treatment, detox, outpatient treatment, or a related setting preferred.
- Strong client engagement, communication, documentation, and critical thinking skills.
- Ability to facilitate recovery-focused groups and support clients in a structured treatment environment.
- Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
- Compassionate, empathetic, culturally responsive, and non-judgmental approach to working with individuals in recovery.
- Knowledge of HIPAA, confidentiality, professional boundaries, client rights, DHCS requirements, Joint Commission expectations, and applicable ethical standards.
- Ability to maintain accurate, timely, objective, and confidential client records.
- Successful completion of background check, drug test, physical, and TB screening.
- Valid driver’s license and proof of active personal vehicle insurance required if driving is an essential function of the assigned role.
The Substance Use Disorder Counselor provides direct counseling, recovery support, client supervision, and treatment-related services to individuals receiving substance use disorder treatment. This position requires a compassionate, professional, and non-judgmental approach to supporting clients in achieving and maintaining recovery.
The SUD Counselor collaborates with the multidisciplinary treatment team to support a holistic approach to care, addressing the physical, emotional, behavioral, and social needs of each client. Responsibilities may include group counseling, individual counseling as appropriate, substance use assessments, treatment planning support, client documentation, safety monitoring, client accountability, and daily program support.
The level of responsibility, independence, counseling complexity, and leadership expectations vary based on credential level, experience, demonstrated competency, documentation quality, and organizational need.
PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Substance Use Disorder Counselor may perform the following duties within scope of certification, registration, training, and organizational policy:
- Facilitate substance use disorder counseling groups to support clients’ recovery, relapse prevention, coping skills, emotional regulation, accountability, and treatment engagement.
- Provide individual counseling or recovery support sessions as appropriate and within scope of credentialing and program needs.
- Conduct or assist with Substance Use Assessments and other client screenings as assigned.
- Assist with developing, implementing, reviewing, and updating individualized treatment plans, as appropriate to level, scope, and program requirements.
- Participate in case conferences, treatment planning meetings, shift handoffs, and multidisciplinary team communication.
- Address behavioral, emotional, and recovery-related issues contributing to substance use and treatment barriers.
- Support clients in identifying triggers, relapse warning signs, recovery goals, coping strategies, and healthy support systems.
- Monitor client behavior, participation, engagement, and progress in treatment.
- Maintain accurate, timely, objective, and confidential documentation of client interactions, group services, assessments, progress, and other required records.
- Ensure adherence to program rules and hold clients accountable when necessary using fair, consistent, trauma-informed, and progressive accountability practices.
- Conduct safety checks in accordance with regulatory requirements, facility protocols, and client safety needs.
- Conduct or assist with searches of client property and rooms in accordance with organizational policy and applicable regulations.
- Supervise client online orders to ensure compliance with DHCS and organizational requirements.
- Provide client support with daily activities, treatment schedules, and program expectations.
- Assist with general residential duties as needed, including serving meals, cleaning, room preparation, laundry support, and maintaining a safe and orderly environment.
- Collaborate with clinical staff, nursing staff, behavioral health technicians, program leadership, and other team members to support continuity of care.
- Maintain professional boundaries and uphold ethical standards applicable to SUD counseling and client care.
- Follow HIPAA, confidentiality, infection control, client rights, DHCS, Joint Commission, and organizational standards.
- Safely operate company vehicles, when assigned and authorized, to transport clients to appointments, treatment sessions, meetings, or other approved locations.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Completion of a Substance Use Disorder, Addiction Studies, Human Services, Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, or related program or degree preferred.
- Current substance use disorder counseling registration or certification recognized in California required.
- Credential level must align with assigned position level:
- SUD Counselor I: RADT, SUDRC, or equivalent entry-level registration.
- SUD Counselor II: RADT II, CADC I, CADC-CAS, SUDCC, or equivalent or higher.
- SUD Counselor III: CADC II, SUDCC II, LAADC, or equivalent or higher.
- Current CPR/First Aid certification required.
- Prior experience in substance use disorder treatment, behavioral health, residential treatment, detox, outpatient treatment, or a related setting preferred.
- Strong client engagement, communication, documentation, and critical thinking skills.
- Ability to facilitate recovery-focused groups and support clients in a structured treatment environment.
- Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
- Compassionate, empathetic, culturally responsive, and non-judgmental approach to working with individuals in recovery.
- Knowledge of HIPAA, confidentiality, professional boundaries, client rights, DHCS requirements, Joint Commission expectations, and applicable ethical standards.
- Ability to maintain accurate, timely, objective, and confidential client records.
- Successful completion of background check, drug test, physical, and TB screening.
- Valid driver’s license and proof of active personal vehicle insurance required if driving is an essential function of the assigned role.
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Find SUD Counselor JobsSUD Counselor Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in SUD counselor jobs.
- Active state licensure or certification such as CADC, CSAC, LCDC, or equivalent
- Experience facilitating individual and group counseling sessions using evidence-based modalities
- Proficiency with electronic health record systems and clinical documentation standards
- Knowledge of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder treatment approaches
- Ability to complete required assessments including ASAM criteria and intake evaluations
- Bachelor's or master's degree in counseling, social work, psychology, or a related field
Tips for Your SUD Counselor Job Search
List every credential on your resume
Employers filter applicants by licensure before reading anything else. List your CADC, CSAC, LCDC, or state-specific credential in a dedicated certifications section at the top, not buried under education or work history.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists sud counselor openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Tailor your resume to treatment setting
A resume for a residential detox program reads differently than one for an outpatient opioid treatment program. Match your language to the setting by calling out the populations you served, the modalities you used, and the documentation systems you worked in.
Target openings by funding source
Federally funded programs, tribal health organizations, and state-contracted providers often have different hiring timelines and caseload structures than private practices. Knowing who funds the program helps you frame your experience in the right terms during screening.
Prepare for scenario-based interview questions
Interviewers in this field routinely ask how you handle a client who returns to use, how you manage a co-occurring diagnosis, or how you document a safety concern. Walk through your actual clinical reasoning rather than giving a textbook answer.
Negotiate supervision hours into your offer
If you're working toward full licensure, the number of supervised clinical hours an employer provides each month matters as much as pay. Ask during the offer conversation how supervision is structured, who provides it, and whether hours are documented toward state requirements.
SUD Counselor Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most sud counselors?
The most active employers for sud counselors right now are HealthRIGHT 360, TURN Behavioral Health Services, and KINGS VIEW, and the most openings are in California, Ohio, and Oregon, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand tends to be highest in areas with large publicly funded treatment networks and federally qualified health centers.
How many sud counselor jobs are remote?
About 6% of sud counselor openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with telehealth counseling and care coordination roles being the most likely to offer remote or flexible arrangements. Positions that require in-person group facilitation, medication-assisted treatment monitoring, or residential support are almost always on-site.
How do you become a sud counselor?
Start by earning a bachelor's degree in counseling, social work, psychology, or a related behavioral health field. Most states require you to accumulate supervised clinical hours working with clients who have substance use disorders, then pass a credentialing exam such as the IC&RC or a state-specific test to earn your CADC, CSAC, or equivalent credential. Some positions, especially those in clinical leadership or private practice, require a master's degree and full licensure.
Can I get hired as a sud counselor with little or no experience?
Yes, entry-level roles do exist, particularly in residential treatment facilities, detox centers, and peer support programs that value lived experience alongside academic credentials. Internships and practicum placements completed during your degree program count toward supervised hours in most states, so documenting those carefully gives you something concrete to point to on applications even before your first paid role.
What does the sud counselor interview process look like?
Most employers start with a phone or video screening focused on your licensure status, the populations you've worked with, and your availability. A second interview, often with a clinical director or team lead, typically involves scenario-based questions about client safety, documentation practices, and how you handle relapse situations. Some programs ask you to review a sample case note or describe your approach to a specific clinical model before an offer is extended.
Where can I find and apply to sud counselor jobs?
You can find and apply to sud counselor jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search for roles that match your license level, treatment specialization, and preferred setting, then apply directly to each listing that fits your background.
See All 107+ SUD Counselor Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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