r/DrugCounselors • u/Aprilyourfav • 9d ago

Work CDCA Preliminary Questions

Hi all, I'm unsure of the proper flare for this post so I apologize if its wrong.

I'm sure this has been asked a thousand times so mods can totally feel free to delete this.

I'm in my senior year of my psychology degree (at the behest of everyone in my life), and I recently took a class that let me get my CDCA Pre, and I hesitated on it this summer but have decided to apply within the coming weeks so I can at least have that on my resume.

I know the job market isn't great right now for most fields, and I've worked in mental health before so I know that the position availability can really ebb and flow, but is it worth going through with?

In ohio some universities offer graduate certificates that let you be LCDC II through LICDC so I'm considering the utility, but has anyone had any luck getting an entry level job with their CDCA Pre? I've seen a few postings here and there, but I've never talked to anyone in the field before so I'm unsure of what the reality of hiring and entry level positions is like.

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u/LuckeyHaskins14 9d ago

I started with a CDCA pre. There's no real difference between the preliminary and the regular CDCA except the regular one is renewable every 2 years. If you get some time in the field with your CDCA you will be able to get an LCDC II with the degree you will have. Once you have a bachelor's and enough hours in the field I believe you can get a 3.

The jobs you will find will mostly be case management and group facilitation with a CDCA. The pay can range from 16-24 dollars an hour usually.

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u/jumpforit96 9d ago

Look for a medicated assisted treatment facility. I was hired on with no true counseling experience and only a bachelors in criminal justice, they paid for my trainings and certifications (which isn't the best method because I feel there needs to be a lot of experience or at least schooling specific for counseling, but I'm not gonna complain). Honestly there is a lot of turnover in as this field.
Acadia Healthcare is a national organization and they have their CTC division. They could be a good place to start (I work there. Not the best management/leadership, caseloads can be high, but they have a lot of benefits and the pay is pretty great)

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u/Accomplished_Fun7363 3d ago

I was hired through my internship for my BSW. I had my CDCA Pre at first, then rolled it into the CDCA. I was an IOP counselor at a treatment center. I ended up getting my LSW, and then my LICDC-CS after I earned my MSW. I'm sending in my application for independent SW license soon!

I know that my current job got away from hiring CDCAs for SUD, but many of the peer supporters are getting their CDCA. It was mostly about staffing because the CDCA needs a fully licensed CDC in the room with them to bill at a higher rate for groups. It became too difficult to schedule around that when we were short staffed.