Whatever you choose to do on your career path, you should strive to be the very best that you can be. If a drug and alcohol certification program is on your mind, remember to reach as high as you can so that you will reach your full potential. On the path to addiction counseling, you’ll find that eventually, your calling may call for a master’s degree.
However, if this is the first step on your way to drug and alcohol certification, you’ll find that this is a great first step in your career path. Drug abuse counseling certification programs are offered within a variety career training programs and community colleges. If you’ve made up your mind to go through drug and alcohol certification, check out our 9 tips and tricks to keep in mind as you make your way through your program.
You Can Never Have Too Much Knowledge or Experience – Utilize all the available resources that your program offers not just to give you a leg up on competitors but for your own personal growth potential. From volunteer activities to taking opportunities to be a leader, do all you can.
Use Resources Wisely – Make sure that you take full advantage of all the available resources you have. Now that we live in a world with as much information as we want at our fingertips, don’t forget to check online for free study guides, test prep, and all the exam help you can get.
Study! – Try not to go through coursework on autopilot and try not to go looking for that “silver bullet” that will help you get through each class without fuss. While this may be the easy thing to do in the short term, it’s not a great plan for long-term personal development. Studying is important, make sure you do enough of it!
Memorizing is Not the Same as Understanding – Memorizing information will be important and will help you know key terms on exams but understanding the information is paramount. Within this type of coursework, you may be faced with questions about making decisions, memorization will help you understand parts of questions but understanding the material will help you make the right decisions.
Know Your Stuff – When you’re learning about group dynamics, human growth and development, social and cultural foundations, and theories of counseling and psychotherapy, you should be aware that this isn’t like all those equations you had to remember in high school only to never use again. This coursework will help you build a foundation of knowledge to help you think critically and provide excellent service to those in need, so really delve into it and get a deep understanding of all your coursework.
Keep Your Eye on The Prize – Addiction counseling is not for the faint of heart, certification and training can be rigorous. Remember to think about why you’ve chosen this program and what you’d like to achieve with your certification, hold on tight and work hard, you’ll get there.
Check State Eligibility and Licensing Requirements – Even if you know that your chosen program is accredited, make sure to check state and local licensing requirements. If you plan to move to another state anytime soon, it may be wise to check your new state’s requirements as well.
Check Local Job Listings – Checking local job listing can help you see what individual jobs require, this way you’ll know if there is any extra coursework or experience you’ll need to achieve during your studies before you go after jobs in your area.
Prepare for Your Certification Exam – When the time comes and you’ve finished your program and it’s time to make your certification official, make sure you’re prepared. Preparing for your exam doesn’t just mean studying, it means making sure you’re mentally, physically, and emotionally prepared to walk into the exam room and make your dreams come true!
