Should I get my Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) certificate?

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Here's the thing: If you didn't have your RN, I'd say that's great, especially given your personal interest, and go for it. 

However, you need to research employers in your area who also need an RN; otherwise, they'll hire someone with a Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) certificate for much less.

Overall, I advise entering a field that interests you and then pursuing certification rather than the reverse. This approach lets you engage with the reality of the work and determine if your interest is genuine over time. Certification reflects expertise, which can only be attained through practical experience in the field.

The requirements to become a CASAC vary from state to state, although the basic principles and guidelines are similar. High school graduation is the eligibility requirement for the CASAC certificate. The course takes around 350 hours, depending on the state. It's a commitment.

The question is, what nursing jobs compensate you for having a CASAC certificate?

Or perhaps the better question is, what CSAC jobs compensate you for having an RN license?

These would be jobs with a clinical component, perhaps requiring you to administer meds. 

Here are some potential job options. You need to research your area, as such jobs may be more readily available in a large urban setting:

Substance abuse counselor

• Setting: Hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, and private practices.
• Responsibilities: Provide counseling services to individuals struggling with substance use disorders, develop treatment plans, and offer support during recovery.

Addiction nurse specialist

• Setting: Rehabilitation centers, hospitals, outpatient clinics.
• Responsibilities: Oversee the medical aspects of addiction treatment, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT), detoxification, and physical health monitoring, while integrating substance abuse counseling.

Behavioral health nurse

• Setting: Psychiatric hospitals, mental health clinics, outpatient programs.
• Responsibilities: Work with patients dealing with mental health disorders and substance abuse, provide direct care, and help patients manage symptoms of both.

Clinical Director for substance use treatment programs

• Setting: Rehabilitation facilities and outpatient treatment centers.
• Responsibilities: Oversee the delivery of treatment programs for substance use disorders, manage a team of counselors and medical professionals, and ensure quality care.

Detox nurse

• Setting: Detox centers, rehabilitation facilities, hospitals.
• Responsibilities: Manage the medical stabilization of patients undergoing drug or alcohol withdrawal, monitor vital signs, and provide nursing care in conjunction with counseling services.

Case manager in addiction services

• Setting: Hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers.
• Responsibilities: Coordinate patient care, including creating care plans, referrals to services, and helping patients transition through various levels of care in addiction treatment.

Family counselor or support specialist

• Setting: Addiction treatment centers and outpatient programs.
• Responsibilities: Provide education and support for families of individuals in treatment for substance use disorders, often working in a group or individual counseling format.

Outpatient addiction nurse

• Setting: Outpatient clinics or addiction treatment centers.
• Responsibilities: Work with patients in outpatient care settings, providing nursing care and substance abuse counseling as part of a holistic treatment plan.

Nursing instructor for addiction programs

• Setting: Community colleges, universities, or private training institutions.
• Responsibilities: Teach courses related to substance abuse treatment, nursing care for patients with addiction issues, and CASAC certification preparation.

Workplace wellness coordinator (substance abuse focus)

• Setting: Corporate environments, employee assistance programs (EAPs).
• Responsibilities: Develop programs to help employees struggling with addiction, including assessments, counseling, and referrals for treatment, while also providing medical and nursing support.

Recovery coach/peer support specialist

• Setting: Addiction recovery programs and outpatient treatment centers.
• Responsibilities: Provide emotional and practical support for people in recovery from substance use disorders, helping them navigate recovery challenges.

By leveraging your nursing background and CASAC certification, you could contribute to a multifaceted approach to addiction care. The key is to break into the field as an RN. Look on Indeed.com or other job search engines to see the availability in your area.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth