Substance Abuse Counselor job description.
A substance abuse counselor provides assessment, individual and group counseling, and case management to clients recovering from addiction. They develop treatment plans, coordinate with medical and social services, and support clients through recovery in outpatient, residential, or community-based settings, operating within current licensure requirements.
The Substance Abuse Counselor job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Substance Abuse Counselor Reports to: Clinical Director or Program Director
A substance abuse counselor provides assessment, individual and group counseling, and case management to clients recovering from addiction. They develop treatment plans, coordinate with medical and social services, and support clients through recovery in outpatient, residential, or community-based settings, operating within current licensure requirements.
- Conduct intake assessments to evaluate client needs and treatment options
- Develop and update individualized treatment and recovery plans
- Facilitate individual and group counseling sessions
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
6 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Clinical Director or Program Director
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Conduct intake assessments to evaluate client needs and treatment options
- Develop and update individualized treatment and recovery plans
- Facilitate individual and group counseling sessions
- Monitor client progress and adjust treatment plans accordingly
- Coordinate care with medical providers, social workers, and family members
- Maintain accurate, confidential clinical documentation
- Respond to crisis situations and connect clients to appropriate resources
- Educate clients and families on addiction, recovery, and relapse prevention
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Current licensure/board certification as required by state and employer
- Bachelor's or master's degree in counseling, social work, or psychology
- Experience with addiction treatment modalities and case management
- Strong active listening and crisis-intervention skills
- Experience with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders
- Bilingual candidates for underserved communities
- Familiarity with electronic health record (EHR) documentation
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Substance Abuse Counselor job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Substance Abuse Counselor job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The mid band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Clinical Director or Program Director) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What licensure is required for this role?
- Requirements vary by state; candidates should hold current licensure/board certification as required by the state and employer before providing clinical counseling.
- What settings employ substance abuse counselors?
- Common employers include outpatient clinics, residential treatment centers, hospitals, and community mental health organizations.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Mental Health Counselor
A Mental Health Counselor provides individual, group, or family counseling to help clients manage emotional, behavioral, and mental health concerns.
Peer Support Specialist
A peer support specialist draws on personal recovery experience to help clients with mental health or substance use challenges build skills, hope, and connections to community resources.
Case Manager
A Case Manager coordinates services and resources on behalf of clients or patients to ensure continuity and quality of care.
This Substance Abuse Counselor job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.