← All Careers
Education

Substance Abuse Counselor (CADC)

Substance abuse counselors provide therapeutic counseling and case management to individuals struggling with addiction to alcohol, drugs, and other substances. Florida's opioid crisis, high alcohol use disorder rates, and large substance abuse treatment industry create one of the strongest job markets nationally, with CAP/CADC-certified counselors in consistent shortage across residential and outpatient programs.

FL Median Salary
$52,260
Entry Salary
$35,520
Experienced
$80,370
FL Growth
N/A

Requirements & Training

  • Credential: FL Certified Addiction Professional (CAP) or CADC (Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor) via NAADAC; minimum CAC (Certified Addiction Counselor) at entry
  • Florida license required: Yes (FL Certification Board (FCB) under FL DCF)

Career Path

  1. Counselor Aide → CAC → CAP/CADC → Clinical Supervisor → Program Director → LMHC

Top Florida Employers

FL DCF-funded providersOperation PAR (St. Petersburg)Hanley Center (West Palm Beach)Gateway Community ServicesBehavioral Centers of AmericaHenderson Behavioral Health

Related Programs

  • Substance Abuse Counseling AS
  • CADC Certification Program
  • Human Services AAS
  • FL CAP Exam Prep
FloridaCareerFinder

Find your career. Find your school. Only in Florida.

Salary data sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics Florida Occupational Employment Statistics. School data from Florida Department of Education CIE database.

Privacy PolicyTerms of UseContact Us