The process to get your professional counseling certification/licensure can be a difficult one. All states require professional counselors to go through a certification/licensing process but it can differ from state to state. Colorado has three levels of Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC I, II, III) and a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) level. Each level has different requirements, but for all levels it is required to take a range of approved CAC training classes and to work for a period of time with documented clinical supervision which will vary depending on the level.
Odyssey Training Center specializes in Addiction Training for professional counselors. We offer all the required CAC/LAC classes for each level at our training center and all the CAC classes that are approved by OBH for online delivery.
Take a look into why Colorado may be the best place for you to become certified in counseling:
1. Colorado supports making health insurance available to all its citizens.
This creates the conditions that makes integrated care possible. Integrated care is comprehensive treatment, which integrates addiction / mental health treatment with primary health care. This approach is demonstrated to the most effective intervention.
2. Colorado offers some of the best cities to hold a mental health profession in.
Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and Boulder hold a high salary starting compared to the nationwide average and large number of mental health counselor positions. These areas have a plethora of job opportunities, which means you will be set to grow in the career you are passionate about without much relocation. Also, the fact that the average starting wage compares favorable among elsewhere in the nation, you won’t feel the constant reminder to move away from your beloved Rocky Mountains to make a little more money.
3. Addiction help is needed in Colorado.
Blatantly put, addiction percentages are high in Colorado. Colorado stands in at #12 in the country for abuse/misuse of prescription medications. Heroin, Opioids, Meth, Painkiller and Alcohol are highly used and abused among the Colorado area. With many of these drugs tripling and quadrupling over the last five years. Fatalities are high from drug overdose and misuse. According to Colorado Public Radio, twelve of Colorado’s counties (rural) have among the highest rate of drug deaths in the country. Also, according to Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, in nearly every year since 2000, Colorado’s rate of drug overdose was significantly higher than the national rate.
As you begin to look into further advancing your position as a counselor by getting certified, we hope you consider Colorado as a great candidate to jump start your career. The Odyssey Training Center makes your certification process affordable, flexible and valuable. Through becoming a Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC), you will gain the knowledge and tools to make a positive impact on individuals, families, and communities struggling with addiction.