How to Qualify to Be an Addiction Therapist in New Mexico
In the state of New Mexico, there are two licensures those who are interested in pursuing a career as an addiction specialist can seek. These include the license to be a drug and alcohol abuse counselor and the license to be a substance abuse associate. The type of licensure you will need to receive in order to practice as an addiction therapist will depend on your specific career goals and the amount of work that you are willing to put into obtaining your dream career. Generally, the licensure process to become a drug and alcohol abuse counselor takes longer than the licensure process to become a substance abuse associate. It also tends to pay better once you have completed the licensure and are out working in the field. However, you should never choose your career based on the amount of money you will make or the amount of time it will take you to complete a licensure. Instead, you should base your decision on which area you truly have a passion for and think that your own specific strengths and talents would be best suited for.
To become a licensed drug and alcohol abuse counselor, you must be at least twenty-one years old, and you must sign a statement signifying that you have read the code of ethics put in place by the New Mexico Counseling and Therapy Practice Board. You will also have to pass a certification exam and complete certain educational requirements. These include holding at least an associate's degree in counseling or a related field or at least an associate's degree in substance abuse or a related field. If you do possess at least an associate's degree but it is not in a field related to the job you wish to do, you can meet certain other requirements in order to qualify for licensure. These include ninety hours of training in alcohol abuse, ninety hours of training in drug abuse, ninety hours of training in counseling, and six hours of training that deal with psychological ethics as they relate to substance abuse counseling. These hours of training must be experiential in nature, such as completing an internship or being involved in job shadowing.
If you feel that you would be better suited to a career as a substance abuse associate, there are still certain qualifications that you must meet in order to do so. For this career title, you have to be at least twenty-one years of age and sign the statement saying you have read the board's code of ethics just as described above. You must also arrange supervised training and/or experiential learning at an approved institution and be able to show proof of this to the board. You must also hold at least an associate's degree in counseling or a related field or at least an associate's degree in substance abuse or a related field. In some cases, you may be able to obtain a licensure without a formal education in the subject area, though this is determined on a case by case basis. You will be required to complete and turn in an application to the board, show proof that you have completed your education and supervision requirements, and be able to present certified letters of recommendation from a current supervisor and a professional working in the field.
Once you have chosen your New Mexico career path, you can start preparing for licensure for the job of your choice. If you seek help or have any questions along the way, do not hesitate to contact the New Mexico Counseling and Therapy Practice Board.