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Drug Alcohol Trainee Counselor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Position Overview Counselor Trainee will be in charge with assisting patients through medically ... Satisfactory criminal background and drug screen Salary Range: Salary ranges from $45,000 - 60,000 ...

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Drug Alcohol Trainee Counselor information

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How much do drug alcohol trainee counselor jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for drug alcohol trainee counselor in the United States is $25.24, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.71 and $28.85 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a drug alcohol trainee counselor?

A Drug Alcohol Trainee Counselor is an individual who is in the process of receiving training and supervision to provide counseling and support services to people struggling with substance abuse. They typically work under the guidance of a licensed or certified counselor while gaining the necessary experience and education to become fully certified. Their duties may include conducting intake interviews, assisting with treatment planning, facilitating group sessions, and providing resources to clients. The trainee counselor plays a crucial role in helping clients begin their recovery journey while ensuring all actions adhere to ethical and legal standards. This position is often a stepping stone to becoming a certified or licensed substance abuse counselor.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a drug alcohol trainee counselor?

To thrive as a Drug Alcohol Trainee Counselor, you need foundational knowledge of addiction counseling, strong interpersonal skills, and typically a relevant degree or progress toward certification. Familiarity with case management software, electronic health records, and counseling documentation systems is often required. Outstanding active listening, empathy, and cultural sensitivity set individuals apart in this role. These skills and qualifications are vital for building trust, supporting recovery, and ensuring effective treatment planning for clients struggling with substance use disorders.

What are some common challenges drug alcohol trainee counselors face during their initial months on the job?

Drug Alcohol Trainee Counselors often encounter challenges such as building trust with clients, managing emotionally charged situations, and adapting to the fast-paced environment of treatment facilities. New counselors may also find it demanding to balance documentation requirements with direct client care. However, most teams provide strong supervision and peer support, which helps trainees develop their counseling skills and confidence over time.

What is the difference between Drug Alcohol Trainee Counselor vs Substance Abuse Counselor?

AspectDrug Alcohol Trainee CounselorSubstance Abuse Counselor
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; ongoing trainingCertification or license often required; relevant degrees
Work EnvironmentInternship or supervised setting, entry-levelClinics, rehab centers, or hospitals
Employer & Industry UsageTraining role within addiction servicesProfessional role providing treatment

The main difference is that a Drug Alcohol Trainee Counselor is an entry-level position focused on gaining experience and training, while a Substance Abuse Counselor is a licensed professional providing direct treatment. Trainees work under supervision, whereas licensed counselors operate independently. Both roles are essential in addiction treatment settings, but the Trainee role is a stepping stone toward becoming a fully licensed Substance Abuse Counselor.

How much do drug alcohol trainee counselors make a year?

Drug and alcohol trainee counselors typically earn between $25,000 and $40,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and certification level. Entry-level positions often start at the lower end of this range, with salaries increasing as they gain skills and credentials in counseling and addiction treatment.

Is it hard to be a drug alcohol trainee counselor?

Becoming a drug alcohol trainee counselor involves completing relevant education, such as a certification or degree in addiction counseling, and gaining practical experience through supervised training. The role requires strong communication skills, emotional resilience, and adherence to confidentiality and ethical standards, which can present challenges but are manageable with proper preparation and support.
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What job categories do people searching Drug Alcohol Trainee Counselor jobs look for?

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Infographic showing various Drug Alcohol Trainee Counselor job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $52,492 per year, or $25.2 per hour.

Drug / Alcohol Abuse Counselor

NITELINES USA, INC

Estacada, OR • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 18 days ago


Job description

NEEDED: Drug / Alcohol Abuse Counselor
LOCATION: 59868 E HWY 224, Estacada, OR 97023
SCHEDULE: Monday - Friday, 8:00AM - 5:00 PM
QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Formal Education: Bachelor's degree (in counseling, psychology, or a behavioral science field) OR 90 college credit hours.
  • Addiction Education: 300 hours of alcohol and drug-specific coursework.
  • Clinical Experience: 4,000 hours of supervised work.
  • Must hold and maintain a current CPR certification.

JOB DUTIES:
  • Possess the ability to work both independently and as a member of a healthcare team to provide optimal services to a population of financially disadvantaged youth, typically ranging from 16 to 24 years in age.
  • Attend monthly conference calls, webinars, and DOL trainings, on site trainings as available during regular scheduled hours of service. If unavailable to attend, notify the Health and Wellness Director and obtain notes and pertinent information.
  • Ensure patient privacy for all assessments; maintain, safeguard, and ensure the confidentiality of all required student health records when they are in the health clinic or in the possession of health and wellness team members, in accordance with HIPAA.
  • Provide Substance misuse and abuse services in a positive and productive manner to facilitate student willingness to pursue recommended substance misuse and abuse treatment plan, if applicable. Services will have a general emphasis on early detection, diagnosis, and prevention/education. Provide student services in such a manner to obtain positive student satisfaction survey results as determined by Job Corps.
  • Not to engage in any research projects and/or publications relating to Job Corps health activities without prior written approval from the Job Corps National Office in Golden, CO.
  • Report adverse student behavior incidents to the HWD, Center Director or Contracting Officer's (CO) Representative (COR) in a timely manner.
  • Understand that substance misuse and abuse services shall be subject to monitoring and review by Job Corps assessment teams, and cooperation and compliance with such teams is required. Participate in DOL and Forest Service assessments, completing requested questionnaires, conferences, and monthly teleconferences in adherence to the PRH requirements.
  • Document each student interaction in the student health record (SHR) in a timely manner.
  • Comply with Job Corps infection control policies and procedures.
  • Provide substance misuse and abuse assessments for applicants and students to examine mood, behavior, thinking, reasoning, and other areas related to emotional wellness and substance misuse and abuse issues. At a minimum there are three types of assessments that will occur:
  • For applicants during the admissions process, which may include individualized assessments for possible direct threat or health care needs.
  • For new students based on responses to the Social Intake Form (SIF) and/or the Job Corps Health History Form.
  • For any student by referral using a written referral and feedback form.
  • Promptly review applicant files and complete required initial assessment (intake), and treatment plan, as applicable.
  • Participate in Disability Accommodations Committee (DAC) meetings & file applicant review team meetings during regular scheduled hours, when requested.

Care and Case Management
  • Monitor students identified as having a chronic substance misuse or abuse condition to include but not limited to: communication among staff, monitoring, and follow up. Information exchange should occur with CMHC, counseling staff, health and wellness staff and other appropriate staff based on "need to know".
  • Participate in the management of, and provide written diagnoses for, a chronic care management plan for students with chronic conditions/disability related to substance misuse and abuse conditions, when appropriate.
  • Collaborate with Center Mental Health Consultant (CMHC) on services for students with co-occurring conditions of substance abuse, substance misuse and mental health.
  • Coordinate with center physician and Health & Wellness Manager (HWD) to discuss long-term medication management and Schedule II prescription management.
  • On a monthly basis, report to the Center Director and HWD on all health- related matters; including student medical separations, justification and costs of special needed services, health and non-healthcare equipment repair and replacement needs, depletion of medical supplies and medications, and other areas deemed appropriate.

Treatment
  • Record all substance misuse and abuse documentation, such as, diagnosis, treatment and management plans, medication, reason of denial into the program (if recommended) etc. on the Student Health Record (SHR), Job Corps Health and Wellness Program forms as well as in any Job Corps approved electronic systems such as CIS.
  • Determination when a Medical Separation with Reinstatement Rights (MSWR) is appropriate and recommended for students with substance misuse and abuse conditions and/or substance misuse co-occurring conditions.
  • Crisis intervention, as needed. In the event of a substance misuse and abuse emergency, the TEAP, Center Mental-Health Consultant or the Center Physician must conduct a substance misuse and abuse evaluation as soon as possible, and when necessary, refer the student for outside care. If the TEAP, Center Physician or Center Mental-Health Consultant is not available, the student must be referred immediately to the emergency room of the nearest medical facility. If there is a life-threatening situation, 911 or the emergency response team should be called.
  • Provide various interventions to include but not limited to: Short-term or brief interventions with substance misuse and abuse checks as needed, Appropriate referrals to long term therapy, treatment, and interventions. These interventions should focus on retention and behaviors that represent employability barriers.
  • Ensure that contact is maintained and documented with any off-center substance abuse provider to monitor the student's compliance and progress.

Substance abuse Promotion and Education
  • Conduct a minimum of a one-hour presentation on substance misuse and abuse prevention for all new students in accordance with PRH 2.3, R5, with an emphasis on employability and how to respond to a substance misuse and abuse crisis. Presentations on managing substance misuse, abuse and dependency symptoms and issues in the workplace for students during the Career Development and Transition Periods.
  • Conduct at least three annual center-wide substance use prevention and education activities. Provide the HWD with documentation of the activities.
  • Assist students to acquire health-related skills and knowledge of healthy lifestyles to prevent substance misuse.
  • Participate in health and wellness program continuous quality improvement activities and advise and assist the health education instructor in the development and implementation of the Substance Misuse Education Program.
  • Coordination with other departments/programs on center, including, but not limited, to residential, recreation, education, vocation, student government association, and Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyles (HEALs), to develop integrated promotion and education services.
  • Collaboration with counseling staff in developing and/or leading psycho-educational skill-building groups to promote wellness and decrease substance misuse (e.g., relaxation training, anger management, mood regulation, assertiveness skills, handling relationships, sleep hygiene, etc.).

BENEFITS: Competitive hourly pay rate, accrued vacation, accrued sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, 401K opportunity, and healthcare benefits contributions.

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About NITELINES USA

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

We are a diversified Support Services Agency For Federal and State Governments, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, NiteLines USA, Inc., was founded to pursue and impart contract quality support services to a variety of governmental agencies. In the years since its inception, our firm has grown steadily. We employ various management, administrative and professional service personnel with extensive experience and understanding in providing quality services to all of our customers. NiteLines USA, Inc. is fully aware of our customer requirements for reliable, efficient, and quality contract support services. We have both the technical expertise to provide the support services needed, and the management personnel and procedures to ensure quality performance of every contract. Our company’s technical, management, and policies demonstrate our understanding of the specific requirements of each contract and our innovative ideas about how to provide these services at a much higher level of accomplishment than is currently available to support . Our management procedures stress the ability of our corporate team to manage the services to the complete satisfaction of our customers.

Industry

Health care and social assistance

Company size

201 - 500 Employees

Headquarters location

Duluth, GA, US

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