Addiction Counselor | Portland Community College

Skills & Competencies

Skills developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET via SOC 21-1011.00

Skills

Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessWritingReading ComprehensionMonitoringPersuasion

Knowledge

Therapy and CounselingPsychologyEducation and TrainingCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish Language

Abilities

Oral ExpressionProblem SensitivitySpeech ClarityOral ComprehensionWritten ComprehensionWritten ExpressionDeductive ReasoningInductive ReasoningSpeech RecognitionInformation Ordering

Tasks

Complete and maintain accurate records or reports regarding the patients' histories and progress, se
Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies
Assess individuals' degree of drug dependency by collecting and analyzing urine samples.

Technology

Medical softwareData base user interface and query softwareElectronic mail softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite software

Tools

BreathalyzersDesktop computersNotebook computersPersonal computersPersonal digital assistants PDA

Work Values

RelationshipsAchievementRecognitionIndependenceWorking ConditionsSupport

Career Pathways

Occupations this program prepares you for

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET + BLS

Occupations matched to this program, with median wage, top wage, growth, and openings
SOC	Occupation	Method	Wage	Growth	Openings
Match confidence: medium21-1011.00	Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors	title_inference	$57,480 median$96,620 top	—	—

Program Pathways

Credentials this program stacks toward

No program pathways.

What You'll Learn

Key competencies developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom NSX Competency Framework

Mastery: developing (Level 2)(based on Associate's Degree)

Client progress reports and treatment records — prepare and maintain comprehensive documentation routinely and independently using electronic medical record systems in compliance with program standards.
Individual and group counseling sessions — facilitate structured therapeutic interventions with reduced oversight to assist clients in overcoming dependencies and adjusting to life transitions.
Urinalysis results and toxicology data — collect, analyze, and interpret findings to inform clinical decision-making during ongoing client assessment in a licensed treatment facility.
Discharged client follow-up contacts — conduct scheduled outreach and evaluate self-reported outcomes to determine treatment effectiveness across a defined post-discharge period.
Chemical dependency orientation curricula — deliver program orientation sessions independently to newly admitted clients, adapting content to diverse literacy and cultural backgrounds.
Individualized treatment plans — develop evidence-based care plans by synthesizing clinical experience, research literature, and client biopsychosocial histories in outpatient or residential contexts.
Client goal attainment benchmarks — review measurable progress indicators and adjust care plan objectives in routine clinical supervision meetings with multidisciplinary team members.
Probation officers and court systems — coordinate client compliance reporting and service linkage with justice-involved agencies in community corrections or drug court environments.
Complex Problem Solving and critical thinking skills — apply structured clinical reasoning to identify and address co-occurring mental health and substance use presentations in familiar caseloads.
Psychoeducational group curricula — design and lead evidence-based skill-building groups on relapse prevention and coping strategies for clients in structured treatment programs.

Program Details

Detailed information about this program

No detailed information available.

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

No requirements listed.

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

No funding information available.

Scholarships

No scholarships listed.