Objective: Assess careers of the field of chemical dependency counseling and the licensure process in the state where you live.

Careers in chemical dependency and the licensure process within the State of Ohio for Chemical Dependency Counselors can seem like a daunting undertaking. However, it can also be immensely rewarding. This process begins with understanding the licensure requirements as laid out by the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board within the State of Ohio. If you are currently working in, or volunteering in, a chemical dependency treatment center or facility, start the licensure process by becoming a Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant (CDCA). Those of you who are not working or volunteering in such a setting are still encouraged to examine this process as a preliminary step into the counseling field.

Explore the website of the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board at: https://ocdp.ohio.gov/. Carefully read the “Licensing” section of the website.
Interview one licensed person working in the substance abuse counseling field.
Explore the following during the interview and submit a one-page summary of your findings. When you are citing a verbal conversation, use the APA order (name, personal communication, date).
What motivated you to get into the field?
What were the licensing requirements when you entered the field?
How do you understand the licensing requirements now and what has changed since you entered the field?
What benefit do you see in being licensed?
What do you see as the most rewarding part of your profession?