Substance use disorder practitioners/addiction counselors are high in demand due to the rising numbers of those in need of their services. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 23 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 41,000 openings for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Graduates work in a variety of settings including:
Graduates of the online substance abuse counseling certificate are also eligible to continue their studies in a bachelor’s degree in substance abuse counseling as it allows them to transfer their earned credits to the program at the University of Cincinnati. After the completion of a graduate degree, these students can work in fields such as mental health counseling, social work, psychology, and criminal justice.
Tuition is calculated on a per-credit basis. Refer to the Tuition and Fees Chart for more details.
There are a variety of payment options depending on your eligibility for Financial Aid. Please make sure you work with Financial Aid to understand your eligibility.
Yes. The vast majority of our students work throughout their time in their academic program. It is important to assess course load and financial aid to understand how to balance school and work.
If possible, students may cut down on their work hours during a clinical portion of a program.
Additional resources to support you from start to finish.
© 2025 University of Cincinnati Online Copyright Information
