The 6 Best Addiction Counseling Masters Programs in New York (2026 Guide)
Addiction Counseling masters programs in New York need more qualified professionals as the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 18% job growth for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors between 2022 and 2032. New York faces a critical shortage of trained addiction counselors, and this creates exceptional career opportunities. Mental Health Counseling masters programs and Addiction Counseling master’s programs in the state offer CACREP-accredited pathways to licensure. This guide covers six programs that can launch your career in this growing field.
In fact, in 2023, there were 2,500 unfilled positions in NYS, which is good news if you are looking to get into this career, as you don’t want to enter an oversaturated field, but it is not-so-good news for those needing help, since they may face waitlists and other obstacles to receiving care.
1. Adelphi University – MA in Mental Health Counseling with Substance Abuse Concentration
Program Details
Adelphi University’s Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology holds the #24 position among the nation’s top 50 addiction counseling programs, and it comes in as one of our top programs as well. We looked at student feedback, Reddit threads, and publicly available program information. The MA in Mental Health Counseling features a substance abuse counseling concentration that prepares graduates to work with clients experiencing chemical dependency in treatment settings of all types.
The Garden City campus hosts the program and allows students to satisfy New York State’s 350-hour educational requirement for the Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Trainee (CASAC-T) certification. The concentration puts emphasis on psychodynamic understanding of current theoretical and practical approaches to assessment and treatment of substance use disorders.
Students work with award-winning faculty. They gain hands-on experience through practicum and internship placements at local hospitals, agencies and organizations throughout the New York area. The program director created the certificate specialization in 2012 and graduated its first students in 2013. By 2020, it reached 100 graduates.
Accreditation & Credentials
Adelphi University maintains accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), reaffirmed on June 27, 2019. The Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology holds additional recognition from the American Psychological Association for its clinical psychology programs.
Students completing the Substance Abuse concentration receive a certificate of completion and become eligible to apply for the CASAC-T credential from New York State’s Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). The 350 clock hours fulfill Section 1 of the state’s educational requirements for addiction counseling credentials.
Curriculum Info
The Substance Abuse concentration has eight courses built around state requirements for training providers. Course topics incorporate neurobiology of addiction, psychopharmacology, diagnostic assessment and motivational interviewing. The curriculum integrates evidence-based treatment approaches with adolescents and adults across culturally diverse populations.
Core mental health counseling courses have Personality and Psychopathology Diagnosis, Research Design, Developmental Psychology, Mental Health Counseling One, Trauma and Clinical Assessment. The program addresses substance use disorder and mental health comorbidity and covers behavioral addictions like sex and gambling use.
Students participate in the National Counseling Examination. They complete both practicum and internship requirements to develop clinical competency skills. The curriculum blends lecture, case presentation and classroom discussion methods.
Admission Requirements
Applicants need a minimum 3.1 GPA from an accredited four-year institution. Prerequisite coursework has general psychology, abnormal psychology, developmental psychology and research methods.
The application packet requires:
- Graduate application with $60 fee
- Two letters of recommendation
- Personal essay
- Official transcripts from all prior institutions
- Admissions interview
- Resume (preferred)
International students must demonstrate English proficiency through TOEFL scores of 80 (internet-based test) or IELTS scores of 6.5. The program accepts applications from candidates with bachelor’s degrees in a variety of fields and requires no specific undergraduate major. GRE scores are not required for Fall 2025 admission. The priority application deadline falls on March 1. Later submissions get reviewed on a space-available basis.
Program Format & Duration
The full-time program takes two years to complete across four semesters. Classes meet in the evenings and provide a work-compatible schedule for working students. First-year tuition totals $51,085 for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Additional costs have housing estimated at $15,000 per year and bring the total cost of living to around $18,050. Students taking six or more credits per semester may qualify for institutional scholarships ranging from $3,000 to $7,000 per year.
Agencies that accept Adelphi student fieldwork placements may qualify for a 30% tuition discount through agency remission agreements. Payment plans allow students to spread costs across multiple installments throughout the academic year.
Career Outcomes
Graduates of the substance abuse concentration found jobs in the addiction field almost right after completing the program. Adelphi’s overall graduate employment rate reached 94.80% for the Class of 2022. The Class of 2023 had 89.82% working or continuing education.
The average annual salary for 2022 graduates was $90,853. Among new graduates, 84.9% received job offers before graduation. Healthcare hired 24.21% of 2022 graduates, while counseling and social services factored in 14.74%.
Career paths have positions as mental health counselors, substance abuse specialists, case managers, behavioral health administrators and clinical directors. Licensed graduates can establish private practices or work in inpatient and outpatient hospital departments, community mental health clinics, rehabilitation programs and schools.
2. Montclair State University – MA in Counseling with Addictions Counseling Concentration
Program Details
Montclair State University’s CACREP-accredited Addictions Counseling program prepares students to support individuals in recovery from substance use and behavioral addictions. The 60-credit curriculum integrates coursework toward alcohol and drug counselor licensure (LCADC), professional counselor licensure (LAC/LPC), and certification for alcohol and drug counselors (CADC).
Graduates do their fieldwork in treatment centers, transition homes, and outpatient facilities. The program gives counselors the skills to work with populations of all types in multiple community-based settings, including clinical mental health facilities, hospitals, community service agencies, and private practice. Students receive specialized training to help clients with addictions, co-occurring disorders, and other mental health concerns.
Flexible full-time and part-time options work for working professionals through evening classes and summer courses. Full-time students can complete the degree in as little as 2.5 to 3 years.
Accreditation & Credentials
Montclair State University maintains accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP) accredits the MA in Counseling program concentrations in Addictions Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and School Counseling.
The program first received CACREP accreditation in 2009 for all program areas. The MA programs in Addictions Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and School Counseling received continuing accreditation for the full eight-year cycle in 2017. The counseling programs are under review for accreditation for the next cycle, with a scheduled site visit during the 2025-2026 academic year.
The program fulfills academic requirements to get CADC certification. Additional CADC requirements include 3,000 hours of supervised work experience (including at least 300 hours of supervised practical training in all core areas), participation in at least 30 alcohol and drug abuse self-help meetings, and successful completion of oral and written examinations.
Curriculum Info
The program requires 60 total credits distributed in core courses, concentration requirements, practicum, internship, and a comprehensive examination. Core coursework covers 27 credits of foundational counseling competencies.
Core courses include Counseling Across the Life Span, Introduction to Professional and Ethical Issues in Counseling, Counseling Theories, Appraisal of the Individual, Career Counseling, Group Counseling Theory and Practice, Counseling Techniques, Multicultural Counseling and Development, and Methods of Research. Students complete a three-credit Counseling Practicum before advancing to internship.
Concentration requirements total 21 credits with courses designed for addictions counseling. Required concentration courses include Orientation to the Profession: Addictions Counseling, Introduction to Addiction Counseling, Clinical Applications: Addictions Counseling, Family Seminar: Addiction Counseling, Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis, Counseling Co-Occurring Disorders, and Biomedical and Psychosocial Perspectives on Drugs. Students select one three-credit elective from options addressing specialized populations and counseling contexts.
The internship component spans two semesters totaling six credits. Each semester requires 300 hours at an approved site appropriate to the student’s concentration. Students spend about 20 hours per week at their internship site. Students must complete a minimum of 120 direct hours of client contact per semester.
Admission Requirements
Applicants with a GPA below 2.9 will not be considered for admission. The application requires two letters of recommendation, with one letter from a professor if the applicant graduated from any academic program in the past three years.
Application materials include a resume and a two-page essay addressing mental health equity for marginalized populations. The essay prompt asks applicants to describe how they foresee taking an active role as a counselor in supporting mental health equity for one specific marginalized population. An optional one-page supplemental statement allows applicants to share additional information not represented elsewhere in the application.
International students must submit TOEFL IBT scores of 83 or IELTS Paper scores of 6.5. The program processes applications on a rolling basis with priority consideration for applications submitted by specific deadlines.
Program Format & Duration
Full-time students complete the program in about 2.5 to 3 years. The program offers flexible scheduling through evening classes and summer courses to accommodate working students.
Students must get and maintain professional liability insurance throughout their fieldwork. Proof of current coverage must be submitted by the first day of each clinical course. Students without active coverage face administrative withdrawal. Students are required to purchase and maintain a subscription beginning at Practicum.
All counseling students receive assignment to an advisor who is a full-time faculty member in the Counseling Program upon acceptance. Students complete the majority of coursework before beginning Practicum to be prepared for client work.
Career Outcomes
The Addiction Counseling program enrolled 26 students and graduated 10 students during the most recent reporting period. The program completion rate for all students reached 90-100% for the six-year timeframe allocated by the university.
Licensure examination outcomes for graduates were reported in the 91-100% pass rate category. All graduates from the Addictions Counseling program passed the National Counselor Examination in Fall 2022.
Combined employment and doctoral admission outcomes for graduates seeking placement were reported in the 91-100% range. Graduates secure positions in addictions facilities, transition homes, inpatient and outpatient treatment centers, and other community facilities focusing on addictions treatment.
3. Rutgers School of Health Professions – M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Track
Program Details
Rutgers School of Health Professions delivers an M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Track that emphasizes cognitive behavioral counseling approaches. The program focuses on helping clients understand harmful thoughts, feelings, and beliefs while replacing them with positive, life-enhancing alternatives. Students learn evidence-based practices designed to provide counseling services for people with severe mental illness, especially when you have interest in addiction counseling masters programs in New York.
The curriculum prepares students to work competently and collaboratively within diverse community environments where persons with psychiatric and other disabilities can pursue goals that matter to them. Students develop strategies and skills to help clients change problematic behaviors, cope with difficult situations, manage disabilities, and plan for future success. New Jersey needs counselors with specialized expertise in community settings, and the program addresses this by serving people with psychiatric, physical, sensory, and developmental disabilities.
Accreditation & Credentials
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredits the program with a specialization in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Graduates achieve an 89% pass rate on the National Counselor Examination (NCE). CACREP accreditation allows graduates to apply for the NCE. The National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) waives post-master’s experience and supervision requirements for CACREP program graduates.
Curriculum Info
The 60-credit curriculum has a complete counseling core of 39 credits that covers theories of counseling, techniques for individual and group counseling, human growth and development, disability effects, and ethical and legal professional standards. Students complete four courses totaling 12 credits in clinical mental health counseling specialization.
Clinical experiences comprise 9 credits through practicum and internship courses. The practicum requires at least 100 hours and has 40 hours of direct service. The internship demands at least 600 hours and has 240 hours of direct service. Both placements occur during weekday daytime hours. The internship requires full-time work at the agency during one spring semester following practicum completion. Students may complete these experiences at their current employment agency if the agency meets program requirements.
Admission Requirements
Applications must be submitted through the Allied Health Centralized Application Service (AHCAS) by March 1. The application fee costs $72 for the first program and $44 for each additional program. Candidates need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with official or unofficial transcripts. The application requires a written statement describing career goals, personal goals, and relevant experiences, along with a resume. Two letters of recommendation must be submitted through AHCAS. A personal interview with faculty completes the process and requires a complete application before interview consideration.
Students must demonstrate basic technological competence that has word processing proficiency, email usage, and Internet search capabilities. Professional liability insurance coverage is mandatory during practicum and internship participation.
Program Format & Length
Students complete the degree in two or three years of study. Classes are offered in-person at the Rutgers-Busch campus in Piscataway and the Rutgers-Camden campus, with an online option available. Summer semester attendance is required, as certain courses are offered during this term only.
Career Outcomes
Master’s-level counselors find employment in community-based agencies, state and federal government agencies, the insurance industry, and private practice. Professionals with graduate degrees in this area experience high demand in New Jersey, the surrounding region, and across the nation. Counselors provide individual or group counseling and work with families of people seeking services. Mental health counseling masters programs graduates work with clients to develop strategies that minimize the effects of disorders or illnesses while implementing wellness-encouraging strategies.
4. Columbia University – MA in Mental Health Counseling with Addiction Specialization
Program Details
Teachers College, Columbia University houses one of the nation’s premier mental health counseling masters programs through its Ed.M. in Mental Health Counseling. New York State approved this license-qualifying program in 2005. It has prepared counselors for positions in social agencies, schools, rehabilitation centers, mental health facilities and hospitals. Mental health counselors trained through this program provide alcoholism and substance abuse treatment. They also offer assessment, diagnosis, psychotherapy and crisis management services.
The program prepares counselors who help optimal development for individuals, groups and organizations while addressing socio-emotional disorders and dysfunctions. Graduates work in a variety of settings and deliver mental health services to client systems. Substance abuse treatment represents a core competency area.
Columbia’s broader institutional strength in addiction research reinforces the program’s foundation. The university’s Division of Substance Use Disorders ranks among the top five university drug and alcohol abuse programs. U.S. News & World Report confirms this ranking. The division maintains over thirty active federal NIH grants. These grants focus on addiction research and training.
Accreditation & Credentials
The Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) accredits the Ed.M. in Mental Health Counseling program for the period from February 2016 through September 2026. This accreditation confirms that the program arranges its curriculum with core areas approved by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Graduates become eligible for New York State licensure as mental health counselors. They must complete 3,000 hours of post-master’s supervised experience and pass a national examination. A licensed mental health counselor in New York must earn at least a master’s degree of 60 graduate hours. The degree must include one year (at least 600 clock hours) of supervised internship.
Curriculum Info
The Ed.M. requires 60 graduate points of planned, sequential study beyond the bachelor’s degree. Students must take at least 45 points at Teachers College. Students complete a Special Project and pass a Comprehensive Exam. The minimum grade in all classes is B to remain in good standing.
Core areas include human growth and development, social and cultural foundations of counseling, counseling theory and practice, psychopathology, group dynamics, lifestyle and career development, assessment and appraisal, research and program evaluation, professional orientation and ethics, foundations of mental health counseling and consultation, and clinical instruction. The program incorporates two hours of coursework on recognition and reporting of child abuse and maltreatment.
Admission Requirements
Applications submitted by the January 15 early deadline receive full review and consideration for financial aid. The final deadline falls on April 15. GRE scores are not required. An undergraduate major in psychology is not mandatory, though it provides evident benefit. The program favors applicants with psychology backgrounds, prior research experience, clinical training and relevant employment history.
Program Format & Length
Full-time students complete the program in five semesters. The program accommodates part-time students through afternoon and evening class schedules. Required courses may be offered during the day at times. Students can receive loans, but the department offers no scholarships or grants for the MA degree.
Career Outcomes
Columbia social work graduates achieved a 96% employment rate in 2024. The annual median salary was $70,000. The average salary reached $71,825 and ranged from $30,000 to $108,000. Healthcare hired 55% of 2024 social work graduates. Primary job functions include therapy and counseling, case management, crisis intervention and substance use counseling.
5. NYU Steinhardt – MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness
Program Details
NYU Steinhardt offers its MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness in both residential and online formats. The program prepares aspiring mental health counselors for work in community agencies, mental health centers, hospitals and substance abuse treatment centers. The curriculum emphasizes understanding people throughout the lifespan in cultural contexts and promotes equity and social justice.
Graduates meet academic requirements for New York State licensure as mental health counselors. All graduates become eligible to qualify for diagnostic privileges in New York State. Licensed mental health counselors can diagnose mental disorders independently and create assessment-based treatment plans. Many employers prefer or require professionals with diagnostic abilities.
Accreditation & Credentials
The Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) accredits both the residential and online MA programs for 2015 through 2025. This accreditation confirms the program meets professional standards for mental health counseling masters programs.
Curriculum Info
The program requires 60 credits of planned coursework. Students complete 600 hours of supervised counseling practice through practicum and internship experiences over two consecutive terms with a minimum of 300 hours per term. Field placements occur in department-approved counseling settings. Students receive supervision from licensed mental health professionals there.
All students must pass the Counselor Education Comprehensive Examination (CECE) during their final semester. The CECE serves as the terminal experience for all Counseling@NYU students.
Admission Requirements
Applicants need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. The application has:
- Two letters of recommendation from academic references
- Short answer questions and case study responses
- Current resume highlighting clinical experience
- Official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions
- $75 application fee ($45 if submitted by priority deadline)
GRE scores are not required. International students need minimum TOEFL scores of 100.
Program Format & Length
Students complete the 60-credit program in 21 to 30 months based on their start date. The online format offers multiple start dates annually and accepts applications year-round.
Career Outcomes
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual salary for substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors was $59,190 as of May 2024.
6. SUNY Buffalo – MS in Counseling with Addiction Counseling Track
Program Details
The Graduate School of Education at University at Buffalo offers an MS in Mental Health Counseling that prepares graduates for licensure as mental health counselors. The program incorporates substance abuse treatment training and addresses what counselors just need in both mental health and addiction services. Graduates work in hospitals, mental health centers, and substance abuse treatment facilities.
Accreditation & Credentials
The Master’s in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) accredits the program. Graduates are eligible to pursue New York State licensure as mental health counselors after they complete the degree. The program prepares students adequately for the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), which New York requires for licensure.
What the Curriculum Covers
Students complete 60 credit hours and take CEP 504: Introduction to the Rehabilitation of Substance Abuse and Addictions. Clinical training covers 600 hours over two semesters and begins in the second year. The program has long-standing relationships with substance abuse treatment centers that provide internship opportunities.
Admission Requirements
The GRE/MAT is no longer required. A minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA is what most admitted applicants maintain. Applications require a $50 fee and three recommendation letters. You must submit unofficial transcripts, a resume, and responses to three prompts that address career motivations and relevant experiences.
Program Format & Length
The program offers in-person and online delivery formats. Full-time on-campus students complete requirements in five semesters or four semesters plus summer. Part-time online students finish in four years and two summers. On-campus applications are due February 1, and online applications close March 13.
Career Outcomes
Graduates secure positions in substance abuse treatment facilities, hospitals, and mental health centers.
Get Your Start Today
You need to think about your career goals and financial situation when you pick the right addiction counseling program. The programs outlined here offer different pathways, from associate degrees to master’s programs, with flexible online and in-person formats that accommodate your schedule. You should make CACREP or MPCAC accreditation your top priority. This will give you the credentials to meet licensure requirements and employer expectations. Your investment in specialized addiction counseling training positions you for a rewarding career with 18% projected job growth and strong salary prospects. You’ll be addressing New York’s critical shortage of qualified substance abuse professionals. Review each program’s specific requirements and application deadlines, then select the option that lines up best with your professional aspirations and circumstances.