Certified Addiction Counselor (40 Hour)(Office/On-Site)

Certified Addiction Counselor (40 Hour)

Office/On-Site

Recruitment #260427-2351FX-001

Location Norwich, CT

Date Opened 4/29/2026 12:00:00 AM Salary $73,339* - $97,000/year (*New state employees start at the minimum) Job Type Open to the Public Close Date 5/8/2026 11:59:00 PM

Go Back Apply View Benefits

Introduction

Are you passionate about supporting individuals on their journey to recovery from mental health or substance use challenges?

Have you gained expertise in engaging individuals with compassion and empathy?

If so, we invite you to apply and join our dedicated team!

THE POSITION

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is now hiring for a Certified Addiction Counselor to join our team!

HIGHLIGHTS

• FACILITY: Southeastern Mental Health Authority (SMHA)
• LOCATION: 401 West Thames Street, Unit 301, Norwich, CT
• SCHEDULE: Full-Time, 40 Hours per Week, First Shift, 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday through Friday
• UNIT: Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team
• POSITION NUMBER: 26130
  
  

What We Can Offer You

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees
  
  

DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO

• Be a vital part of a compassionate team supporting individuals with substance use and mental health challenges
• Provide hands-on counseling and case management that empowers clients in their recovery journey
• Connect clients to essential resources, treatment options, and stable housing
• Make a meaningful impact in public behavioral health
• Collaborate daily with a multidisciplinary team committed to dignity, respect, and wellness
  
  

About Us

DMHAS is a health care agency whose mission is to promote the overall health and wellness of persons with behavioral health needs through an integrated network of holistic, comprehensive, effective, and efficient services and supports that foster dignity, respect, and self-sufficiency in those we serve.

SMHA is a community mental health agency operated by the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). Its primary goal is to provide high quality behavioral health services to those in our community with mental health and substance use disorders who are 18 years or older and reside in New London County and its surrounding towns. Services, which include case management, outpatient behavioral health, crisis intervention, respite care, and forensic services, are recovery oriented and offered in a trauma informed and culturally sensitive manner. We support individuals to identify and achieve their own goals in recovery, fostering independence, dignity, and ability.

The ACT Team is a multidisciplinary clinical team that delivers comprehensive services to clients who are diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness and whose needs have not been met by more traditional service delivery approaches. Individuals served by the ACT team have often experienced frequent psychiatric hospitalization and use of hospital emergency rooms, involvement with the criminal justice system, substance abuse, and lack of engagement with traditional outpatient services. By basing treatment in the community, the team can better assist the client with challenges they face. The team provides community support services interwoven with treatment and rehabilitative services and regularly scheduled team meetings with the goal of individualizing client care.

PLEASE NOTE

• A comprehensive medical examination, including a drug screening, will be required of all applicants upon a conditional offer of employment.
• All state employees must adhere to Connecticut's Policy for a Drug Free Workplace.
  
  

Career progression pathway within the State of Connecticut: starting with Certified Addiction Counselor and ending at Supervising Addiction Counselor.

Selection Plan

For Assistance In Applying

Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process.

Before You Apply

• Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.
• Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
• Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
• Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
• Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.
  
  

After You Apply

• Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates—such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links—please check your Personal Status Board regularly.
• For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select “Update My Contact Information.”
• Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
• Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
• Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
  
  

QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:

Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Jensine Tran at Jensine.Tran@ct.gov.

Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Departments of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Veterans' Affairs this class is accountable for providing specialized counseling services to clients in a behavioral health treatment program.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Provides counseling services to alcohol and drug dependent clients;
• Screens clients to determine eligibility for programs;
• Assesses strengths, weaknesses and treatment needs;
• Orients clients to treatment program;
• Participates in treatment planning and individual and/or group counseling;
• Responsible for case management activities;
• Provides crisis intervention services in response to emotional and/or physical distress;
• Makes referrals to outside or other programs for medical and/or psychological intervention;
• Maintains confidential reports and records of client data;
• Represents program at community events and seminars;
• Educates clients on substance abuse issues and availability of resources;
• Consults with service providers to assure comprehensive integrated care;
• May escort clients;
• May provide coverage duties;
• May collect urine for drug screening;
• Performs related duties as required.
  
  

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of
• physical, psychological, social, family and economic effects of substance abuse;
• counseling principles and techniques;
• community resources;
• confidentiality provisions;
• infectious diseases;
• Considerable
• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to gather, analyze and evaluate information pertinent to treatment, diagnosis and rehabilitation of an individual.
  

Minimum Qualifications - General Experience

Certification from the Connecticut Department of Public Health as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor and three (3) years of experience involving risk reduction education and counseling to assist alcohol and drug dependent individuals.

Minimum Qualifications - Substitutions Allowed

• Licensure from the Connecticut Department of Public Health as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor may be substituted for the General Experience.
• For state employees three (3) years of experience as a Certified Addiction Counselor Trainee may be substituted for the General Experience.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience providing substance abuse assessments, interventions, and treatment for individual with substance use disorders
• Experience connecting client to various levels of substance abuse treatment, such as inpatient detoxification, rehabilitation, methadone maintenance, etc.
• Experience facilitating substance abuse groups and individual substance abuse counseling
• Experience working with clients in accessing community resources/entitlements and in securing and maintaining housing
• Experience working with clients who are pre-contemplative and contemplative in their recovery
  
  

Special Requirements

• Incumbents in this class must retain the certification and/or licensure outlined above.
• Individuals recovering from addiction to alcohol or drugs are required to have two (2) years of substance free time to be considered for a position in a substance abuse program.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to speak a foreign language or be fluent in American Sign Language.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid driver's license.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
  
  

Physical Requirements

A medical and/or psychiatric examination may be required prior to appointment.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be required to perform moderate amounts of lifting or restraining of patients and exposed to communicable and/or infectious diseases and risk of injury from assaultive and/or abusive patients.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.

Click on a link below to apply for this position:

Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet.