Substance Abuse Counselor - ACDP/DART - Statewide (Tier 1)

Addiction CounselorFull-Time

Listed compensation

$43K–$76K

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 6mo ago

Job Description

Agency Adult Correction Division Job Classification Title Substance Abuse Counselor (S) Position Number Grade NC10 About Us The NC Department of Adult Correction is one of the largest state agencies with more than 14,000 employees. It is responsible for safeguarding and preserving lives and property through prevention, protection, and preparation as well as the care, custody, and supervision of all adults sentenced for violating North Carolina laws. This department includes state prisons with custody, healthcare, and facility operations staff as well as probation/parole officers who supervised sentenced people in the community. Other divisions include Administration, Health Services, Rehabilitation & Reentry, Special Operations and the Post-Release Supervision & Parole Commission. We have a mission that matters! Description of Work Substance Abuse Counselors (SACs) with the Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency Program (ACDP) and The Rehabilitation and Reentry Division (DART) Center play a vital role in delivering substance use disorder treatment services within the Department of Adult Correction. These positions provide direct support to justice‑involved individuals through assessments, treatment planning, counseling, progress evaluation, and reentry‑focused recovery support. SACs at both ACDP facilities and the DART Center help clients build the skills and stability needed to successfully pursue recovery and reintegrate into their communities. Primary Job Duties:

  • Conduct client intakes, assessments, and gather social histories to determine treatment needs.
  • Develop, implement, and coordinate individualized treatment plans.
  • Evaluate client progress and document all services in OPUS, including treatment notes and discharge summaries.
  • Facilitate group and individual treatment sessions to support recovery and behavioral change.
  • Assist clients in developing recovery plans, building community supports, and maintaining participation in treatment goals. Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences Pay Range $43,267.00 - $75,718.00 We Will Be Recruiting For several positions statewide. Your application will be considered for all available positions in the location that you request.

Applicants Must Pass a Background Check to Be Eligible for This Job.

The Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency Program (ACDP) is a specialized behavioral health service that provides substance use treatment in North Carolina prisons. ACDP uses evidence-based clinical interventions and programming to help incarcerated individuals achieve and maintain recovery.

Services include therapeutic communities, outpatient counseling, aftercare, and 12-step support groups. The Rehabilitation and Reentry Division (DART) oversees services, programs, and community partnerships aimed at helping individuals reintegrate into their communities following incarceration.

Staff members work with people who are incarcerated, probationers, post-release supervisees, and parolees. This division collaborates with prison and supervision staff to create individualized reentry plans, coordinate services, and deliver evidence-based programs to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism.

Application Process NCDAC uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions with the most qualified individuals. Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.

Applicants must complete the application in full. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing the State application.

Applications must include: Complete education history (including high school) Full work experience details Certificates and licenses, if applicable Education must be from appropriately accredited institutions. Information provided must support responses to supplemental questions.

Incomplete applications may impact screening and salary determination. Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check and drug screen. If multiple applications are submitted, only the most recent application received before the closing date will be considered.

Education Equivalency Verification The State of North Carolina/Office of State Human Resources (OSHR) uses the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) as a referral resource for applicants who need to have their credentials certified as equivalent.

For a list of organizations that perform this specialized service, please visit the NACES membership website at naces.org. Veterans’ and National Guard Preference Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Member-4 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.

Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach an NGB 23A (RPAS), along with the state application, if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing.

Applicants who are former members of either the NC Army National Guard or the NC Air National Guard, with honorable discharge and six years of creditable service, must attach a copy of the DD 256 or NGB 22, along with the state application.

PREA Requirement The NC Dept. of Adult Correction must adhere to the US Dept. of Justice Final Rule on the "National Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Prison Rape."

Click this link for information on hiring and promotion prohibition requirements for all positions in the NC Dept. of Adult Correction: PREA Hiring and Promotion Prohibitions ADA Accommodations Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), NCDAC is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals.

If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the person indicated below. Minimum Education and Experience Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.”

If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

High school or General Educational Development (GED) diploma OR An equivalent combination of education and experience. Necessary Special

Qualifications

Credentialed as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), or as a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist – Associate (LCAS-A), or in an equivalent credential from a governing authority recognized by the NC Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board.

EEO Statement The State of North Carolina Is An

Equal Employment Opportunity

Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation.

The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Recruiter: Lisa Warren Byrd Email: recruiters@dac.nc.gov North Carolina State Government is one of the state’s largest employers, with over 76,000 employees all working toward a common goal: a safer and stronger North Carolina.

We are a large organization comprised of various agencies, offices, and universities, each providing important public services. Eligible state employees are entitled to comprehensive benefits, including a variety of leave options, professional development opportunities, insurance, and more.

To learn more about the benefits of being a North Carolina state employee, visit the N.C. Office of State Human Resources' website. Permanent, temporary, and time-limited state government jobs can be found from the mountains to the coast. Find your next opportunity today!

State Application Resources/Frequently Asked Questions Valuing Education and Experience The State of North Carolina values the knowledge and experience of our jobseekers and current state employees.

Approximately 91 percent of state job classifications allow experience to be substituted for education or do not require a post-secondary degree.

Learn more about how you may qualify for a position through education or directly related experience, or a combination of both, with the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide. All job postings close at 11:59pm the night before the End Date on the posting.

Introduce yourself to our recruiters and we'll get in touch if there's a role that seems like a good match. If you are already a state employee, please search for jobs by clicking here.

Key Responsibilities

Deliver substance use disorder treatment services through assessments, individualized treatment planning, and counseling for justice-involved individuals. Facilitate group and individual sessions to support recovery and assist clients in reintegrating into their communities.

Requirements

Requires a high school diploma or GED and a professional credential such as CADC or LCAS-A. Applicants must pass a criminal background check to be eligible for employment.

Qualifications

Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Substance Abuse CounselingClient AssessmentGroup TherapyIndividual CounselingCase DocumentationBehavioral Change FacilitationCrisis InterventionReentry Planning

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 48% are remote, 40% have no call, 48% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for North Carolina is 94.3 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$59k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $63k in an average-cost state. 59.2% of North Carolina clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

How many Substance Use / Addiction Counselor jobs are remote?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score6.6 / 10 · top 25% in substance use / addiction counselorranked against 1,008 Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$43k–$76kSubstance Use / Addiction Counselor median $59k (middle half $55k–$71k)16 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$63k in purchasing powerNorth Carolina index 94.3 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Addiction Medicine listings in North Carolina55 active—live on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
All substance use / addiction counselor listings in North Carolina477 active12,915 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 48% remote · 40% no call · 48% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedNorth Carolina counselor listings (all specialties): 14% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 16% offer loan repayment477 active listings, Nov 2026
New Addiction Medicine listings440 in the last 30 days217 the 30 days before (+103%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (1,008 Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page. North Carolina figures use all substance use / addiction counselors: too few North Carolina Addiction Medicine postings state pay.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Substance Abuse Counselor - ACDP/DART - Statewide (Tier 1) at North Carolina Department of Adult Correction a 6.6 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 25% in Substance Use / Addiction Counselor — ranked against 1,008 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings on WeekdayDoc.

Top Counselor Jobs

38 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

38 jobs · 29 employers
15
<$75k
9
$75k-95k
9
$95k-115k
3
$115k-135k
2
$141k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

33 jobs · 29 employers
401k / retirement match
94%
CME allowance
30%
Sign-on bonus
27%
Loan repayment
21%
PSLF eligible
12%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 6.6
Better work-life than 80% of Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,008 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

North Carolina Department of Adult Correction logo

About North Carolina Department of Adult Correction

Government Administration
Raleigh, North Carolina
501-1,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Comprehensive Benefits
Leave Options
Professional Development
Insurance