Associate Degree

• Most states require an advanced degree in counseling to obtain a license to practice in the field, but some employers and states allow drug and alcohol counselors to work with an associate degree, according to World Wide Learn. Associate degree drug and alcohol counseling programs include courses such as types of addiction behavior, methods of treatment and counseling skills specific to drug and alcohol counseling. An associate degree prepares a student for an entry-level position in drug and alcohol counseling.
  
  

Bachelor's Degree

• Most states and employers require an advanced degree to work as a counselor. A bachelor's degree in psychology, social work or sociology prepares the student for an advanced degree program. The graduates from a bachelor's degree program are qualified to work in drug and alcohol counseling or as a social worker. The bachelor's degree program in psychology includes courses such as introduction to psychology, research methods, social psychology and developmental psychology.
  
  

Master's Degree

• The master's degree in psychology or a counseling-related field prepares the student to work as a counselor in most states. The master's degree in counseling allows the student to specialize in an area of counseling to provide mental health counseling, marriage counseling, family counseling and school counseling to clients. A master's degree program includes classroom training as well as supervised clinical training in counseling.
  
  

Doctoral Degree

• The doctoral degree in counseling requires two to four years of training beyond a master's degree program. A doctoral degree focuses in an area of specialty such as clinical psychology or counselor education. A student with a doctoral degree meets the requirements for licensure as a counselor. Counselors with a doctoral degree in psychology may accept a variety of patients in private practice or choose a career in research. A doctorate degree in counseling psychology prepares the counselor to diagnose mental illness and emotional problems in patients. The mental health counselor also develops a treatment plan including therapeutic counseling for patients with emotional issues and mental illness. A counselor education doctorate degree prepares the student to teach counselors the methods and techniques for client counseling.