Certified Addiction Counselor (40 Hour)

Certified Addiction Counselor (40 Hour)

Office/On-site

Recruitment #...FX-001

LocationHartford, CT

Date Opened5/5/2026 12:00:00 AM

Salary$73,339* - $97,000/year (*New state employees start at the minimum)

Job TypeOpen to the Public

Close Date5/19/2026 11:59:00 PM

INTRODUCTION

Your path in Addiction Counseling with the State of Connecticut.

Certified Addiction Counselor Supervising Addiction Counselor

Start. Stay. Grow

We are seeking a compassionate and dedicated professional to support individuals on their recovery journey from mental health and substance use challenges.

The Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking a fulltime (40 hours/week) Certified Addiction Counselor (PCN 139214) for the Capitol Region Mental Health Center (CRMHC) Inpatient Unit in Hartford.

Schedule

1st shift: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Fulltime, 40 hours per week

What We Can Offer You

Access to a comprehensive suite of state employee benefits

NEW: Visit our State Employee Benefits Overview page to explore available options

Opportunities for professional growth and development

A commitment to promoting a healthy work/life balance

Position Highlights

Screen clients to determine treatment needs and develops appropriate treatment plans

Work within the inpatient unit at Capitol Region Mental Health Center and in outpatient settings alongside clinical teams

Provide services to Adult Outpatient Clinic Team A, Team B, and the Inpatient Unit

Deliver services across CRMHC locations at 51 Coventry Street and 500 Vine Street, both offering free on-site parking

Support outpatient teams located in a single-floor building and the ITU, a secured location housing all primary and ancillary services

Provide care to ITU clients within the unit, where services are delivered on-site

Serve a client population with high levels of trauma, often present alongside or worsened by co-occurring disorders

Use clientcentered approaches to help individuals identify recovery priorities, build strengths, develop skills, and connect with community supports while maintaining confidentiality

A comprehensive medical examination, including drug screening, is required following a conditional offer of employment. All state employees must comply with Connecticut's DrugFree Workplace Policy.

About Us

DMHAS is dedicated to promoting the health and wellness of individuals with behavioral health needs through an integrated, holistic network of services that foster dignity, respect, and selfsufficiency.

The CRMHC mission is to partner with persons in recovery to ensure access to quality behavioral healthcare services.

SELECTION PLAN

For Assistance in Applying

Review the Applicant Tips on How to Apply.

Visit the Applicant Reference Library for additional support throughout the recruitment process.

Before You Apply

Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the posting by the closing date. These qualifications must be clearly specified on your application.

Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees accurately. Institutions must be accredited. For foreign education, provide equivalency documentation from a recognized U.S. accrediting service.

Resume Policy: Per Public Act 2169, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. Additional documents (cover letter, transcripts, performance reviews, etc.) may be requested later.

Preferred Shift/Location: Select all locations and shifts you are willing to work. Failure to do so may limit your consideration for specific vacancies.

Timely Submission: All application materials must be submitted by the posting deadline. Revisions cannot be made after you submit. Late submissions are rarely accepted; applicants may request exceptions by emailing ... and providing documentation of incapacitating circumstances during the entire posting period.

Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations may differ between branches of state government.

How to Apply: The only way to apply is through the Apply or Apply Online buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center posting.

After You Apply

Check Your Status: Email providers may delay messages. Regularly review your Personal Status Board for updates, questionnaires, and tasks. You may also enable SMS notifications.

Referral Questions: You may be required to complete Referral Questions (RQs) after the posting closes. Access them through your email or your Personal Status Board.

Prepare for an Interview: Only candidates whose experience aligns most closely with the role will be interviewed. Review the Interview Preparation Guide to get ready.

Stay Connected: Monitor your Personal Status Board daily and check all email folders (including spam).

Future Vacancies: Applications to this recruitment may be considered for future vacancies in this job class.

Employment Rules: Positions are filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion, and merit rules. Employees are also bound by the State Code of Ethics (www.ct.gov/ethics).

Questions? We're Here to Help

Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide individual status updates. For recruitment updates, check your Personal Status Board or review the Frequently Asked Questions. For additional questions about the process, contact Ben Beaudry at ....

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 working with psychiatric and medical comorbidities, as well as the potential impact on behavioral presentation

Experience working with assessing and/or treating individuals with intellectual and/or psychiatric illness, and other comorbid psychiatric diagnoses

Experience working with various treatment modalities used when provided services to co-occurring disorder clients, making clinical diagnoses, determining prognosis and developing treatment plans

Experience using computer software systems, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Teams

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