At a time when we need them the most, there’s a massive shortage of mental health professionals in the US. Many people who need the help are forced to wait months before they can get an appointment. Over one-third of Americans live in areas lacking mental health professionals — and unfortunately, the pandemic only worsened underlying mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse for many people throughout the United States.

Mental health professionals are in high demand

The shortage of mental health professionals combined with the growing demand for qualified professionals in the mental health field mean that mental healthcare jobs have grown and changed. When it comes to substance abuse alone, the numbers are staggering: an estimated 2.7 million persons aged 12 or older used an illicit drug for the first time within the past 12 months, and in 2021, an estimated 22.3 million persons aged 12 or older were classified with substance dependence or abuse. However, only 1.6 percent of these people received some kind of treatment for a problem related to the use of alcohol or illicit drugs.
The dangerous imbalance between demand for mental healthcare and lack of qualified professionals can be rectified by adding more trained professionals to the field and increasing access to mental health professionals for those who need the support.

If helping people is one of your passions, you may find that a career in mental healthcare helps you fulfill that desire to help change lives

• Are looking for a fulfilling and rewarding career
• Love to help others
• Enjoy making a positive impact on your community
• Are willing to take on a challenging role with big rewards
• Want to enjoy job security
• Embrace growth opportunities

Getting started as a mental health professional
If you are seeking a career in mental health, it’s important to consider the educational requirements, skills required, specific responsibilities and how you’ll choose to get started. Knowing this information can help you feel fully prepared for the next steps. Whether you decide to accelerate your mental health career by obtaining a mental health counseling internship or fieldwork placement, or just diving into the certification courses, there’s never been a better time to get started.

Addictions Training Institute can help get you certified. We have programs for individuals at every level. We only use instructors with both academic credentials and experience working in the field of substance abuse, so you know you are learning from a seasoned professional. We have also based our curriculum and required reading around the books used to develop the IC & RC exam. You are learning from the same sources that are used to develop the credentialing examination.

Continuing Education helps keep you at your best
Already certified? Addictions Training Institute offers continuing education for those already certified. As you know, the mental health field is constantly changing, and there is always something new to learn to help you and your team be the best you can possibly be at helping others.

CE-Classes are available 24/7, and offerings are constantly updated to reflect the most pressing issues of the day. CE-Classes currently has affordable and professional ongoing education offerings for the requirements of the following fields:

We are honored to provide you with the accredited education and skills to help in the mental health space, but you truly are the ones making the difference. We understand that sometimes you are the only one who can help — and we want to give you the tools to be able to do so. We see a better, kinder world in the future and we want to set you on the path to changing lives with a career as a mental health professional.

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