If you or someone you care about is living with a chronic medical condition, you’ve probably been to a number of healthcare professionals. Once upon a time, there were only doctors and nurses. But now there are a number of different types of medical and mental health providers.
In this article, we’re going to look at all the different types of healthcare workers. If you or someone you love is living with a chronic medical condition, it’s important to have at least a basic understanding of who does what.
The Different Types of Medical Professionals
Table of Contents
To get the best care, you need to know about the various types of healthcare providers. They all have different levels of training and experience. It’s important to see the right professional with the right level of training for whatever ails you.
So let’s jump right into it. A hundred years ago, this list would’ve consisted of basically just two types of healthcare providers: doctors and nurses. But a lot has changed since then. Now there are several different levels of nurses and a variety of new types of medical providers. We’ll start with the big dogs: doctors (and their assistants).
Doctors, PAs, & CMAs
Physician aka Doctor (M.D. & D.O.)
I won’t say very much about physicians because we all know what they are. Often referred to simply as doctors, they have the highest level of medical education and training.
To become a physician, it’s required that you earn either a M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) or a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) from an accredited college. Then you have to do an internship and residency before getting licensed to practice medicine.
Doctors have to specialize in one area of medicine. Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) are specialists in either internal medicine or family medicine. These are the doctors who do your annual physical and treat common ailments like hypertension (high blood pressure), hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), and mild influenza. PCPs are also the doctors who refer you to a specialist for more serious conditions.
There are hundreds of different medical specialties. An ophthalmologist, for example, is a doctor who specializes in diseases of the eye. After completing their general medical education, they have specialized training in eyes and eyes only. Then, to become board certified, they have to pass a rigorous exam.
It’s beyond the scope of this article to look at all the different medical specialties. But for every body part or bodily system, there’s a type of doctor who specializes in it. And then there are surgeons. They are physicians who specialize in doing surgery.
Doctors are at the top of the medical hierarchy. They have the most education, training, and experience. For serious medical conditions or any type of surgery, you’ll want to see a doctor. Make sure to find the right doctor for you and do everything you can to establish a good relationship with him/her.
Physician Assistant (PA, PA-C)
This type of medical professional didn’t exist until the mid 1960s. Physician assistants, or PAs for short, are medical professionals with extensive education and training. While they don’t go to medical school like an actual physician, PAs do receive years of graduate education in medicine.
Physician assistants (which for a long time I thought were called physician’s assistants) can do a lot of the same things that doctors can do. They can diagnose and treat illnesses, order tests, and prescribe medication. In some states, PAs are allowed to work independently while in others they have to work under a licensed physician.
PAs can specialize but don’t have to. They’re not required to complete a residency program like physicians are. You’ll find physician assistants working pretty much everywhere you’ll find doctors: hospitals, in primary care offices, specialists offices, etc. For most ailments, PAs are as capable of treating you at the same level as a doctor.
There are over 100,000 certified physician assistants in the United States and that number is growing. If you’re living with a chronic illness, odds are you either have or will see a PA at some point. Maybe you’ve already have but didn’t realize it.
The first time I saw a PA years ago, I thought I was talking to a doctor for most of the appointment. She was just as knowledgeable and professional as the average doctor – maybe more so. But then I noticed the initials PA-C after her name and asked her what it meant. In the years since, I’ve seen several physician assistants and they’ve all provided high-quality medical care.
Medical Assistant (CMA, RMA)
Another type of healthcare provider you’re likely to run into are medical assistants. Sometimes called healthcare assistants, they have a number of clerical and clinical duties. While medical assistants don’t receive nearly as much training as physicians or PAs, they do have to earn either a certificate or an associate’s degree in medical assisting. Medical assistants who are board certified use the credential certified medical assistant (CMA).
Medical assistants have a number of responsibilities. Some of them are clerical/administrative and some are clinical. Clerical CMA duties include greeting patients, scheduling appointments, updating patient records, and handling insurance forms. Clinical CMA duties include taking patient histories, checking vital signs, drawing blood, performing basic laboratory tests, and assisting doctors during physical exams.
While CMAs don’t have the same education and prestige of doctors or PAs, they are an important part of the medical team. CMAs work in hospitals, clinics, private offices, and other healthcare settings.
Nurses
Once upon a time, a nurse was a nurse. Today, there are several levels of nurses, each with their own level of training and experience. Each nursing level is responsible for carrying out different duties and is important to the medical team as a whole. We’ll start with the highest level of nurses: APNs.
Advanced Practice Nurse (APN, APRN)
Out of the different types of nurses, advanced practice nurses (APNs) have the most training and experience. To become an APN, you need a graduate degree in nursing. That means that APNs go through at least 7 or 8 years of higher education in nursing. Although there are accelerated programs, most APNs go through four years of undergraduate education leading to a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) and then another two-or-three years to get their masters degree (MSN). Some even go on to get a doctoral degree.
Advance practice nursing education follows what is called the Consensus Model. This trains APNs in one of four specialties. After completing their specialized training, APNs obtain a license to practice in one of the four roles. Here are those roles and a brief explanation of their responsibilities:
Nurse Practitioner (NP) – Diagnose and treat general illnesses, order lab tests, prescribe medications- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) – Similar to a NP but specializes in one area of medicine
- Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) – Administers anesthesia during surgeries and other procedures
- Nurse Midwife (CNM) – Provides care to women including pregnancy, birth control, and more
APNs can do a lot that lower levels of nurses cannot. For example, APNs can prescribe medication. They are often part of a much larger medical team but can work independently. APNs work in a variety of setting including nursing homes, clinics, and private practices.
Registered Nurse (RN)
When most people think about nurses, they’re thinking about registered nurses (RNs). To become a RN, you must complete an accredited nursing program and then pass an exam to get licensed. At the very least, RNs must either earn an associate of science in nursing (ASN) degree or complete a hospital-based diploma program. However, many RNs hold a bachelor’s degree (BSN).
Registered nurses work in a variety of setting including doctor’s offices, hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and also provide home-based care services. While they don’t have to, RNs can continue their training and specialize in a specific area of medicine. Here are just a few nursing specialties:
Critical care/emergency medicine- Oncology
- Respiratory/pulmonary care
- Psychiatric/mental health
- Pain management
Registered nurses have a number of responsibilities. They conduct physical exams, check vital signs, draw blood, provide patient counseling and education, take detailed medical histories, help patients to improve their health, coordinate with physicians and other team members, and a whole lot more. In my opinion, RNs are the unsung heroes of the medical world.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
This level of nurse has less training and experience than RNs and APNs, but still provide incredibly valuable medical care. Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) undergo between 1-2 years of training and then must past an exam to get licensed (in Texas and California, LPNs are called LVNs or licensed vocational nurses).
In the United States, LPNs work under the direction of RNs, APNs, and doctors. However, in Canada they can work independently. LPNs work in many of the same settings as RNs: hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, doctor’s offices, and in home health settings.
While LPNs share some of the same responsibilities as RNs, like measuring vital signs and administering medication, they also help patients with their activities of daily living (ADLs). LPNs help patients to eat, bathe, get dressed, and do other ADLs. And like RNs, LPNs help to educate patients about their diagnoses, treatments, and answer any medical questions they may have.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
While not technically a nurse, certified nursing assistants (CNAs) provide valuable care under the direct supervision of a RN or LPN. To become a CNA, you must complete a state-approved training program and then pass an exam to get certified. Training programs vary in length but typically last no more than a couple of months.
CNAs have some of the same responsibilities as LPNs and RNs like checking vital signs and dressing wounds. However, many of their duties revolve around helping patients with their daily activities. CNAs help patients to eat, groom, bathe, go to the bathroom, keep their beds clean, and other various ADLs.
Certified nursing assistants can be employed by hospitals but are more often found working in long-term residential facilities, adult daycare centers, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers. While many CNAs are happy providing the much-needed services they do, some go on to become LPNs, RNs, and even APNs.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
I have to mention emergency medical services (EMS) for two reasons. First of all, for any type of serious medical (heart attack, stroke, etc.) or traumatic (car accident, gunshot, etc.) emergency you may have, EMS workers are the guys/gals you want there to help you. And secondly, I’m mentioning EMS because I used to be an emergency medical technician (EMT) myself.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT, Paramedic)
Emergency medical technicians save countless lives every day. These are the skilled technicians who work on an ambulance answering 911 calls. They’re highly trained in emergency medicine and can perform a variety of life-saving procedures. EMTs get either certified or licensed at different levels of expertise based on education and experience. These vary from state to state. But most states have 3 levels of EMTs that look something like this:
Basic EMT (EMT-B)
The lowest level of emergency medical technician. EMT-Bs typically go through 3-6 months of emergency medical training and must pass a state exam to get certified/licensed. Responsibilities include all aspects of basic life support (BLS), administering some medications, monitoring vital signs, and semi-automatic defibrillation (AED).
Intermediate EMT (EMT-I)/Advanced EMT (AEMT)
This level of EMT has more training than a basic but less than a paramedic. The official name (EMT-I or AEMT) varies by state. AEMTs/EMT-Is can do everything that EMT-Bs can do and more. They can also provide intermediate life support (ILS), administer a wider variety of medications, obtain intravenous (IV) and intraosseous (IO) access, and use supraglottic airway devices.
Paramedic (EMT-P)
This is the highest level of emergency medical technician. Paramedics have extensive training and experience in emergency medicine. They can do everything EMT-Bs and AEMT/EMT-Is can do and a whole lot more. Paramedics are certified in advanced life support (ALS), sometimes called advanced cardiac life support (ACLS). They can intubate, administer a variety of drugs, do manual defibrillation, advanced cardiac monitoring, cricothyrotomy, and a whole lot more.
Pharmacy
Pharmacist (Pharm.D.)
Even the healthiest of people are familiar with what pharmacists do even if they’ve never been to one themselves. But if you’ve been living with a chronic medical condition for a while, you’re likely more than familiar. You might even be on a first-name basis with your pharmacist.
Pharmacists go through extensive education and training. To become a pharmacist in the United States, you must first earn a doctoral degree in pharmacy (Pharm.D.). That’s 4 years of undergraduate school then 3-4 years of graduate work – so about 8 years of higher education. Then, you have to pass multiple exams before you can get licensed. Additional requirements may be necessary by state.
We all know that pharmacists dish out drugs. But in addition to dispensing medications, they also coordinate with doctors to provide better patient care, offer patient counseling, deal with insurance companies, manage staff, perform administrative duties, and more. While pharmacists obviously work in pharmacies, they also work in hospitals and other settings.
Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
When you go to CVS, Walgreens, or another local pharmacy to pick up the meds, you usually don’t interact with an actual pharmacist – you interact with a pharmacy technician. While they will often ask you if you have any questions for the pharmacist, they are not actually pharmacists themselves.
Pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of a pharmacist to dispense medications, supply them to patients, communicate with healthcare providers, and do a variety of other tasks. While they don’t undergo nearly as much training as a pharmacist, pharmacy techs do have to complete an accredited program and pass a licensing exam.
While every state has different licensing requirements for pharmacy technicians, most of them require you to be certified through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). This organization certifies pharmacy techs who have completed the necessary training and pass an extensive exam leading to the credential of CPhT.
Other Medical Professionals
Aside from doctors, nurses, their assistants, and emergency medical workers, there are a few other types of medical professionals you should know about. If you’re living with a rare and chronic illness, you’ve likely interacted with some of these professionals.
Physical Therapist (PT)
Physical therapists help people with a variety of conditions to improve their ability to move. They do everything from improving the quality of life for people with mild arthritis to teaching people how to walk again after a serious accident. Physical therapists diagnose and treat movement disorders, engage in patient education, and coordinate with other doctors to provide the highest level of care.
In the past, you could become a physical therapist (PT) with only a bachelor’s or master’s degree. But in the United States today, you need to earn a doctor of physical therapy (DPT) degree to become a certified PT. Once you earn your degree, you take a national exam and then can get your state license to practice physical therapy.
Many physical therapists go on to complete post-doctoral training and specialize in one area. These areas include orthopedics, geriatrics, pediatrics, neurology, women’s health, cardiopulmonary, and sports physical therapy. To become board certified in one of these areas, PTs undergo 2,000 post-doctoral hours of clinical experience.
You’ll find physical therapists in many of the same places you find doctors, nurses, and their assistants. PTs work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, fitness centers, and also do home health visits.
Dietitian (RD)
A dietitian is a professional who specializes in human nutrition. They help people to examine and improve what they put in their bodies. As we continue to learn about the role diet plays in our health, more and more people are going to see dietitians.
If you need help with your diet, you want to see a dietitian and not a nutritionist. Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist. But registered dietitians (RDs) go through an accredited education program, have supervised clinical experience, and must pass a state exam. All RDs have at least a bachelor’s degree in nutrition or a closely-related field.
Dietitians work with their clients to to educate them about nutrition, assess their current diets, come up with healthier diet plans, track their progress, and more. They can be found working in hospitals, clinics, short-and-long-term care facilities, and in private practice.
Dentist (DMD, DDS)
I won’t say much about dentists because most people know who they are and what they do. But in case you don’t, dentists are doctors who specialize in oral health. They take care of everything from routine cleanings to major dental surgeries.
All dentists must have a doctoral degree in dentistry from an accredited program. Depending on the program, the degree of doctor of medical dentistry (DMD) or doctor of dental surgery (DDS) is awarded after four years of graduate dental training. But regardless of whether a dentist has DMD or DDS after his/her name, they all undergo the same training.
Some dentists go on to complete post-doctoral training in a particular specialty. These include orthodontics, periodontics, pediatric dentistry, dental anesthesiology, prosthodontics, and others. Dental specialists are highly trained in one particular area of dentistry.
Dentists work in private practices, hospitals, and various institutions like prisons and military bases. I won’t dive into the other dental professionals you’re likely to encounter at the dentist’s office. But like doctors and nurses, dentists have support staff. These include dental assistants and dental hygienists.
Chiropractor (DC)
The last type of medical professional that I’ll mention are chiropractors. I almost left them off this list. I’ve never been to one myself and there seems to be a lot of mixed evidence about their effectiveness. However, I know people who swear by them and there is evidence that shows they are effective at treating one particular ailment: back pain.
Chiropractors use spinal manipulation to treat varies types of back pain. They seem to be effective at treating certain types of pain, sometimes better than traditional medicine. While chiropractors aren’t medical doctors, they do hold doctoral degrees. After earning an undergraduate degree, chiropractors spend three years in graduate training leading to the doctor of chiropractic (DC) degree. Only after they’ve earned their DC can they get licensed to practice.
Most chiropractors work in office settings, many of them in private practice. Though much less common, some chiropractors work in physician’s offices to provide a holistic approach to healing. Unless you suffer from back pain, you probably won’t need to see a chiropractor. But they’re worth mentioning in case you do. I’ve met a number of people who say a chiropractor helped their back pain more than their medical doctor.
The Different Types of Mental Health Professionals
If you or someone you care about is living with a chronic illness, you know how much it can take a toll on your mental health. Depression, anxiety, loneliness, and substance abuse are all common in people with rare and chronic diseases. That’s why it’s so important to have a strong support system.
To get the care you need when you need it, it’s important to know about the various types of mental health professionals. They all have varying levels of education and provide different services. You should know who’s who in case you need to see one of these providers.
Mental health services have come a long way over the past century. Our understanding of mental health is much better now than it was then, as is the training that mental health workers go through. So let’s get to it. Just like in our article about the different types of medical professionals, we’ll start at the with the highest-trained (and highest-paid) mental health professional.
Psychiatrist (M.D., D.O.)
Quacks. Alienists. Shrinks (short for head shrinkers). Psychiatrists have been called a number of names over the years. And the history of psychiatry is definitely riddled with some questionable practices. But if you’re suffering from a serious mental health problem and want the highest level of care, you need to go see a psychiatrist.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors. They go through 4 years of college (pre-med), 4 years of medical school, and then another 3-8 years of specialized training in psychiatry (residency). That’s between 11-16 years of higher education! But they’re still not there yet. To become a board certified psychiatrist, they have to pass an extensive exam from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (APBN).
Why do psychiatrists receive so much specialized training? Because it allows them to use a variety of treatment methods for their patients. One method is psychotherapy (aka talk therapy). Psychiatrists are trained to use a variety of psychotherapeutic techniques to treat mild-to-moderate mental illnesses.
But in addition to psychotherapy, psychiatrists can also prescribe medication. After they complete their general medical education, psychiatrists receive years of extensive education and training in prescribing psychiatric drugs. Of the 2-or-3 types of mental health professionals that can prescribe meds, psychiatrists go through the most training by far. And for severe mental health problems, psychiatrists can even use things like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
While psychiatrists can do all these things, they usually just do one: prescribe medication. Like so many of the things that suck about the medical system, this is largely due to the massive influence of insurance companies. A therapy session with a psychiatrist takes longer and costs less than a quick medication appointment. So HMOs push psychiatrists to push pills, which pushes more money in HMO’s direction.
If you need psychiatric medication, seeing a psychiatrist is usually the way to go. But for non-medication-related needs like wanting to see a psychotherapist, there are plenty of other options.
Clinical Psychologist (Ph.D., Psy.D.)
These are doctors, too – but not medical doctors. Clinical psychologists are highly-educated and clinically-trained mental health providers. They are able to diagnose mental illnesses, do psychotherapy, and psychological testing. But they cannot prescribe medication (usually – see a few paragraphs below).
There are many types of psychologists (social, evolutionary, experimental, neuro, bio, etc.), but it’s a clinical psychologist you’ll want to see for your mental health. They spend 4 years in an undergraduate program and then an additional 4-7 years in graduate school leading to either a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) or doctor of psychology (Psy.D.) degree. Ph.D. programs in clinical psych teach students to be both scientists and clinicians while Psy.D. programs focus mainly on the clinical part.
Clinical psychologists work with patients/clients (some call them patients, others clients) that have the same range of diagnoses as psychiatrists. Some clinical psychologists even specialize in working with people who have rare and chronic illnesses. These mental health professionals can be found working in hospitals, clinics, private practices, schools, prisons, and other settings.
Remember how I said that clinical psychologists can’t prescribe medications? In 45 states, this is true. However, there are currently 5 states that allow them to prescribe meds: New Mexico, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, and Louisiana. In these states, clinical psychologists who undergo post-doctoral training in psychopharmacology (prescribing psych meds) can prescribe psychiatric drugs.
For psychotherapy and psychological testing, clinical psychologists are the highest-trained providers. But they’re not the only ones. There are several types of non-doctoral mental health professionals who are capable of providing excellent care.
Counselor/Therapist/Psychotherapist (LPC, LCPC, LMHC, etc.)
These are mental health professionals with graduate training in counseling and psychotherapy. They’ve all completed a graduate program in counseling, psychology, or a related field and have hundred of hours of supervised training. The exact level of training and scope of practice varies from state to state, as do the official titles. Here are some common titles for this position:
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
- Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
- Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC)
- Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
- Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CLMHC)
When people talk about seeing a therapist, they’re usually talking about this level of provider. For simplicity’s sake, we’ll just call them therapists. They provide one-on-one counseling, usually seeing clients for hour-long sessions once a week. While psychiatrists use the term patient and psychologists use either patient or client, therapists commonly go with client.
People see therapists for a variety of reasons beyond just treating mental illnesses. Divorce, loss of a loved one, starting a new job, losing a job, and uncertainty about the future are just some of the reasons people see therapists. But our reason for seeing a therapist (which may also include any of the above) is to help us deal with the chronic disease we’re living with. Therapists can help you to cope with all the added stress a chronic illness can add to your life. And like some clinical psychologists, there are lots of master’s-level therapists who specialize in working with people who have chronic medical conditions.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW, LICSW)
In a lot of ways, these mental health professionals are similar to the master’s-level therapists above. Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) have graduate training in psychotherapy and offer one-on-one counseling sessions. However, as social workers, their education includes a lot more than just psychotherapy.
To become a LCSW, first you have to get your bachelor of social work (BSW) degree. Then you must complete a graduate program and get your master of social work (MSW) degree. After logging many hours of supervised experience you can take your state licensing exam. Depending on the state, newly-licensed social workers may work independently or under the supervision of an independently-licensed social worker (LICSW). Some social works go on to earn their doctor of social work (DSW) degree.
While all social workers are trained to provide a variety of services to the community, licensed clinical social workers are also trained to do psychotherapy. However, they do not have as much focused education and training in this area as the licensed professional counselors above. But that doesn’t mean social workers can’t be great therapists. Sometimes the broader nature of their training gives them insights that most LPCs have.
I worked with hundreds of therapists and social workers over the 15 years I worked in the mental health field. In my experience, LCSWs and LPCs both provide the same level of care. If you are looking for a professional to talk to about living with a chronic illness, either will be fine.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
I won’t say much about this mental health professional, but it definitely deserves mentioning. While LPCs and LCSWs do one-one-one therapy, licensed marriage and family therapists specialize in doing couples-or-group therapy. If you or someone you care about has a chronic illness, you know it doesn’t just affect you/them – it affects the whole family.
Licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) go down a similar educational path as LPCs, but the focus is on the family or couple instead of the individual. LMFTs have to first earn a bachelor’s degree and then, in most states, complete a master’s program in family counseling or a closely related field. After that, they need to complete an internship under a licensed individual before taking an exam and getting licensed themselves.
Most of the time, if you’re seeking a therapist to help you with the struggles of living with a chronic illness, you’ll want one who does one-on-one counseling. But if those chronic-illness struggles cause problems with your family, boy/girlfriend, or marriage, you’ll want to see a LMFT. This type of therapist is trained to deal with issues unique to these types of relationships.
Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurse (APN, APRN, CNS, NP, NPP)
If you’ve read The Different Types of Medical Professionals, you already known about advanced practice nurses (APNs). These are registered nurses (RNs) who go on to complete graduate training in nursing or another related medical field. They can then further specialize in psychiatric nursing, allowing them prescribing privileges. These nurses can have different credentials including but not limited to:
Advanced practice nurse (APN)- Advanced practice registered nurse (APRN)
- Clinical nurse specialist (CNS)
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric (NPP)
Psychiatric nurses can do a lot of the same things that psychiatrists can do. They can diagnose and treat mental illnesses, prescribe medications, engage in patient education, and more. However, in many jurisdictions, psychiatric nurses must work under the supervision of a psychiatrist.
While psychiatrists have more education and experience, psychiatric nurses are perfectly capable of diagnosing and treating most mental health conditions. They routinely work with people who suffer from depression, anxiety, substance abuse disorders, and more.
In the past, I’ve been to psychiatrists and to psychiatric nurses. It seems to me that the individual provider’s personality matters more than the letters they have after their name. If it’s medication management you need, don’t worry about whether your provider is a psychiatric nurse or a psychiatrist. Just find one that you like and that treats you well.
Substance Abuse Counselor (SAC, CADC, LADC)
If you or someone you care about suffers from drug and alcohol addiction, you may want to see a substance abuse counselor (SAC). These are mental health workers who specialize in helping people with various addictions. And quite often themselves, they’ve overcome their own addictions and now want to help others to do the same.
Licensing for drug and alcohol counselors varies from state to state. Many states require you to have at least a master’s degree or a doctorate. Other states, like my home state of Massachusetts, have several levels of substance abuse counselors. Some require a graduate degree while others do not.
In Massachusetts and some other states, there are several levels of substance abuse counselor. While they all need to log a lot of clinical hours and pass an exam, the educational requirements differ. Here are the different levels in Mass:
- Licensed alcohol and drug counselor I (LADC I) – Master’s or doctoral degree required, plus 6,000 hours of clinical experience.
- Licensed alcohol and drug counselor II (LADC II) – Bachelor’s degree not required, but it helps. Without a bachelor’s, applicants must have 6,000 hours of supervised experience. With a bachelor’s, only 4,000 hours are needed.
- Licensed alcohol and drug counselor assistant – High school diploma required, plus 2,000 hours of experience.
Substance abuse counselors at all levels help people who are currently struggling with addiction. They offer counseling, education, support, resources, and work with other medical and mental health professionals to provide the best possible care. SACs can be found working in clinics, rehabs, detox facilities, private practices, and other settings.
Conclusion
If you or someone you care about is living with a chronic illness, you’re going to be running into a lot of the medical professionals mentioned above. It’s good to know who’s who, who does what, what education they have, and where to find them. Hopefully you now have a better understanding of the different types of medical and mental health professionals.
Did I miss anyone? Have you been to another type of healthcare provider that you found helpful? Feel free to tell me all about it in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
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