Division: Business, Behavioral/Social Sciences, Public and Human Services
Academic Dept: Human Services
HEGIS: 5506
Curriculum Chair: Prof. Richard Jazwinski
Tel: 914-606-6289

If counseling individuals, groups and families affected by alcohol or other drug dependency sounds like an interesting career path, then this program is for you. The certificate in Chemical Dependency Counseling (CDC) provides all 350 of the alcohol and drug specific classroom contact hours and 300 of the experience hours required to be eligible for certification as a New York State (NYS) Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC). Additional volunteer or paid experience as a CASAC eligible counselor is required by NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS). The courses in this curriculum are also applicable to the Certified Prevention Specialist and Certified Prevention Professional certificates offered by NYS OASAS.

The CDC curriculum includes courses and seminars during day and evening hours. Addiction Field Experience courses are corequisites with clinical courses, and the field experience is arranged and supervised by the school in appropriate alcoholism and/or substance abuse treatment agencies. Current employment may be approved for field experience. Enrollment in fieldwork courses, which will be based on specific criteria for each course, requires the written permission of the Curriculum Chairperson. Students in recovery from their own addiction or the effects of a family member’s addiction may take classroom courses but one year of recovery is required before taking Addiction Field Experience courses.

Those who complete the certificate and decide to continue their studies may transfer into Westchester Community College’s A.A.S. degree program in Chemical Dependency Counseling.