Chemical Dependency Counseling Certificate

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Division: Business, Behavioral/Social Sciences, Public and Human Services
Academic Dept: Human Services
HEGIS: 5506
Curriculum Chair: Prof. Richard Jazwinski
Telephone: 914-606-6289
Email: richard.jazwinski@sunywcc.edu

A Note about Program Requirements

The requirements listed below are for students entering into this program in Spring 2016. Students who entered the program during a prior semester will find their specific requirements listed in the Catalog under which they entered. Archived Catalogs are accessible through the dropdown menu above.

Program Description

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.

Program Learning Outcomes

Apply the principles of ethical and effective addiction counseling
Demonstrate competence in organized, clear and precise written and oral communication with counseling patients and staff.

Program of Study

The following 2 classes should be taken together:

Program Note(s):

Written permission of the Curriculum Chair is needed the first time students register for an Addiction Field Experience course.

Minimum Total Credits - 31

Educational Plan: The Educational Plan is an advisement tool that provides important information to students about how to complete this degree. Click here to Download the Educational Plan .

Gainful Employment Disclosure

For information about graduation rates, the median debt of students who have completed this program, and other important information please visit Chemical Dependency Counseling Certificate - GE Disclosure. For an overview of all gainful employment disclosures at Westchester Community College, visit www.sunywcc.edu/gainfulemployment.