Addiction Counseling Certificate

School: Business and Professional Careers
Academic Dept: Education and Human Services
HEGIS: 5506

Important Note about Program Requirements

The requirements listed below are for students entering into this program from Fall 2024 to Summer 2025. 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.

Accreditation

NY State Office of Addiction Services and Supports ETP
1450 Western Avenue
Albany, NY 12203
(518) 488-2048
https://oasas.ny.gov/

Program Description

The Certificate in Addiction Counseling provides all 350 alcohol and drug-specific class hours needed to apply for the CASAC (Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor). It also provides 320 of the experience hours needed. Additional experience hours will be required for full certification by New York State Office of Addiction Service and Supports (OASAS). The number of required experience hours is based on the highest degree held in addition to the CASAC. Some of these courses are applicable to the Certified Prevention Specialist and Certified Prevention Professional certificates.

The Addiction Counseling curriculum includes afternoon and evening in-person classes and some on-line classes. Addiction Field Experience (Internship) is arranged in certified addiction treatment programs and supervised by AC professors. Current employment may be approved for field experience. Enrollment in Internship courses requires permission of the Curriculum Chair. Students in recovery from their own alcohol or other substance use disorder (AUD/SUD), or the effects of another family member’s AUD or SUD, may take classroom courses, but one (1) year of recovery is required before being eligible for an Internship placement.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, a student will:

Demonstrate the ability to apply the principles of ethical and effective addiction counseling using organized, clear and precise written and oral communication skills.

Program Requirements

Required Courses - 32 credits

Program Map

The program map is a recommended semester-by-semester schedule of courses based on degree requirements and serve as a general guideline to help students complete their program in two years. Although designed for full-time enrollment, these are easily adaptable for part-time study. For additional, individualized guidance, students should review Degree Works and consult an Academic Counselor or Faculty Advisor to ensure they are on track to complete their program.

Semester 1

Course	Credits
AC 102 - Ethics in Addiction Counseling	3
AC 110 - Addiction Counseling Methods	3
AC 111 - Case Management in Addiction Counseling	3
AC 202 - Addiction Field Experience 1	4
CHEM 145 - Biochemistry of Addiction (and Lab)	3
Semester Total Credits	16

Semester 2

Course	Credits
AC 101 - Psychosocial Issues in Addiction	3
AC 103 - Addiction and Family Dynamics	3
AC 201 - Addiction Group Counseling	3
AC 203 - Addiction Counseling Models	3
AC 204 - Addiction Field Experience 2	4
Semester Total Credits	16

Minimum Total Credits: 32

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.

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