The certificate in Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counseling provides the knowledge, skills and dispositions needed to deliver prevention and intervention services, as certified professionals, to clients seeking assistance for alcohol or substance abuse. The program can be taken in conjunction with the School Counseling master’s degree programs or it can be taken as a stand-alone program. This is an area of growing need for specialized training. Currently employed agency-based alcohol and substance abuse counselors are especially encouraged to complete the CASAC program because it provides intensive and comprehensive education and training needed in the field.

Persons who complete this 27-credit part-time certificate program are eligible to apply to the NYS Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) for a credential review leading to approval as a qualified service provider. OASAS will specify the number of clinical supervision hours each candidate is required to complete before issuing the service provider certification. Admissions Requirements Applicants to the Certificate in Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counseling program must:

1. Possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university;
2. Demonstrate academic achievement and potential for success in graduate studies by having earned a 3.0 (or higher) undergraduate GPA. Applicants whose GPA is less than 3.0 should contact the program coordinator for information about the program’s alternative credential review process.
3. Participate in an interview process which includes written and verbal responses to contemporary professional issues and trends.
4. Submit three reference forms (from an employer, a professor, and a personal character reference).
    

Course Requirements for the Certificate in Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counseling

MHCO 615 Foundations of Counseling (3 credits)
MHCO 630 Clinical Assessment (3 credits)
MHCO 631 Prevention, Assessment and Treatment of Alcohol and Substance Abuse with Families, Communities and Schools (3 credits)
MHCO 701 Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy (3 credits)
MHCO 704 Group Counseling and Psychotherapy (3 credits)
MHCO 760 Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues (3 credits)
MHCO 770 Etiology and Treatment of Alcohol and Substance Abuse I (3 credits)
MHCO 771 Etiology and Treatment of Alcohol and Substance Abuse II (3 credits)
MHCO 775 Pharmacology, Epidemiology and Research in Alcohol and Substance Abuse (3 credits)
Total: 27 credits

For more information, contact the director.