Make a difference in the lives of those experiencing substance use disorders by starting on the path to becoming a certified alcohol and drug counselor.
Widener's graduate-level alcohol and drug counseling certificate program allows you to gain the knowledge and skills to pursue a career in substance abuse counseling, and provides the foundation for successful completion of practicum hours and certification. This credit-bearing program also provides you the option to transfer credits into one of our existing master's degree programs.
Alcohol and drug counselors work to help people overcome addiction and substance abuse. The counselor might stage interventions, conduct intakes, and lead ongoing individual and group therapy sessions. They assess the client's condition and circumstances and help them put together a path toward recovery. As a result of the pandemic, which exacerbated the overdose crisis, demand for trained addiction professionals is high and recruitment of new workers to the field is crucial.
Pennsylvania and New Jersey laws and requirements that regulate this profession are based on your education level, so the path toward becoming an alcohol and drug counselor will look different for each student. Your Widener advisor will work with you to chart the path that works for you!
NOTE: This certificate program is also offered to students with a high school diploma who do not have a college degree or are in the process of earning an associate's or bachelor's degree. Please see our Adult & Continuing Studies academic offerings for details about the alcohol & drug counseling certificate program for continuing studies students.
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Students enrolled in the alcohol and drug counseling certificate program will increase their knowledge in addiction, human services, human development, and ethical behavior. They will fulfill the following specific objectives through their study:
You can pursue certification as an alcohol and drug counselor with a high school degree, but many professionals with an associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree in a related area seek out certification to expand their employment opportunities.
The eligibility requirements* for CAAC or CADC typically include:
[*The number of hours varies by state, desired certification, and student's level of education.]
Please note that completion of the courses in Widener's alcohol and drug counseling certificate program does not meet the full requirements for Pennsylvania and New Jersey certifications. Students will need to complete supervised practicum hours and pass the certification examination.
Please visit the Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB) and the Addiction Professionals Certification Board of New Jersey websites to view the most up-to-date information for becoming a certified alcohol and drug counselor.
It is the responsibility of the student to check the requirements for the specific state certification they are interested in. Depending on the state, classes taken online may be subject to additional certification restrictions by state and eligibility should be confirmed prior to enrollment.
Complete the online certificate program in alcohol and drug counseling and then easily transition to either the counselor education master's degree or the allied health education master's degree.
The transition is simple; students enrolled in the certificate will only have to complete a short application and will have all their discounted certificate course credits applied to the degree program.
You can even complete a master's degree by combining (or "stacking") certificates and taking a capstone course. Completing a master's degree program this way will afford you significant savings, as certificate courses cost 50 percent less than master's courses.
No application deadline (rolling admissions)
See the Graduate Tuition & Fees page for the per credit tuition cost for certificates offered through the Center for Graduate & Continuing Studies.
Additional costs to students include required textbooks, educational materials, and the examination fee for the IC&RC Examination for Alcohol and Drug Counselors (currently $375.00).
Students may also incur expenses related to clinical supervision, but many will be able to use current employment sites for supervision at no cost, if they work in the recovery field.
Though the alcohol and drug counseling certificate program does not qualify for federal financial aid if taken alone, it is offered at a discounted tuition rate. We can advise you on program and payment plan options that will meet your needs.
We also recommend that you:
This 100% online certificate program offers you the convenience and flexibility of completing coursework when you want, where you want. Instead of having to adjust your schedule and personal responsibilities to attend in-person classroom sessions, you are free to study at any time, whether in the early hours of the morning or late at night. Widener offers the chance to learn on your time and your terms.
While navigating the path toward certification, your Widener advisor and faculty mentors will make it a priority to get to know your circumstances, goals, and vision for the future. With this support system in place, you'll graduate from the certificate program well prepared to complete the remainder of the alcohol and drug counseling certification requirements.
Designed for those working in the human services, health promotion, and addictions fields, as well as counselors and social workers, this certificate opens the doors to additional therapeutic credentials.
Substance use disorder treatment agencies employ thousands of hard-working, dedicated individuals making a difference in the lives of those experiencing substance use disorders.
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