Substance Abuse Counseling Post-Degree Certificate (SACP.CT)

The Substance Abuse Counseling Post-Degree Certificate is designed for working professionals interested in advancing their careers. This certificate provides the substance abuse coursework required by most states for certification or licensure after the completion of an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Health Sciences. There is an increasing demand for Behavioral Health professionals seeking education, certification, and/or licensure in substance abuse counseling as research indicates how pervasive substance abuse is in the treatment-seeking population. This certificate is 100% competency-based which allows students to study and progress through the certificate at their own pace. 

At the core of each course are the related Addiction Counseling Competencies established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Technical Assistance Publication (TAP) Series 21. Upon completion, students will be prepared for paraprofessional work in behavioral health. 

Job duties include, but are not limited to: assessing and treating individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education. Places of employment include behavioral health agencies, social service agencies, jails/prisons, prevention programs, residential treatment centers, transitional homes, or group homes. 

Coursework involves theory and application in assessment, diagnosing and treatment planning for substance use disorders throughout the continuum of care, psychopharmacology, ethics, co-occurring disorders, working with diverse individuals and groups, and service coordination. 

Become job-ready by learning nationally-recommended standards and how to apply them when working on a treatment team, engaging clients, assessing risk, or assigning levels of care. Be instrumental in helping others achieve recovery. 

To ensure success, students interested in this program or individual SAC courses must contact the SAC Academic Success Coach before registering. This initiates the working relationship emphasized in these Competency-based courses, providing a new approach to education. These are not traditional online courses due to the online, accelerated format and required interactions with the instructor. Students must be diligent in keeping up with assignments as courses must still be completed within the semester of enrollment. This is accomplished by the individualized guidance and support students receive as needed from the instructor and SAC Academic Success Coach. 

Students in Competency-based courses are graded on their mastery of specific competencies within each course. Once a competency is mastered with 80% or higher, students move on to the next one. Successful completion of each SAC course will reflect an ‘A’ or ‘B’ on college transcripts.

Note: For a course to be eligible for transfer, the student must receive a “C” or better. Acceptance of a transfer course is determined by the receiving institution. 

Program Student Learning Outcomes: 
Upon completion of the program students will be able to:

1. Identify the continuum of care and the social contexts affecting the treatment and recovery process. (1, 3, 4, 5)
2. Identify a variety of helping strategies that can be tailored to meet the needs of individual clients. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
3. Present a mindset reflecting openness to alternative approaches, appreciation of diversity, and awareness of the effects of psychoactive drug use.  (1, 3, 4, 5)