Certified counselors help substance abusers cut the strings to their addictions.
State and national associations across the United States provide certifications in alcohol and drug abuse. All certified counselors are trained in basic substance abuse client care. Some certification programs allow enrollment with no education prerequisites beyond a high school diploma, while others require a certain amount of work experience and a college degree. Some certifying associations work in collaboration with a group of schools in each state, while others offer individual classes.
ATTC
The Addiction Technology Transfer Center certifies addiction counselors in the 48 contiguous states, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam and the Mariana Islands. Certificate names and program curricula vary according to the associated college program.
Wenatchee Valley College in Washington offers a certificate in chemical dependency studies.
Odessa Community College in Texas offers an alcohol and drug abuse counseling certificate.
Montgomery County Community College in Pennsylvania offers a certification that is issued after a drug and alcohol studies program.
Kingsborough Community College in New York offers an alcoholism and substance abuse counseling certificate.
New Jersey's Rowan University provides substance awareness coordinator certification.
IAODAPCA
The Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association Incorporated (IAODAPCA) certifies substance abuse counselors within the state. Counselors are trained to screen clients, provide intake assessments, orient and educate clients, conduct continuing assessments, plan treatment courses and conduct interventions. Similar certifications provided by this association include substance abuse professional certifications, associate addictions professional certifications, recovery support specialist certifications and a certificate for board registered medication-assisted addiction treatment professionals. Students interested in any of these certifications must attend a IAODAPCA training session, which are offered in locations across the state.
NCC
The National Certification Commission (NCC) offers several substance abuse certifications. They include levels one and two national certified addiction counseling, master addiction counseling, substance abuse professional certification for the Department of Transportation, and a certificate in spiritual care giving to help addicted people and their families. These certificate programs are only open to licensed substance abuse counselors. Certification candidates must show examination proficiency in admitting procedures, treatment planning, counseling, case management and discharge. States that offer certification examinations include North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Minnesota, Colorado, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, California, Montana, the District of Columbia, Kansas, Alaska, North Dakota, Georgia, Virginia, Utah, Arizona, Indiana, Nevada, Oregon, New Mexico and Wyoming.
CAADAC
The California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC) offers certifications for substance abuse prevention specialists, alcohol and drug counselor associates, and levels one and two alcohol and drug counselors. Basic program curricula for all certifications address case management, drug pharmacology, group counseling, ethics and the physiology of substance abuse. CAADAC schools are located in many cities in California, including Stockton, Carson, Riverside, San Jacinto, Los Angeles and Bakersfield.
Tags: substance abuse, alcohol drug, substance abuse, Community College, abuse counseling