Chemical Dependency Counseling Certificate

Division: Business, Behavioral/Social Sciences, Public and Human Services
Academic Dept: Human Services
Curriculum Chair: Prof. Richard Jazwinski
Tel: 914-606-6289

Program Description:
If counseling individuals, groups and families affected by alcohol or other drug dependency is a career path that interests you, then this program is for you. The certificate in Chemical Dependency Counseling (CDC) provides all 350 of the alcohol and drug specific classroom contact hours and 300 of the experience hours required to be eligible for the New York State (NYS) examination for Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC). Additional volunteer and paid experience as a CASAC eligible counselor is required by NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) before sitting for the exam. The courses in this curriculum are also applicable to the Certified Prevention Specialist and Certified Prevention Professional certificates offered by NYS OASAS.

The CDC curriculum includes courses and seminars during day and evening hours. Fieldwork courses are corequisites with some courses, and the field experience is arranged and supervised by the school in appropriate alcoholism and/or substance abuse treatment agencies. Current employment may be approved for field experience. Enrollment in field work courses requires the written permission of the Curriculum Chairperson which will be based on specific criteria for each course. Students in recovery from their own addiction or the effects of a family member’s addiction must have completed two years of recovery before entering field work.

Those who complete the certificate and decide to continue their studies may transfer into Westchester Community College’s A.A.S. degree program in Chemical Dependency Counseling.

Recommended Full-Time Semester Plan
The curriculum chairperson for this program recommends taking the courses for this degree in a particular order. Click the button above for recommended semester-by-semester layout of the classes needed to complete this program.