Chemical Dependency, Certificate of Completion

The Certificate of Completion in Chemical Dependency is envisioned as a first step of a career path in substance abuse prevention and treatment preparing students to work under the supervision of a Licensed Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC) or Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS).  This Certificate of Completion will specifically benefit paraprofessionals working in community programs with at-risk youth ages 16-25, individuals in recovery, and those with other behavioral health concerns.  The course sequence is designed to meet the coursework required by the Addiction Professionals Certification Board of NJ (certbd.org) for the Chemical Dependency Associate (CDA) credential.  This coursework also serves as a pathway to becoming a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), and accrues academic credit toward the completion of the Certificate in Human Services, Applied Associate of Science in Human Services, and or the Associate of Science in Human Services/Pre-Social Work. 

Students seeking to advance beyond this entry level position will need to complete three additional courses to pursue the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) credential, the entry level credential for substance abuse counseling independent of supervision. Additional information can be found at http://www.raritanval.edu/humanservices

Career Path  

Graduates are able to:

• apply social work values and the Code of Ethics to client situations
• apply a strengths-based approach to client assessment and intervention
• conduct a bio-psycho-social assessment to identify the presence of addiction in accordance with the DSM and other standard protocols under supervision
• identify treatment approaches appropriate to specific addictions and client situations
• access community resources and make appropriate referrals for specific target populations with whom they work
• demonstrate effective interviewing and supportive counseling skills with individuals and groups, including families

NOTE: Students in this program may not be eligible for Financial Aid; students should meet with an Academic Advisor or Financial Aid staff to discuss options for Financial Aid eligibility.