Center for Professional and Continuing Education
Substance Abuse Counselor Certificate Program
The Substance Abuse Counselor Certificate Program is designed to help individuals acquire the skills and certification necessary to counsel those who suffer from the effects of substance abuse.
The program meets the educational and training requirements established according to regulations from the State of California, Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, and was developed by the Center for Professional and Continuing Education (CPCE) in conjunction with professionals and experts in the field of substance abuse.
Participants completing this program will be prepared to apply for certification from CAADAC, CAARR, or other State approved providers. Resources may be provided to assist students in locating counseling internships and counselor positions.
Scope of Training
The program is designed to provide participants with the skills necessary to counsel clients in the recovery process. Topics and skills include assessment, treatment planning, individual and group counseling, case management, crisis intervention, client education, and community resources.
The program consists of 22 total units. Both in-class and online classes will be offered. In-class sessions meet on weekday evenings, with other schedules occasionally required. Online courses will have set dates but will allow students to work at home at their own pace. There will be established times of interactive participation.
In addition to the coursework, State Certification requires students to complete 160 hours of supervised internship. The program also offers a CAADAC option which requires 300 hours of supervised internship. Previous internship or experience cannot be counted toward these hours. We recommend the program be completed in six months.
Admission to the Program
For information on admission to the Substance Abuse Counselor Program, you may request and complete an application packet, which you may download from our website or request from the Center for Professional and Continuing Education, by phone or in person.
The application process must be completed at least two weeks prior to the start of the program. Grades are issued on a letter basis (A-F) and students must earn a “C” or better in each course. Detailed information is contained in the application packet. Transcripts of grades may be requested from the Registrar’s Office at University of the Pacific.
Program Fees
Application Fee: $ 50.00
Program Tuition: $ 2,398.00
Administrative Fee: $ 95.00
Textbooks (approximate*): $ 400.00
Total Program Cost (est.): $ 2,943.00
Fees are subject to change.
*Books will be available through Pacific's bookstore, but may be purchased through any retail source.
Meet the Director
George Feicht, MPA, is the former Drug and Alcohol Program Administrator for the San Joaquin County Office of Substance Abuse and has been involved in the substance abuse field for over thirty years.
He is a Master Trainer for the National Institute on Drug Abuse, with over fifteen years of experience as an instructor at the University of the Pacific and San Joaquin Delta College.
He has served on numerous task forces on various substance abuse issues.
Courses
- Overview of Substance Abuse Certificate Program
- Career Assessment
- Writing for Case Management
- Drugs and Society
- Addiction and Working with the Criminal Justice System
- Assessment for Treatment Planning
- Relapse Prevention and Dealing with Co-Occurring Disorders
- Counseling Theory
- Individual and Group Counseling
- Communicable Diseases
- Special Populations
- Cultural Competency
- Counseling Internship
Program offered annually starting in July.
University of the Pacific is approved by CAADAC’s Commission of Alcohol and Drug Counselors Education Programs.
Already Licensed?
Substance Abuse Counselors, MFTs and LCSWs -contact us for upcoming courses designed to meet the needs of licensed professionals’ continuing education needs.
CPCE is an approved continuing education provider for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (Provider #PCE760), the Board of Registered Nursing (Provider #34128) and the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (Provider #5-91-266-0799).
Staff
Valerie Seimas
Records Coordinator II
209.946.2424
George Feicht
Program Director
209.946.2424
