Substance Abuse Counselor
(CASAC)

Degree Type

Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) Certificate

Study Options

On Campus
Online
Hybrid

More than 20 million Americans over the age of 12 struggle with alcohol, drugs, and other substance abuse disorders.* That means there are more than 20 million people (along with their families) in need of help. Chances are you know some of them yourself.

They need people who can listen without judgment. They need people who can understand what they’re going through. Most importantly, they need people with the tools to help them fight their addiction. They need passionate — and compassionate — substance abuse counseling.

They need people like you.

Our School of Criminal and Social Justice offers a 30-credit Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Certification course that will prepare you with the knowledge you need to start out on a truly rewarding career path. The CASAC online training course is open to new students pursuing their certification credentials, as well as to current Monroe students pursuing an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree.

*Learn more about the new research and insights of substance use disorder.

Why a Certification in CASAC?

In New York State, substance abuse counselors must receive their Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) certification from the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). To do that, applicants must first complete an OASAS certified education training program. Our CASAC training will qualify you to receive your CASAC Trainee (CASAC-T) certificate — the next step in your journey to helping people make the most of their lives.

You’ll be making the most of your life, too. There’s a high demand for substance abuse counselors in the mental and medical health fields: school systems, correctional services, homeless shelters, and private practices. Along with behavioral disorder and mental health counselors, the need for substance abuse counselors is expected to grow by an incredible 22% over the next several years. Our substance abuse counseling training will position you to meet that demand head-on.

Curriculum

What Is CASAC Training?

Alcoholism and substance abuse disorders don’t often occur in isolation. They usually bring with them other hardships, including (but not limited to):

Underlying trauma
Legal difficulties
Domestic violence
Housing insecurity
Comorbid physical and mental health conditions

Not all CASAC certification programs are created equal. That’s why our CASAC training online program does much more than cover the science of addiction. Over the course of your training, you’ll learn about:

Prevention and rehabilitation
Early intervention strategies
Assessment of various types of addictions, their severity, and associated life issues
Client, family, and community education
Counseling theory
Ethical and cultural issues in human services
Family, group, and individual counseling strategies
Case management

No matter where you intend to put your skills to work, you’ll have everything you need to apply for your CASAC-T certificate.

How Long is the Online CASAC Program ?

You can complete the online CASAC certification course in as few as two (2) semesters at full-time status. That’s less than a year.

CASAC Program Requirements:

Our CASAC course curriculum consists of 30 required credits, though if you already have a degree in certain approved human services fields, some of your completed coursework may count toward completing your CASAC education and training requirements.

And if you’re a current Monroe student working towards your associate or bachelor’s degree in Human Services or Criminal Justice, required courses like Introduction to Human Services (HS-101) and Ethical Issues in Human Services (HS-201) can also count toward your CASAC requirements.

See the Curriculum

Featured Course

Ethical Issues in Human Services

Professional ethics and professional responsibility go hand-in-hand, but In the human services fields, the ethical course of action isn’t always the obvious one. This course will give students a foundation in the basic principles of ethics and ethical decision-making, as well as the specific ethical and legal issues that face human services professionals in a multitude of settings.

See the Course Catalog

Admission Requirements

In accordance with NYS requirements, to become a credentialed substance abuse counselor, CASAC candidates must have at least a high school or GED diploma.

Candidates must also submit a completed application for admission and participate in a pre-admission interview.

Learn more about how to apply to Monroe College.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition for our substance abuse counselor training program is $4800 — or $480 per class. There is also an academic resource fee of $150 for full time students ($75 for part-time students). Eligible students can apply to NYS OASAS for scholarships that may cover part of their tuition. Monroe also offers manageable payment plans.

Your Future CASAC Career

Satisfactory completion of our online CASAC program will provide you with the opportunity to receive your CASAC-T certificate from NYS OASAS. You can then begin your supervised, full-time work experience in a variety of clinical settings, including:

Residential addiction treatment facilities
Outpatient addiction programs
State drug courts
Correctional facilities
Mental health facilities
Homeless shelters
Community health centers

Whether your goal is to work in public or private practice, in group settings, or one-on-one, you’ll have the foundation you need to earn your state certification as a substance abuse counselor.

Discover What You Can Achieve

Millions of people need help. Only a select few know how to provide it. You have the drive. You have the conscience. You have the empathy.

All you need is your CASAC license, and Monroe can help you get it — with substance abuse counselor training.

Apply Now