College of Continuing and Professional Services

Substance Abuse Counselor Certification

Weekend Program

The College of Continuing and Professional Studies is pleased to announce a Substance Abuse Counselor Certification program designed to help individuals acquire the educational requirements, skills and certification necessary to counsel those who suffer from the effects of substance abuse. The weekend-based instructional delivery format is specifically tailored to allow working professionals to obtain the educational requirements required for certification as a Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor I (CADC I) or a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor II (CADC II). The program meets the educational requirements established according to certification standards of the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) and the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia. The weekend based certification program takes approximately eight (8) months to complete the educational requirements and involves one face-to-face instructional weekend session and one online weekend session per month.

The Weekend Module Program consists of the following topics:

  • Modules 1 & 2. Theories of Addiction & Clinical Evaluation
  • Modules 3 & 4. Co-Occurring Disorders & Treatment Planning
  • Modules 5 & 6. Pharmacology of Psychoactive Chemical Use, Abuse, and Dependence & Referral
  • Modules 7 & 8. Theoretical Base of Counseling &Service Coordination
  • Modules 9 & 10. Counseling Skills & Techniques
  • Modules 11 & 12. Client, Family, and Community Education
  • Modules 13 & 14. Documentation & The Twelve Core Functions
  • Modules 15 & 16. Professional and Ethical Responsibilities

The weekend based certification program will occur two (2) weekends per month with a one (1) week break in between each module session. Each domain area would be covered in two weekend sessions per month. The sample schedule would be as follows:

Weekend Module 1: Clinical Evaluation

In class sessions: Friday - 5:30pm until 10:00pm (4.5 instruction hours)

Saturday - 9:00am until 5:30pm (7.5 instruction hours with one hour lunch)

Sunday – Blackboard Session (5 instruction hours)

Total Instructional Hours: 17.0 hours

Weekend Module 2: Clinical Evaluation

Online Interactive Session Exercises, Activities, & Experiential Learning accounting for 17.0 instructional hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Weekday Program

The Substance Abuse Counselor Certification program is also presented in a series of seven weekday (5 day) modules. These modules are presented to individual participants or agencies that contract with the Department of Counseling and Human Sciences. The program will allow participants to attend the training modules required for certification as a Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor I (CADC I) or a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor II (CADC II) in accordance with certification standards of the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) and the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia.

The Weekday Module Program consists of the following topics:

  • Module 1. Theories of Addiction Part I (40 contact hours)
  • Module 2. Theories of Addiction Part II (40 contact hours)
  • Module 3. Theoretical Base of Counseling (40 contact hours)
  • Module 4. Assessment and Diagnosis of Co-occurring Mental Health Issues (40 contact hours)
  • Module 5. Counseling Skills and Techniques (40 contact hours)
  • Module 6. Professional Issues in Substance Abuse Counseling (40 contact hours)
  • Module 7. Twelve Core Functions (40 contact hours)

Program Coordinator

Dr. Kevin Freeman

Email: freeman_k@mercer.edu

Phone: 678-547-6021