Certificate

Department of Social Work

Graduate Certificate in Clinical Addiction Counseling Studies (CCACS)

Application Deadlines for Domestic Applicants:
Summer Semester - May 1st
Fall Semester - August 1st
Spring Semester - January 1st

Application Deadlines for International Applicants:
Summer Semester - February 18th
Fall Semester - April 18th
Spring Semester - September 18th

About the CCACS

Students admitted to the graduate CCACS program have a unique opportunity to begin preparation for licensure/certification as alcohol and drug counselors. Courses are conveniently offered through an asynchronous virtual learning platform. Four courses are included in the CCACS program for a total of 12 credit hours. Most state licensure/certification boards will accept the certificate as 180 hours (45 hours per course) of addiction specific education required for licensure or certification as alcohol and drug counselors, and/or licensure as clinical addiction specialist (LADAC, CAADC, LCAS, etc.).

The four courses include the following:

  • SOWK 5300 Seminar in Alcohol and Other Drugs.  Offered fall, spring, & summer semesters
  • SOWK 5368 Clinical Practice in Addiction Treatment and Prevention.  Offered each fall semester.  This course includes 8 consecutive zoom group meetings (8:00-9:15pm) as part of a class project.
  • SOWK 5369 Science of Addiction for Behavioral Health Professionals. Offered each spring semester.
  • SOWK 5370 Cultural Humility in Addiction Treatment and Prevention.  Offered each summer semester. 

Learn More

CCACS Admission Requirements

In addition to the admissions criteria set by the ETSU Graduate School, students must meet the following criteria for admission to the CCACS program:

  • Bachelor's degree in a behavioral health discipline (social work, psychology, counseling, or human services) from a regionally accredited institution. Or, the applicant is a current graduate student in a behavioral health discipline.
  • Minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Completed Application materials listed below.


Application materials which must be submitted to the Graduate School include:

1. A completed application (click here);
2. An essay describing reason for pursuing the certificate (400 words);
3. Three (3) letters of recommendation;
4. Official transcripts from all colleges attended; and
5. A resume or CV.

All applicants will be evaluated by an admissions committee. First preference for admission will be given to candidates who seek dual admission to both the MSW program and the CCACS and those who are current ETSU graduate students. Only current MSW students dually enrolled in the CCACS are eligible for the field practicum. Timely submission of application materials is encouraged as space is limited.

CCACS Program Requirements for current ETSU MSW Students

 


*Note: This section only applies to current ETSU students of the MSW program*  and those applying to both the MSW and the CCACS programs. Only current MSW students dually enrolled in the CCACS are eligible for the field practicum. 

 

In addition to the application process required by the Graduate School, ETSU MSW students must submit an MSW Statement of Interest (SOI). Click here to complete the MSW SOI form.

There are two primary elements to the CCACS for MSW students: (1) four courses and (2) SUD specific field practicum. Each course is equivalent to 3 credit hours or 45 contact hours. A total of 12 credit hours (180 contact hours) of addiction specific education is completed for the CCACS. These courses may be accepted by state addiction counseling licensure/certification boards to help fulfill licensure/certification requirements. 

MSW students may apply CCACS courses to their MSW program as electives. In addition to the educational requirements, MSW CCACS students will complete their field experience in an appropriate SUD/Addiction setting.

1. COURSES

  • SOWK 5300 Seminar in Alcohol and Other Drugs.  Offered fall, spring, & summer semesters
  • SOWK 5368 Clinical Practice in Addiction Treatment and Prevention.  Offered each fall semester.  This course includes 8 consecutive zoom group meetings (8:00-9:15pm) as part of a class project.
  • SOWK 5369 Science of Addiction for Behavioral Health Professionals. Offered each spring semester.
  • SOWK 5370 Cultural Humility in Addiction Treatment and Prevention.  Offered each summer semester. 
  • SOWK 5368, 5369, & 5370 require acceptance into the CCACS to register

2. FIELD PLACEMENT

The MSW student's concentration year field placement must be in a SUD, co-occurring disorder, or integrated care treatment/prevention setting, and a minimum of 600 contact hours must be completed. It is crucial that MSW CCACS candidates inform the Field Director or cohort Field Coordinator of their interest in the CCACS program as soon as possible, as CCACS approved placements are limited. Only current MSW students are eligible to receive CCACS field practicum assistance as this is a required component of the MSW curriculum.

*It is important to note that the CCACS program and state licensure/certification are two separate processes.* 

Application Process for ETSU MSW Students

  1. Complete the Statement of Interest (SOI).
  2. Complete the Graduate School Application specific to the CCACS program.
  3. Submit an essay describing the reason for pursuing the certificate (400 words)
  4. Submit three (3) letters of recommendation
  5. Submit official transcripts from all colleges attended
  6. Submit a resume or CV

State Licensure and Certification Boards

The graduate Certificate in Clinical Addiction Counseling Studies (CCACS) and state licensure are two distinct processes. The CCACS does not grant graduates licensure or certification at the state level, although it may be helpful to meet state requirements for credentialing. It is the student's responsibility to follow through with their state's requirements to obtain licensure or certification. Requirements may vary by state.

Note to North Carolina students pursuing the CCACS:

In order to qualify for the NCAPPB Criteria C accelerated path to the Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS) credential, students must do the following:
(1) receive a minimum of 30 hours of supervision by a NC Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS). The student may also be supervised by a Clinical Supervisor Intern (CSI). It is the student's responsibility to confirm with the Field Director and concentration year field placement that a CCS is available for the required supervision. 
(2) complete the CCACS within their MSW degree program; and 
(3) complete 6 hours of education related to clinical supervision. This is content area is not included in the CCACS curriculum. Students are required to submit documentation verifying completion of this requirement to the CCACS Coordinator before graduation. Our Recommended training is the NAADAC Specialty Online Training: Clinical Supervision in the Addiction Profession.  An addditional  free resource for supervison training is Clinical Supervision Foundations.

Why Become Dually Credentialed?

View this video from the North Carolina Governor's Institute to learn about the value of becoming credentialed as both a clinical social worker and a clinical addiction specialist (LCAS, LADAC II, CAADAC).

For More Information:

Dr. Donna Cherry
Professor
ETSU, Department of Social Work
cherryd@etsu.edu

423-439-6018

Other Helpful Contacts

Admissions Team
(graduate application assistance)
ETSU, Graduate School
gradadmissions@.etsu.edu
423-439-4221