Substance Abuse Counselor Training in California - CA

By Bonnie Walker, allied health world contributing writer
Published: July, 22 2010

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Individuals seeking substance abuse counselor training in California will find a number of institutes of learning throughout the state that provide the required curriculum, including colleges and universities, career and vocational institutes, religious and non-denominational institutions, and online schools. The California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC) maintains a list of approved schools that offer the educational prerequisites necessary for CAADAC certification.

Approved educational programs offer a variety of courses and clinical practicums that train students in the basic skills necessary for substance abuse counseling, including clinical evaluation; treatment planning; referral; service coordination; interpersonal counseling; client, family, and community education; documentation methods; and professional and ethical responsibilities. Academic courses offered in an approved program include classes in human behavior and development, the biology and psychology of chemical dependency, the history of alcohol and drugs in the United States, and theories and methods of therapy and treatment. Approved programs also offer a clinical component in the form of a 45-credit hour practicum paired with a supervised internship consisting of at least 255 hours of hands-on experience in a clinical setting to be completed within a year of completing the practicum course. The coursework and clinical training together should provide adequate preparation for those who plan to take the certification exam offered by the CAADAC.

Substance Abuse Counselor Schools in California

Argosy University

[Campus]

Locations:

Orange
Alameda
Santa Monica
San Bernardino
San Diego

Programs:

Substance Abuse (BA)
Counseling Psychology (EdD)
Counseling Psychology (MA)

Quick Summary: Argosy University offers doctoral, master's, and bachelor's degree programs to students through its five colleges: Psychology andBehavioral Sciences, Education, Business, Health Sciences, and Undergraduate Studies, as well as certificate programs in many areas.