Substance Abuse Counseling Education
- Career Studies Certificate (C.S.C.)
Program Snapshot
Your Learning Options
In-Person, Hybrid, Online
24 Credit Hours
Estimated Time to Complete
1 year (2 full-time semesters)
In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour
$176.00 | Calculate your costs
Why Substance Abuse Counseling Education?
Embark on a fulfilling career dedicated to helping individuals overcome addiction and reclaim their lives.
- Learn from experienced human services instructors and benefit from their expertise and guidance as you develop knowledge and skills.
- Benefit from flexible learning formats through online courses and hybrid formats, accommodating diverse learning needs and schedules.
- Gain real-world experience through coordinated internship placements, allowing you to apply your skills in professional settings.
Paying for College
We are committed to using all of the available funds to help you gain access to a college education. In fact, more than 91% of our students graduate without any educational debt. In 2023, Reynolds Community College students received over $21 million dollars in grants, loans, work-study and scholarships with the average aid awarded totaling over $4,000 per student.
Payment plans are offered to break down tuition payments. Textbook Assistance and Laptop Lending Programs are also available. Be sure to explore all the types of financial aid available as well!
Get a Skill. Get a Job. Get Ahead.
G3 financial assistance at Reynolds can help cover tuition for select programs like this one! Starting something new or changing a career path can be scary, but if you want to earn workplace certifications or an academic degree that leads to a career, G3 tuition assistance can help remove the financial barrier of going to college.
Why Reynolds?
We are more than a community college.
Reynolds is the key that unlocks the door to your academic and professional success. Here you will find a safe place to start. We will help you explore, dream, succeed, try, and try again. Our amazing faculty and highly personalized advisors, your Reynolds Navigators, are well known for guiding you to discover that "aha moment.” That means an outstanding college experience, less debt, more freedom, and a solid start on your future.
Study a curriculum that aligns with certification requirements for Substance Abuse Counselors and Assistants in Virginia, positioning you for success in obtaining credentials such as Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor- Assistant (CSAC-A).
Graduates can pursue rewarding careers in various settings, including hospitals, treatment programs, group homes, shelters, and correctional facilities. Additionally, those in recovery for at least two years can become certified as Peer Recovery Coaches or Specialists.
Learn in a program designated as part of the G3 Program, providing financial assistance to eligible students pursuing in-demand careers like substance abuse counseling.
Alum or Faculty quote goes here.
Alum or Faculty Name
Class Highlights
HMS 220 - Addiction and Prevention
Study the impact of drugs and addiction on individuals and their families including the myths about various drugs and their benefit or lack of benefit.
HMS 270 - Treatment Systems
Learn about the services and facilities established for the purpose of treating addictions including treatment therapy models and ethical standards related to addiction-disease theory.
HMS 258 - Case Management and Substance Abuse
Explore the process for interviewing substance abuse clients including intake, assessment, handling denial, and ending the interview.
Program Roadmap
Get all the details on our Substance Abuse Counseling Education program, including class sequences, admission requirements, financial considerations, and more.
Additional Program Information
PURPOSE: The Human Services program offers a Career Studies Certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling Education designed to prepare students with the professional knowledge, intervention skills, and ethical values needed to provide services in substance abuse counseling and addiction treatment settings. Courses in this curriculum may be used to satisfy certification requirements for Substance Abuse Counselors and Substance Abuse Counseling Assistants as designated by the Virginia Board of Counseling within the Department of Health Professions.
OCCUPATIONAL OBJECTIVES: Graduates may be employed in a variety of settings, including—but not limited to—hospital- and residential-based treatment programs, community-based treatment programs, group homes, homeless shelters, residential halfway houses, and institutional or community-based juvenile and adult corrections. Students in recovery for a minimum of two years are also eligible for credentialing as Peer Recovery Coaches and/or Certified Peer Recovery Specialists through external credentialing bodies.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Students will gain an understanding of how substance abuse affects both the mind and body, focusing on its impact on mental health, physical health, and approaches to integrated treatment and recovery.
- Students will learn how to conduct interviews and create personalized treatment plans that address the unique needs and goals of clients struggling with substance abuse and addiction. They will also learn the importance of incorporating evidence-based interventions.
- Students will learn and understand the causes and effects of addiction, and the impact it has on individuals, families, and communities.
- Students will gain knowledge of different treatment facilities and the programs available for addiction treatment.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS: General college curricular admission.
PROGRAM NOTES: The curriculum provides students with the requisite knowledge, skills, professional values, and attitudes necessary to practice in a diverse client and service delivery system. The program is also designed to enhance the professional knowledge, skills, and marketability of individuals already employed in human services. Students should consult their program advisor for information on the certification requirements of the Virginia Board of Counseling under the Department of Health Professions for credentialing as Certified Substance Abuse Counselors (CSAC) or Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Assistants (CSAC-A).
Students must earn a grade of “C” or higher in all HMS-prefixed courses. Any student who receives a final grade lower than “C” in an HMS course must repeat the course and earn a final grade of “C” or higher to meet graduation requirements.
Students who have successfully completed any two of the following courses—HMS 220, HMS 258, HMS 260, or HMS 270—with a final grade of “C” or higher are eligible to enroll in HMS 290. For credentialing purposes, students will be placed at an internship location by the Program Head. Students must complete a 180-clock-hour internship at a program-approved agency site, verified by the HMS 290 course instructor. Students are expected to provide their own transportation to the internship site.
Additional Requirements:
- Students should meet with their faculty advisor at least once per academic semester and review their advisement report through the Student Information System (SIS) portal.
- Some internship agency sites may require criminal background checks, sex offender registry checks, and TB screening as conditions of placement. Students are responsible for any associated costs.
- Students with past felony records—especially those involving barrier crimes in Virginia—or who are listed on any state’s sex offender registry, will be ineligible for internships involving services to children or the elderly. This may limit internship placement options and could prevent completion of the Career Studies Certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling Education and/or eligibility for CSAC-A or CSAC credentialing by the Virginia Board of Counseling.
