This certificate program is for students preparing for or advancing their careers
in the growing field of drug and alcohol dependency treatment, prevention and education.
The certificate program is accredited by the California Association of Alcohol and
Drug Educators (CAADE) and provides the educational components necessary to become
a Certified Addiction Treatment Specialist through CAADE or the California Association
of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC).
The graduate of the Certificate of Achievement in Human Services: Addiction Studies will:
Possess knowledge and skills that will enable them to competently and ethically carry out the duties and responsibilities of jobs as addiction counselors or other positions in the addiction treatment and recovery field. The knowledge and skills that they will possess fall under the following four rubrics: (1) Interpersonal Helping Skills; (2) Ethics and Boundaries; (3) Documentation; and (4) Professional Certification Preparation.
Interpersonal Helping Skills: Graduates will possess interpersonal skills required to engage empathically with clients who have substance use problems, develop safe and trusting relationships with them, assess their strengths and problems, and recommend appropriate interventions and/or referrals. They will demonstrate the ability to manifest the core conditions of helping relationships, including empathy, non-possessive warmth, genuineness and congruence. They will recognize the importance of the family and societal contexts in which their clients live and utilize this information in providing helping services. They will be skillful in both individual and group counseling contexts.
Ethics and Boundaries: Graduates will be familiar with a professional association’s code of ethics and demonstrate the ability to behave in accord with it. They will be able to define appropriate professional relationship boundaries and detect when these boundaries are crossed or violated. They will be able to maintain client confidentiality and know the conditions under which confidentiality must be broached. They will demonstrate an understanding of the principles of culturally competent practice.
Documentation: Graduates will demonstrate the ability to create and maintain appropriate client documentation, including intake notes, service or treatment plans, progress notes, discharge notes and other documentation such as informed consent and release of information forms.
Professional Certification Preparation: Graduates will possess the knowledge, skills and attitudes recommended in Technical Assistance Publication 21 (TAP 21, Addiction Counseling Competencies), published by the U.S. Department of health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. They will be prepared to successfully pass a written examination leading to certification as an addiction counselor, and they will have completed at least 250 supervised work hours in the addiction treatment field in partial fulfillment of the supervised work experience requirement for certification.
Program Requirements
A total of 42 units is required for the certificate.
Allan Hancock College provides quality educational opportunities that enhance student learning and the creative, intellectual, cultural, and economic vitality of our diverse community.
