Addiction Counseling Studies Certificate

Cerro Coso IWV campus

What can I do with this?

The Addiction Counseling Studies Certificate of Achievement

  • Prepares individuals for counseling in alcohol, drug, and other addictions.
  • Emphasis on public health approach that addresses community, social, and individual-level factors in addiction
  • Provides students with a strong background in treatment modalities, health education and prevention, professional and ethical responsibilities, and client advocacy.

Courses are sequenced based on knowledge and skills that are acquired as students move through the program. Students must complete internship fieldwork with a state-licensed substance abuse services agency.

Job Outlook

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 23 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. $51,564 is the Median Pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in 2020 in the service area of Cerro Coso College, which is 7% higher than the national median salary of $48,114.

Source: All data provided by EMSI.

Find it! Be it! Find out how Cerro Coso Community College is helping students get training and education close to home and gain skills for good-paying jobs.

What will I learn?

  • Articulate the broad concerns and practices of the addiction counseling field.
  • Describe seven or more traits of an effective helping person including establishing a helping relationship with the client characterized by warmth, respect, genuineness, concreteness, and empathy.
  • Promote client knowledge, skills, and attitudes consistent with the maintenance of good health (as defined by both the client culture and the treatment culture) and the prevention of HIV/ AIDS, TB, STDS, and other communicable diseases.
  • Perform the actions necessary to start a group, including determine group type, purpose, size, and leadership, recruiting and selecting members. Also establish group goals and clarify behavioral ground rules for participating, identifying outcomes, and determining criteria and methods for termination or graduation from the group.
  • Describe the dynamics of crisis intervention.

What courses do I take?

Note: Some courses within the major may have a required prerequisite. If you feel you have equivalent knowledge and skills to those included in the prerequisite course through professional experience, licensure, or certification, you have the opportunity to submit a Prerequisite Challenge to be reviewed by the faculty chair. For the Prerequisite Challenge to be considered, you must submit documentation/verification to substantiate the basis for the challenge. Please consult a counselor for more information regarding Prerequisite Challenge.

Complete the following courses

Select 3 units from the following courses

Program Pathways

All classes needed for this certificate are available at the following campuses: CC Online

See Counseling for specific help with enrolling and completing this major.

How can I afford it?

This certificate requires 37 to 38 units and will likely take 4 semesters.

Approximate Total Costs

CA Residents

37 or 38 units

at $46 per unit

Equals $1,702 in tuition and fees

Plus approximately $2,220* for books and supplies

Total cost $3,922 for 4 semesters

Non-residents

37 or 38 units

at $388 per unit

Equals $14,356 in tuition and fees

Plus approximately $2,220* for books and supplies

Total cost $16,576 for 4 semesters

*This is an estimate. Actual costs will vary.

Need help? Financial Aid can help with fee waivers and scholarships and other aid. Make sure to fill out your FAFSA every January.