Substance Abuse Counseling Education (221-480-30)

PURPOSE: The Human Services program offers a career studies certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling Education designed to prepare students with the requisite professional knowledge, intervention skills, and values for delivering services in substance abuse counseling programs and addiction treatment. Courses in this curriculum can be used to meet the certification requirements of substance abuse counselors and substance abuse counseling assistants designated by the Health Professions Board of Counseling in the Commonwealth of Virginia

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 and community-based juvenile and adult corrections. Students in recovery for a minimum of 2 years are also eligible to become credentialed as Peer Recovery Coaches and/or Certified Peer Recovery Specialists by external credentialing bodies.

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 persons already employed in human services.  Students should see their program advisor for information on the certification requirements of the Virginia Health Professions Board of Counseling for credentialing certified substance abuse counselors and certified substance abuse counselor assistants.  

Students must attain a grade of “C” or higher in all courses with HMS prefixes. Those students who receive a final grade lower than “C” in any HMS course must repeat the course and earn a final grade of “C” or higher to satisfy graduation requirements.

Students who have successfully completed any 2 of the following courses (HMS 220, HMS 258, HMS 260, or HMS 270) with a final grade of “C” or higher can enroll in the HMS 290 course. For credentialing purposes, students will be placed at an internship location by the Program Head. Students must complete a 180 clock-hour internship learning experience in a Program-approved agency site that has been verified by the instructor of the HMS 290 course. Students are expected to provide their own transportation to the agency. Further:  

1. Students should meet with their faculty advisor at least once per academic semester and check their advisement report by accessing their Student Information System (SIS) portal.
2. Some agency internship sites may require criminal background, sex offender registry checks, and a TB screening as a condition for placement. When this is the case, students will be expected to cover any costs incurred.
3. Students who have past felony records; especially those that include barrier crimes in the state of Virginia or are on the sex offender registry in any state will not be able to secure internships that provide services to children or the elderly and may find it difficult being placed in other internship training sites. This, in turn, would prevent them from completing requirements for the CSA in Substance Abuse Counseling Education and/or becoming credentialed as a CSAC-A or CSAC by the VA Health Professions Board of Counseling.