Alcohol and Drug Counseling Fast-Track Diploma

The Alcohol and Drug Counseling Fast-Track Diploma from ICDC College is an online program that prepares you for employment as a Substance Abuse Counselor. Substance abuse is a chronic and widespread problem in our society that affects people of all ages and from all walks of life. It is estimated that one in eight Americans suffers from either alcohol or drug addiction*. People who struggle with substance abuse and other addictions often lose control of their jobs, relationships and their lives.

Drug and Alcohol Counselors can help people overcome their addictions, break negative patterns to avoid relapse, and improve their lives. The online Alcohol and Drug Counseling Fast-Track Diploma Program from ICDC College gives you the skills you need for assisting with addictive behaviors, addiction prevention, and case management. You will be trained in effective methods for individual and group substance abuse counseling.

The ICDC College program meets the California state, national and international substance abuse counseling certification training requirements and exceeds the California Certification Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CCBADC) requirements for registration. Additionally, ICDC College’s program has been approved by the California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC). This means that online students who are based in California will graduate from a program that is approved by one of the largest alcohol and drug abuse counseling certification organizations in the state. ICDC College is also approved by the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC), one of the largest membership organizations serving addiction counselors, educators, administrators, and other addiction-focused health care professionals, recognized nationally and worldwide.

Your state requirements may differ. Any questions regarding the minimum requirements for the state where you choose to seek employment may be directed to ICDC College, and you are advised to consult state-specific agencies for further information.

Enroll for your online Alcohol and Drug Counseling Fast-Track Diploma today! You will be provided with the tools you need to succeed, including online coursework, textbooks and a new netbook computer** – all included in the cost of your tuition. Your next step is to log in and learn, at your convenience – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from any location.

Students who graduate from ICDC College’s online Alcohol and Drug Counseling Fast-Track Diploma program will be trained to provide guidance in crisis intervention, treatment planning, referral services, client and family counseling, and community education and outreach. Work environments may include detoxification programs, daytime drug treatment centers, inpatient and outpatient drug rehabilitation clinics, DUI diversion programs, probation and parole facilities, penal institutions, hospitals and private facilities.

Career Services assistance is provided by ICDC College upon completion of the program.

Employment:

State employment requirements for Alcohol and Drug Counselors may differ. Any questions regarding the minimum requirements for the state where you choose to seek employment may be obtained from ICDC College, along with referrals to state-specific agencies for further information.

Graduates qualify for entry-level employment in the following types of positions:

Substance Abuse Counselor: In this role you may work with adolescents, teens or adults, providing a range of services including moderating discussions in recovery groups and psycho-educational sessions, conducting classes in life skills and relapse prevention, and providing substance abuse counseling in individual and group settings. A substance abuse counselor typically provides direct care and supervision of all client-patients in structured activities and programs at a treatment facility.

Substance Abuse Technician: Under the supervision of a substance abuse counselor, program nurse or clinic coordinator, as a Substance Abuse Technician you would provide assistance in monitoring and maintaining therapy activities for patient-clients and their families in a substance abuse program or treatment facility. A technician serves as a role model to client-patients and families in the recovery process, and assists the work of other professionals on the substance abuse treatment team.

Transitional Case Manager: In this role you would provide transitional case management services to active substance abusers to facilitate their access to substance abuse treatment programs and relapse-prevention services. Your duties might include transporting or meeting client-patients at service provider’s facilities to provide support and advocacy. A case manager networks with community service providers to identify needs in the local population, then develops strategies for promoting programs to engage the target audience.

Residential Counselor: Residential Counselors typically work in day treatment centers with client-patient residents seeking long-term recovery from alcohol and substance abuse. In this role you would provide assistance in all substance abuse treatments and activities for the clients at the center. Duties might include advocating for clients, monitoring their medications and daily activities, ensuring compliance with facility rules, assisting with direct care and the development of an after-care plan, transporting clients as needed, and helping with maintenance of the facility.

Residential Detox Counselor: In this role, you would work in a 24-hour facility that provides acute inpatient substance abuse services, and assist in providing around-the-clock care and observation for clients detoxing from drugs and alcohol addiction. Duties might include implementing treatment services and assisting with direct care, monitoring and documenting client-patients’ daily activities, educating clients, and ensuring compliance with facility rules.

The Alcohol and Drug Counseling Diploma program is available at the following campuses:

• Online
• Hollywood
• Huntington Park
• South Bay
• Van Nuys

The Online Alcohol and Drug Counseling program at ICDC College is designed to introduce students to the eight domains of knowledge in the field of addiction:

• Clinical Evaluation
• Treatment Planning
• Referral
• Service Coordination
• Counseling
• Client, Family and Community Education
• Documentation
• Professional and Ethical Responsibility

The program teaches students how to perform the 12 core functions of substance abuse counseling:

• Screening
• Intake
• Orientation
• Assessment
• Treatment planning
• Counseling
• Case management
• Crisis intervention
• Client education
• Referrals
• Reports and recordkeeping
• Consultation with relevant professionals

Course highlights from the Alcohol and Drug Counseling program include:

• Counseling law and ethics
• Individual, group and family counseling
• Case management
• Psychoactive drugs
• Pharmacology
• Prevention, education, outreach, and referral

In addition to their coursework, all ICDC College’s Alcohol and Drug Counseling students will participate in an “Externship” that involves field work at a substance abuse treatment facility in their area, completing 270 hours in 15 weeks. Through the externship, students will gain hands-on experience working in a clinical setting alongside industry professionals. The externship will also provide students the opportunity for networking with potential employers. Student “externs”; gain practical skills in screening, orientation, assessment, treatment planning, counseling, case management, crisis intervention, client and family education, referral, reports, recordkeeping and consultation.

OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION:

The occupations this program prepares students to enter by name and SOC code:
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors # 21-1011.00

LINKS:

The links to the occupational profiles on the Department of Labor’s O*Net are:
http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/21-1011.00

COSTS:

Tuition and fees: $14,995.00
Books and supplies: included with tuition
On campus room and board: N/A

MEDIAN LOAN DEBT:

Federal Loans: $9,411.00
Private Educational Loans: $0
Institutional Financing Plans: $0

PROGRAM COMPLETION RATE:

The program is designed to take 41 weeks to complete.
43% of graduates graduated within this time.

PLACEMENT RATE:

The job placement rate for program graduates is: 75%