California SUDCC Certification

Please note, this course does not include the 45-hour Field Work Practicum.

Topics covered include:

• Abnormal Psychology/Introduction and Overview – 45 hours
• Physiology and Pharmacology of Alcohol and Other Drugs – 45 hours
• Law and Ethics – 45 hours
• Case Management, Assessment, Orientation, Treatment Planning, and Relapse Prevention/Aftercare Planning – 45 hours
• Individual, Group and Family Counseling – 45 hours
• Personal and Professional Growth – 45 hours

270 Hours – $2160

Please contact our office for information regarding payment plan options.

The Field Work Practicum class is a 45-hour 15-unit training for individuals seeking alcohol drug counselor certification in California. To earn course credit, students will need to complete a multiple-choice examination and a series of reflection review questions from each of the required 15-unit course readings. A score of 70% or better will be required for each unit examination and reflection review.

Students enrolled in the 45-hour practicum class will need to complete an additional 255 supervised externship hours at an approved agency setting where direct supervision will be provided by an approved supervisor. Students are responsible for locating a work setting to obtain the required hours of work experience. The 255-hours includes a 3-hour program orientation and a minimum of twenty-one (21) hours in each of the following 12 core function areas: screening; intake; orientation; assessment; treatment planning; counseling; case management; crisis intervention; client education; referral; report and record keeping; consultation with other professionals.

The 255 supervised externship hours will begin during the 45-hour practicum class and must be completed within one year of the conclusion of the class.

Two texts will be required for successful completion of the 45-hour practicum class.

1. Miller, W.R., Forcehimes, A.A., & Zweben, A. Treating Addiction: Guidelines for Professionals. (2nd Edition). New York: Guilford Press, 2019.

You have the option of purchasing this text through our program for $50 or acquiring the text on your own.

2. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Addiction Counseling Competencies: The Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes of Professional Practice. Technical Assistance Publication (TAP) Series 21. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 15-4171. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2017.

The Addiction Counseling Competencies workbook can be downloaded free of charge from samhsa.gov

Topics covered include:

• Biopsychosocial factors that contribute to the development of substance use disorders
• The patterns and progression of substance use disorders
• Cultural/lifestyle considerations
• Theories of personality and human development
• Family dynamics
• Treatment and recovery approaches
• Program planning and client education
• Co-occurring disorders
• Integrated treatment approaches for dually diagnosed individual

45 Hours – $375

This course will examine the physiology and pharmacology of alcohol and other drugs.

Topics covered include:

• The physical, psychological, and pharmacological effects of alcohol and other psychoactive drugs on the human body and on human behavior
• Tolerance, cross tolerance, and synergistic effects
• Physiological differences between males and females
• The disease concept of addiction

45 Hours – $375

This course will examine legal and ethical considerations commonly faced when working in the chemical dependency field.

Topics covered include:

• Legal, ethical, and professional considerations in addiction counseling
• Confidentiality of patient records
• Ethical codes of conduct
• Community prevention, education, and outreach
• Screening, intervention, and referral skills and techniques
• Crisis counseling theories and techniques

45 Hours – $375

Topics covered include:

• Skills, competencies and techniques of initial intake and case management
• Assessment, orientation, treatment and recovery planning
• Reports and record keeping
• Aftercare planning, consultation, and referral

45 Hours – $375

This course will examine the theories and techniques of individual, group and family counseling.

Topics covered include:

• Theories, principles and techniques of individual substance use disorder counseling
• Effective strategies for meeting the counseling needs of diverse patient populations
• Advantages of group treatment for substance use disorder populations
• Group leadership competencies and skills
• Family therapy strategies and techniques
• Integration of family therapy practices into substance use disorder treatment

45 Hours – $375

This course will examine various aspects of personal and professional growth for alcohol and drug counselors.

Topics covered include:

• Personal and professional issues in addiction counseling
• Counselor burnout
• The recovering counselor
• Supervision
• Professional growth
• Counselor wellness
• Professional contacts
• Certification requirements

45 Hours – $375

The Field Work Practicum class is a 45-hour 15-unit training for individuals seeking alcohol drug counselor certification in California. To earn course credit, students will need to complete a multiple-choice examination and a series of reflection review questions from each of the required 15-unit course readings. A score of 70% or better will be required for each unit examination and reflection review.

Students enrolled in the 45-hour practicum class will need to complete an additional 255 supervised externship hours at an approved agency setting where direct supervision will be provided by an approved supervisor. Students are responsible for locating a work setting to obtain the required hours of work experience. The 255-hours includes a 3-hour program orientation and a minimum of twenty-one (21) hours in each of the following 12 core function areas: screening; intake; orientation; assessment; treatment planning; counseling; case management; crisis intervention; client education; referral; report and record keeping; consultation with other professionals.

The 255 supervised externship hours will begin during the 45-hour practicum class and must be completed within one year of the conclusion of the class.

Two texts will be required for successful completion of the 45-hour practicum class.

1. Miller, W.R., Forcehimes, A.A., & Zweben, A. Treating Addiction: Guidelines for Professionals. (2nd Edition). New York: Guilford Press, 2019.

You have the option of purchasing this text through our program for $50 or acquiring the text on your own.

2. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Addiction Counseling Competencies: The Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes of Professional Practice. Technical Assistance Publication (TAP) Series 21. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 15-4171. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2017.

The Addiction Counseling Competencies workbook can be downloaded free of charge from samhsa.gov