As part of the certification process, the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services requires completion of 350 hours of instruction addressing the full range of knowledge and skills necessary for alcoholism and substance abuse counseling. The 350-hours must be done through formal classroom instruction and must be distributed among the four sections described below.

Section 1: Knowledge of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse – 85 Clock Hours

CASAC 01: Basic Knowledge
45 Hours (18 Sessions – 2.5 Hours Per Session)

• Physical and Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol Tobacco, and Other Drugs of Abuse – 30 Hours (Includes 4 Hours Related to Tobacco Use Interventions)
• Toxicology Testing/Screening – 3 Hours
• Introduction to Diagnostic Criteria – 6 Hours
• Knowledge of 12-Step and Mutual Aid Groups – 6 Hours

CASAC 02: Overview of Intervention and Treatment Approaches
40 Hours (16 Sessions – 2.5 Hours Per Session)

• Diversity of Intervention and Treatment Approaches – 12 Hours
• Overview of the Addictions Field – 28 Hours
  

Section 2: Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counseling – 150 Clock Hours

CASAC 03: Individual Counseling
45 Hours (18 Sessions – 2.5 Hours Per Session)

• Individual Counseling Approaches to Substance Abuse Treatment – 45 Hours
  (Includes 6 Hours of Vocational-Related Skills and 6 Hours of Relapse Prevention Skills)

CASAC 04: Family Counseling
45 Hours (18 Sessions – 2.5 Hours Per Session)

• Effects of Addiction on Families and Significant Others; Counseling Families and Significant Others – 21 Hours
  (Includes 6 Hours of Relapse Prevention with Families/Significant Others)
• Theories of Human Development – 12 Hours
• Health, Wellness and Communicable Diseases – 12 Hours

CASAC 05A: Group Counseling
30 Hours (12 Sessions – 2.5 Hours Per Session)

• Group Counseling Approaches to Substance Abuse Treatment – 30 Hours
  (Includes 6 Hours of Group Counseling Relapse Prevention Training)

CASAC 06A: Counseling Special Populations/Cultural Competence
30 Hours (12 Sessions – 2.5 Hours Per Session)

• Counseling Special Populations/Cultural Competence – 30 Hours
  (Includes 15 Hours Specific to Cultural Competency)

Section 3: Assessment; Clinical Evaluation; Treatment Planning; 
Case Management; Patient, Family and Community Education – 70 Clock Hours

CASAC 05B: Treatment Planning and Discharge Planning
12 Hours (5 Sessions – 2.5 Hours Per Session)

• Treatment Planning and Discharge Planning – 12 Hours

CASAC 06B: Client Record Keeping
12 Hours (5 Sessions – 2.5 Hours Per Session)

• Client Record Keeping – 12 Hours

CASAC 07: Assessment and Evaluation; Case Management, Referral and Service Coordination; Patient, Family, Community Education and Prevention
46 Hours (18 Sessions – 2.5 Hours Per Session + 1 Hour Home-Study)

• Assessment and Evaluation – 24 Hours
• Case Management, Referral and Service Coordination – 12 Hours
• Patient, Family, Community Education and Prevention – 10 Hours
  (Includes 1-Hour Home-Study: HIV Prevention for Substance Abusing Populations)

Section 4: Professional and Ethical Responsibilities – 45 Clock Hours

CASAC 08: Legal, Professional and Ethical Responsibilities
45 Hours (18 Sessions – 2.5 Hours Per Session)
Includes 15-Hours Specific to Ethics for Addiction Professionals

• Counselor-Client Relationships – 18 Hours
• Ethical Decision Making & Conduct – 9 Hours
• Confidentiality/Legal Issues – 9 Hours
• Counselor Wellness – 7 Hours
• Child Abuse and Maltreatment Mandated Reporter Training – 2 Hours

Upon completion of the CASAC 350-hour standardized curriculum program, students will be issued an OASAS CASAC 350-Hour Standardized Certificate of Completion.

Please note that completion of the 350-hours of education does not provide students with CASAC-Trainee status.  Students must complete and submit the OASAS Credentialing application to OASAS’ Credentialing Unit staff to achieve this status.