Getting Started and Program Overview
Becoming a licensed or certified substance use disorder, prevention, peer support, or gambling counselor involves several steps. While the specific requirements vary depending on your state and the certification/license you’re pursuing, the general process is as follows:
- Education: Complete the required number of educational hours through The Center for Addiction Studies and Research. In most cases, this can be done through distance learning, which consists of studying the coursework at your own pace and passing the necessary exams. After completing all required exams in your course, you will receive certificates of completion.
- Practical Experience: Gain hands-on counseling experience by completing clinical work experience hours in person, typically at a treatment facility under a supervisor’s guidance.
- Exam: Pass the state or national examination required for the credential you are seeking (if applicable).
- Apply for Certification or Licensure: Submit an application to your state board for your desired certification or license. This includes your educational certificates of completion from our program, documentation of supervised clinical hours, and any state-specific certification/licensing exams (if applicable). Other elements of your application might also include transcripts to verify your formal education and letters of recommendation.
- Review and Confirm Requirements:
- Visit our credentialing information page to check the state-specific certification/licensure requirements.
- Ensure that coursework from the Center for Addiction Studies and Research (CASR) is approved or accepted by your state board.
- Understand all requirements for obtaining your intended certification/licensure, including formal education, supervised work experience, letters of recommendation, etc.
- Note that some states may have specific restrictions, such as limits on the number of hours that can be completed through distance learning. For the most up-to-date certification/licensure requirements, please verify with your state’s certification/licensure board.
- Order Coursework and Get Started:
- Once you’ve confirmed the requirements, order your desired coursework directly from our website.
- There’s no application or interview process—simply purchase your coursework and start learning at your own pace.
- If you have any questions or need assistance during the enrollment process, feel free to reach out to our support team.
Distance learning is a flexible and convenient way to pursue education, allowing you to study at your own pace without the need for attending in-person classes. This format is especially beneficial for those who face challenges with accessibility, scheduling, or geographic limitations. With distance learning, you can complete your coursework on your own timeline, making it easier to balance your studies with other commitments.
Yes, the Center for Addiction Studies and Research is accredited and recognized by several reputable organizations:
- We are a NAADAC (The Association for Addiction Professionals) and International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) member board approved distance learning provider of education in the addiction field. NAADAC and IC&RC are national organizations that represent professional interests of addiction-focused health care professionals in the United States, Canada and abroad by establishing nationally and internationally recognized credentials and examinations for substance use disorder, prevention, and peer support recovery professionals.
- Our coursework for initial problem gambling certification is provided under the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board (IGCCB). Certification standards established by the IGCCB represent the current best practices in the field of disordered gambling and gambling treatment.
- We are an approved provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) Program (ACE Approval Number 1376). We maintain responsibility for our program.
Coursework and Certification Requirements
To ensure our courses meet your state’s specific requirements, please visit navigate to our webpage specific to your state and credential. We do our best to keep this as up to date as possible. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please contact your state certification/licensure board. If you have any questions or need further assistance, our team is here to help. Feel free to contact us.
It depends. Certification and licensure are both forms of credentialing that are used to approve substance abuse/addiction counselors for practice in the field, but requirements vary significantly by state.
Some states offer both certification and licensure, while others offer only one option. Notably, there may be separate boards within a state with one overseeing certification and the other overseeing licensure.
The state-specific page for the credential you seek will indicate whether our coursework is accepted by the relevant board for certification, licensure, or both. We recommend also verifying directly with the board to ensure our coursework meets their requirements for the credential you are pursuing.
The acceptance of prior coursework towards certification requirements is determined by the state board overseeing your certification/licensure. We recommend contacting them to confirm which courses are accepted. Once you have this information, we can create a customized program that includes only the coursework you need to meet your certification/licensure requirements.
The time it takes to complete coursework varies based on individual factors such as prior knowledge, learning style, and scheduling. As a general guideline, the coursework typically takes approximately the same number of hours to complete as the number of credit hours assigned to the course. For example, our “Ethics for Addiction Professionals” course is a 6-credit-hour course, so you can expect it to take around 6 hours to complete.
Our courses are designed to be completed at your own pace and convenience, allowing you to balance your studies with your personal and professional commitments.
In general, there are no maximum time limits within which coursework needs to be completed from the time of purchase. However, it’s important to note that certain states may have specific time frames within which your education must be completed before applying. Please check the requirements for your desired certification/license to ensure compliance.
To maintain the quality and integrity of our educational programs, there are minimum completion timelines in place. These ensure that the coursework is thoroughly engaged with and understood. We periodically review completion timelines to confirm that the learning process is effective and meets educational standards.
Enrollment, Course Materials, and Payment
We offer two options for receipt of our courses:
- Digital Download: Receive PDF download links directly to your email immediately after purchase. Coursework will also be accessible through your user dashboard. You can download the materials as many times as needed, and the links never expire.
- Hard Copy: Physical copies of course materials can be sent to you through the mail. Once shipped, packages usually take approximately 3-5 days to arrive. You will receive a separate email with tracking information. Please note there is an additional charge for this option to cover the printing and shipping costs.
No, there is no application process or interview required to participate in our distance learning program. You can purchase coursework directly from our website without any additional application fees.
After ordering a course from our website, you should receive two emails: one confirming your payment and another containing your order information. These emails are typically sent within a few minutes of your purchase. If you haven’t received them, please check your spam or junk mail folder. If you still can’t find the emails, don’t hesitate to contact us for assistance. We’ll ensure you get access to your course materials promptly.
Yes. Group discounts are determined based on the course ordered, number of participants, and the delivery method of course materials. For more details on our group discount rates, please contact us to learn more.
We do! Payment plans involve an initial down payment determined by total course price and delivery method (download or mail), followed by installment payments in any amount and frequency most convenient for you.
There are no additional fees or interest charges. Certificates of completion are issued upon successful fulfillment of coursework and full payment.
To learn more about our payment plans, or to purchase coursework through a plan, please contact us.
Yes, we can create customized coursework bundles tailored to your specific needs and requirements. If you don’t see what you need on our website, please contact us via email, and we’ll work with you to create a personalized solution.
Completing Coursework and Exams
If you ordered coursework via download option: You’ll receive an email with links to download your reading and exam PDFs. If you have an account, the coursework will also be available in the Downloads area of your user dashboard. Click on the purple button to access the materials. If you checked out as a guest, feel free to contact us to link your coursework to your account.
Please note, not all courses have a download option for the reading materials.
If you ordered coursework via mail option: We will print and ship your hardcopy readings and exams. Depending on the course you ordered, you might receive an email with links to take exams online and/or PDFs of your readings and exams so that you have digital copy backups of the material.
Completing Coursework:
The process for completing coursework is fairly straightforward- you read through the reading materials and take all required exams. Exams are multiple choice and require a score of 70% or greater to pass (75% or greater for social work continuing education). There are two ways to complete the exams:
- Online Exams: Use the links in the email or the Downloads section of your account to take exams online. Ensure you are signed in. If you need to pause and complete the exam at a later date, make sure you save your progress and sign out. When you’re ready to resume, sign back in. Upon submission, your score will appear on screen. You will also receive an email with your score. After passing all required exams, fill out a Certificate of Completion request form located at the bottom of your course materials page.
- Paper Exams: If you need to complete paper exams, scan and email the single-page answer sheets back to us. If you have multiple exams, please send all answer sheets together. If you score 70% or better, we will email you a state-specific certificate of completion. (Note: We encourage completing exams online when possible.)
Certificate of Completion:
After you complete all required exams in your course, please fill out the certificate request form located with the rest of your course materials. Once we verify you have passed all required exams in your course, we will issue a certificate of completion. The certificate will be emailed to you within 3-4 business days of course completion.
Please note: Not all exams are available online. If you wish to submit your exam online but did not find a link in your order email, please contact us.
We typically process exams within 3-4 business days. If you have not heard from us after that time, please feel free to contact us to confirm that we’ve received your exam.
To pass an exam, you need a score of 70% or higher (75% or higher for social work continuing education). If you take your exam online through our website, you will receive your score immediately after submission, indicating whether you passed. For exams submitted via email, we will score your exam within 3-4 business days of receipt and notify you of your results. Please note, emailed exams will only be scored once all exams for the entire program have been received.
If you do not pass an exam, we will inform you of your score and provide you with an opportunity to retake the exam. There is no additional cost or timeframe for retaking the exam, and we are here to support you in successfully completing your coursework.
Obtaining Certificates of Completion
A certificate of completion is a document that issue to you once you have completed the coursework you signed up for. Depending on the course, you may receive one certificate or multiple certificates. The certificate is what you will provide to your state board as verification you have completed your addiction-specific education requirement.
After successfully completing all exams in your course, you will receive an email containing a PDF of your certificate of completion within 3-4 business days of us receiving your last outstanding exam. Your certificate will specify the number of hours completed and will be tailored to your state’s requirements. If you don’t see the email with your certificate in your inbox, please check your spam or junk folder, as it may have ended up there.
Of course! If you’ve misplaced your certificate of completion, simply contact us and we’ll be happy to resend your certificate via email.
Support and Financial Information
If you have any questions about the coursework content, our instructors are here to help. You can reach out to us with your questions, or to schedule a time in advance for a more in-depth discussion. We are here to support you throughout your learning journey.
We strive to provide high quality, accessible coursework that you are completely satisfied with. If you are not satisfied with the coursework, please let us know within 30 days of receiving the material. Here’s how our refund policy works:
- Download Courses: We can issue a refund for any uncompleted coursework. Please note that refunds for download courses will be less any payment processing fees.
- Mailed Courses: We can issue a partial refund once we receive the returned coursework in its original condition. Please note that refunds for mailed courses will be less any printing/shipping and payment processing fees.
Please note that coursework cannot be refunded after a certificate of completion has been issued.
The cost of our coursework varies, and you can find the pricing details for each course or program on our website. We believe in transparent pricing, so the listed cost is the full amount you’ll pay for the coursework – there are no hidden fees.
However, please note that certification or licensure will require additional costs beyond what you pay for coursework and are paid directly to the state certification/licensing board. These can include application fees, exam fees, or other expenses charged by the relevant certification board or licensing authority.
We recommend checking the website or application materials of the specific certification or licensing body you’re pursuing. They will have the most current and accurate information regarding any fees or costs you may need to budget for beyond our coursework pricing.
Our program is not eligible for federal financial student aid because we are a certificate-granting institution accredited through NAADAC, IC&RC member state boards, and direct state board approval. We are not an institution of higher education recognized by the Department of Education.
While we do not currently offer other financial assistance programs, we provide flexible payment plans to support our students. You can choose to pay for your coursework in full or through our installment plans with no interest or fees, allowing you to manage your educational expenses in a way that best suits your financial situation.