Completion of the Chemical Dependency Counselor Certificate
- Application for program certificate
- Payment of $25.00 application fee
- Completion of 21 credit hours (minimum of 14 credit hours earned at Union Commonwealth University)
- For GPA requirements, contact the Psychology Department
Chemical Dependency Counselor Certificate | 21 Hours
21 credit hours; a minimum of 14 credit hours earned at Union College
PSYH 405 Foundations of Chemical Dependency I 4 credit hours
Introduction to the foundations of the alcohol and drug abuse rehabilitation field. Emphasis on the roles and responsibilities of the addictions counselor. Focus is on the first six (6) of the twelve (12) core functions: screening, intake, orientation, assessment, treatment planning, and basic counseling skills. Interactive work stressed.
PSYH 406 Foundations of Chemical Dependency II 4 credit hours
Introduction to the foundations of the alcohol and drug abuse rehabilitation field. Emphasis on the roles and responsibilities of the addictions counselor. Focus is on the last six (6) of the twelve (12) core functions: case management, crisis intervention, client education, referral, reports and recordkeeping, and consultation with other professionals, in regard to client treatment and services. Interactive work stressed. Prerequisite: PSYH 405.
PSYH 407
Ethical Issues in Chemical Dependency Treatment 1 credit hour
Introduce students to the ethical issues involved in chemical dependency treatment. Special attention will be given to the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted diseases that frequently infect people who use drugs or who are chemically dependent. Students will examine treatment options and prevention strategies. The ethical and legal issues that impact infected individuals as well as the larger community will be explored. Students are expected to demonstrate respect for the client and an appreciation of individual and cultural differences, including sexual orientation. They are also expected to explore their own attitudes and biases about HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases.
PSYH 410
Psychology of Addictions 3 credit hours
Major emphasis is on factors determining the development of addictions, including physiological, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral dimensions of the addictive process. Also emphasizes intervention and treatment strategies for the various types of chemical dependency and substance abuse. Prerequisite: PSYH 200 or permission from instructor.
Kentucky State Board Information / Requirements for Certification as a Chemical Dependency Counselor
The Kentucky State Board accepts either undergraduate or graduate hours for credit toward certification. The Union College Chemical Dependency Counselor Concentration program satisfies the 270-contact hour requirement (270 classroom hours of board approved curriculum), including the ethics training requirement (6 hours of ethics training).
Completion of the Chemical Dependency Counselor Certificate does not automatically guarantee certification by the Kentucky Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors but provides the requisite academic background to sit for the CADC (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor) examination. Kentucky state certification information can be found at: http://adc.ky.gov
It is the student’s responsibility to check reciprocal agreements among different states.
