Addiction Counseling Graduate Certificate (Online Program)

Support People’s Healing Journey 

Uplift individuals and communities as an addictions counselor. Fisher College’s Graduate Certificate in Addictions Counseling provides an online pathway toward Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor I (LADC I) and/or Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor Advanced II (CADAC-II) addiction counseling certifications. The highly flexible nine-month program structure accommodates the learning and scheduling needs of current practitioners and working professionals.

Why Earn a Certificate in Addictions Counseling at Fisher?

Accommodate Your Schedule With 100% Online Learning 

Work toward your drug and alcohol counseling certification online at Fisher. As a working practitioner or other counseling and mental health professional, earn your certificate over just three 12-week terms, including a 300-hour internship, and gain individualized support and guidance from our faculty and advisors.

Serve Clients as a Licensed/Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor

Establish a standard of care backed by professional credentials. Completing your drug and alcohol counseling certification online leads to multiple paths to licensure:

If you hold an undergraduate degree in behavioral sciences and meet the academic requirements, you can become a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor I (LADC I) and/or a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC).

If you hold a graduate degree in behavioral sciences, the addictions counseling certificate program equips you for the Massachusetts Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor I (LADC I) and the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium’s (IC&RC) exam for Advanced Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors. Once you have passed the IC&RC exam and completed 2,000 hours of addiction counseling services, you can apply for Certified Alcoholism/Drug Abuse Counselor – Advanced II (CADAC-II) certification.

LADC I and CADAC-II certifications allow you to practice independently and receive insurance reimbursement in Massachusetts. CADAC-I and CADAC-II certifications have reciprocity with approximately 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, all branches of the U.S. military, Indian Health Services, and the 15 international locations that recognize IC&RC certification.

Gain Clinical Experience

Grow your proficiency as a counselor and health care provider in an addictions counseling internship. Over 300+ hours of hands-on practice, become familiar with clinical settings, practice approaching clients’ unique needs, learn to complete paperwork, receive guidance from professional mentors, and more.

Advance to a Master’s Degree

Further your expertise in the M.A. in Counseling Psychology degree program, which includes an Addictions track, or the Master of Arts in Psychology degree program. Apply up to 12 credits from the addiction counseling certification program to the counseling psychology graduate program.

If you have already received a master’s degree, you may also apply your previously earned credits to the certificate and complete the program faster.

Program Curriculum 

Establish a grounded understanding of the social and psychological factors related to addiction and best practices for addiction treatment. The program curriculum includes a 300-hour clinical internship and six online courses that empower you to impact individuals and communities as an addiction counselor. 

You may waive the internship requirement if you have completed a practicum in the field.

Career Opportunities 

As a substance abuse counselor, you become a member of a support system for individuals with drug and alcohol dependencies, behavior-related addictions, eating disorders, and other issues connected with addiction. Prepare and create unique approaches for each client as you help them identify and modify problem behaviors.

Research suggests that recreational drug intake is increasing, and the social and individual need for alcohol, drug, and addictions counselors is rising in step. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 18% growth in demand for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors over the next decade.

Addictions Counseling Certificate Program Admission Requirements

The addiction counselor certification online application will prompt you to provide official transcripts demonstrating that you hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. 

Learn more about the graduate program application and requirements.

Affording Your Tuition

We keep top-quality learning affordable in Fisher’s addiction counselor certification online program through our commitment to accessibility and excellence. The Addictions Counseling Graduate Certificate tuition per credit hour is $781, and you can apply for the $6,000 Theodore Everett Berlin Scholarship. We also offer numerous other types of financial aid to co-fund future counselors like you.