ALCOHOL/DRUG ABUSE COUNSELING CERTIFICATE

This one-year certificate program is designed to prepare graduates for positions as substance abuse counselors. The curriculum content includes knowledge of the Human Service/Substance Abuse delivery systems, community networking and referrals, drugs of abuse, counseling techniques and professional ethics. Supervised clinical experiences in substance abuse and dual diagnosis settings are an integral part of the program. The program is based on the National Addiction Counselor Competencies and the National Community Support Skill Standards and is approved by the Council for Standards in Human Service Education. The 32 required credits meet educational requirements for substance abuse certification in Massachusetts and may all be applied toward the Associates Degree in Human Services.

Courses with an “HUS” prefix are generally restricted to students enrolled in the Alcohol/Drug Abuse Counseling Certificate, the Community Support Human Service Practitioner Certificate or the Human Service Associates Degree. HUS 101, the introductory course, is open to any NECC student who meets the proficiency requirements. HUS 171, Alcohol and Drug Abuse, is open to students with a major in criminal justice, as well as those students in the human services programs. Any requests for exceptions to this policy need to be addressed to the course instructor or Program Coordinator.

Students must earn a grade of C- or better in all HUS courses in order to graduate.

Additional Admissions Criteria: Enrollment Services will provide additional admissions criteria for this program. Please call 978-738-7408 for more information. Download a Criteria Review Packet here.

Students interested in participation in an academic program that involves working with children, the disabled, or the elderly, or a cooperative education experience or a program that includes a clinical affiliation with a private or public health care provider, may be required to undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, a Criminal Records Central Repository (CHRI) check and/or a Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) check. Students will need to provide a government issued photo identification and sign a release form allowing the college to view the student’s CORI, CHRI or SORI reports. Depending on the contents of a student’s CORI, CHRI or SORI reports, participation in an academic program or a cooperative education experience or a clinical or practicum affiliation related thereto, may be denied. CORI checks may be performed pursuant to Mass. General Laws, Chapter 6, Section 172, and consistent with guidelines promulgated by the Executive Office for Health and Human Services, and/or the Commonwealth’s Department of Public Health. SORI checks may be performed pursuant to Mass. General Laws, Chapter 6, Sections 178(J) & 178(K). CHRI checks may be performed pursuant to New Hampshire law. For more information, contact the Registrar at 978-556-3700.