Prepares students for certification with CCAPP, CAADE, and CADTP. Employment opportunities limited to California.
What You'll Learn
The curriculum covers the core knowledge and practical skills employers look for in entry-level candidates.
- Advanced substance use disorder theory and models
- Individual, group, and family counseling techniques
- Co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders
- Assessment tools and evidence-based treatment modalities
- Motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral approaches
- Group dynamics and facilitation skills
- Ethics, supervision, and professional development
- Psychopathology and DSM-5 overview
- Community resources and case management
- Research literacy and applied behavioral health outcomes
Substance Use Disorder Counseling as a Field of Practice
Substance use disorder counseling is a defined field of professional practice in California. Counselors in this area carry out intake and assessment, develop and document treatment plans, facilitate individual and group counseling sessions, coordinate care with other providers, and maintain case records to the standards their certifying body sets. Scope of practice is bounded by the certification a counselor holds. Counselors are trained to work within that scope and to refer when a client's needs fall outside it.
InterCoast Colleges offers two program levels in this field, and they differ in length and in the depth of the coursework rather than in the work they describe. The Alcohol and Drug Counseling Studies certificate is 905 clock hours and 41 academic credits, scheduled across 44 weeks, and it introduces the foundational concepts of the field. The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Substance Use Disorder Counseling is 1,295 clock hours and 67 academic credits, scheduled across 68 weeks. It builds on the same foundation with further coursework in counseling theory, psychopathology, group dynamics, assessment and evidence-based treatment modalities, and research literacy, and it includes a clinical internship completed under supervision. Students who expect to continue past the associate level can also compare the Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Addiction Studies, which is not currently approved for Title IV federal financial aid and is approved for Veterans education benefits.
Certification is issued by independent bodies rather than by the college. The bodies that recognize this program are the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP), the California Association for Alcohol/Drug Educators (CAADE), and the California Association of DUI Treatment Programs (CADTP). Each publishes its own requirements for education hours, supervised experience, and examination, and each decides who it certifies. This degree is built around the education requirements those bodies publish, and its didactic coursework and supervised fieldwork are designed to exceed their standards. InterCoast Colleges has been accredited by ACCET, the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training, since 1988, and is approved to operate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. Accreditation and state approval are institutional facts, and they are separate from any certification decision a certifying body makes.
Understanding the Degree
This AAS degree is not a counseling license.
The AAS in Substance Use Disorder Counseling is designed around California certification education requirements for CADC-I and higher-level designations through CCAPP, CAADE, and CADTP. Certification requires supervised experience, passing an exam, and meeting the issuing body's standards, none of which InterCoast controls or guarantees. This program is approved for California students and aligned with the California certification bodies.
Approvals & Recognitions
Prepares students for certification with CCAPP, CAADE, and CADTP. Employment opportunities limited to California.
Entry-Level Roles
Graduates of this program may pursue entry-level positions with titles such as:
- Substance Use Disorder Counselor
Counselors in this area work in settings such as residential treatment programs, outpatient and intensive outpatient clinics, county behavioral health services, hospital-based programs, and reentry programs, in each case within the scope of the certification they hold.
No specific employment outcome is guaranteed. Labor market conditions vary.
Admissions & Financial Aid
A high school diploma or GED is required for enrollment. Students who do not hold a diploma or GED may qualify under the Ability-to-Benefit (ATB) alternative — speak with an admissions advisor to determine eligibility.
This program is eligible for Title IV federal financial aid. Financial aid is available to those who qualify — not all students will qualify for all types of aid. Contact the financial aid office for a complete picture of your options.
School Performance Fact Sheets
The Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) requires a School Performance Fact Sheet for this program, with completion, placement, licensure-exam and salary data. Review it before you enroll.
All School Performance Fact Sheets and required disclosures →
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this differ from the certificate in Alcohol and Drug Counseling?
The AAS is a degree-level program (68 weeks, 1,295 hours) that includes more advanced coursework in counseling theory, research, and group dynamics compared to the certificate program.
Is this program California-specific?
Yes. The curriculum is aligned with the California certification bodies (CCAPP, CAADE, CADTP). Contact admissions if you are outside California.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. This program is Title IV eligible. Eligible students may qualify for federal financial aid.