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Program Description

The Addiction Counseling Programs at Kingsborough Community College offers students two pathways to prepare for careers in a variety of substance abuse prevention and treatment settings. To earn the Associate in Science (AS) degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling, in addition to their General Education Requirements of 30 credits, students complete seven substance-abuse specific courses and two supervised internships, within NYS-licensed substance abuse treatment programs. To earn the Certificate in Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Counseling only, students must complete the substance-abuse specific courses and supervised internships that total 30 credits. Students who earn either the AS degree or the Certificate can apply to the NYS-Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) to be evaluated for their Credentialed Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) Trainee Certificate. This allows students to be immediately eligible for hire by prevention and treatment agencies in NYS.

Degree and Skills Acquired

Students develop a variety of skills required by the Substance Use Disorder Counselor including:

  • Active Listening —They must give their full attention to what clients are saying, and must ask appropriate clarifying questions to make sure they thoroughly understand the client.
  • Critical Thinking — They must not jump to conclusions about the client but must use logic and reasoning to assist clients in assessing problems and seeking viable alternatives.
  • Complex Problem Solving — They must assist clients with identifying and breaking up complex problems into more manageable parts so that the client could explore meaningful solutions.

Students also acquire entry-level practice skills that are consistent with the NYS-Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Counselor Scope of Practice. These include Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Assessment, Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Diagnostic Impression, Level of Care as determined by the Level of Care for Alcohol & Drug Treatment Referral (LOCADTR), Treatment Planning, Individual & Group Counseling, Psycho-education, and Family Orientation & Support.