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Substance Use Disorders Counseling

LMU Extension’s Substance Use Disorders Counseling Certificate Program is committed to creating a diverse and skilled workforce of counselors and behavioral health professionals. Now in its 18th year, this program is ideal for individuals interested in entering into or advancing within the field of substance use disorders (SUD) counseling.

This program is designed for individuals interested in working in a variety of settings with chemically dependent individuals and is approved to meet the educational requirement to become a Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor I (CADC-I) through the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP). The program is led by a faculty of experienced clinicians who have been working in the field for decades.

Who should take the course?

  • Anyone who has a passion to help others maintain recovery
  • Allied health professionals and licensed mental health professions seeking specific or additional training in substance use disorders. Specialized training may often lead to wage advancement opportunities.
  • Staff members of community-based organizations or government agencies working with individuals in substance abuse intervention, treatment, and recovery.
  • Teachers and community leaders
  • Peer Support Specialists and those providing support, coaching, mentoring to individuals with lived experience.
  • Students preparing for graduate studies in marriage and family therapy, clinical social work, or psychology

For more information, please contact us at Extension@lmu.edu

  • summer schedule coming soon

  • LMU Extension is committed to providing valuable learning experiences to the community. Coursework and certificate programs offered by LMU Extension can help individuals from diverse backgrounds advance their careers, increase opportunities for wage mobility, and explore professional development. Scholarships and grant funding may be available for selected programs to support students in reaching their academic and employment goals. Merit and need-based scholarships are awarded annually to eligible students.

    Please note, Title IV- Federal Financial Aid is not available for continuing education, extension programs, and non-degree programs.

    Thomas P. Pike Scholarship

    Our generous University benefactors make this scholarship available to individuals interested in pursuing careers in Substance Use Disorders Counseling.  Those who qualify for financial assistance are eligible to receive a one-time award of up to 50% of the tuition. All awards are contingent on funding availability and number of applicants each semester.  Please keep in mind that we cannot guarantee that everyone who applies for assistance will receive an award.  For scholarship consideration, applicants must complete an application and required documentation. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

    Please note application must be received 30 days before semester start dates. 

    Apply here.

    Grant Funded Tuition Programs

    In coordination with our community partners, grant funding may be available for eligible youth, low-income adults, Veterans, formerly incarcerated individuals, and dislocated workers. A dislocated worker is an individual who has lost a job through no fault of their own due to a company closure, layoff, or military spouse relocation. To find out if you are eligible, please complete a Funding Availability Interest Form.

    For more information, please contact us at Extension@lmu.edu

    • LMU Extension’s Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Counseling Certificate Program is a cohort- based program that prepares students with a comprehensive set of skills required to become a certified Substance Use Disorders counselor in one year.
    • The program provides a total of 315 classroom hours and 255 hours of supervised practicum and meets the educational requirements for certification through the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP).
    • The program is instructor led, via Zoom.
    • The program is comprised of three blocks and 7 modules. Students are not required to start the program with Block 1 and may start the program in Block 2

    Block 1 - Professional Literacy

    Module 1: Foundation in Substance Use Disorder Counseling

    Module 2: Case Management in Substance Use Disorder Counseling

    Module 3: Counseling for the SUD Counselor (Basic, Family and Group Counseling) 

    Block 2 -Leadership

    Module 4: Ethical and Legal Standards for Substance Use Disorder Counselors

    Module 5: Physiology and Pharmacology of Alcohol and Other Drugs in Substance Use Disorder Counseling

    Module 6: Professional and Personal Growth for Substance Use Disorder Counselors

    Block 3 -Engagement

    Module 7: Supervised Practicum (Fieldwork) for Substance Use Disorder Counselors

    Individuals entering the program should have at least six months of sobriety, if applicable. Having less time may impact a student's ability to secure a practicum site, which could significantly delay or prevent completion of the program.

  • According to the Center on Addiction, 40 million Americans, or more than one in seven people, struggle with alcohol, nicotine, opioid or other drug use. Because this is more than the number of Americans with heart conditions, cancer, or diabetes, it is important to provide effective clinical solutions that treat substance use disorders (SUDs). Substance use disorder training for your staff, however, can be challenging. LMU Extension, in coordination with its partners can provide trainings, workshops, conferences, forums, and other continuing education courses for individual learners and organizations.

    Contact us today to find out how we can support your training needs. LMU Extension offers tools, training, and technical assistance to practitioners in the fields of mental health and substance use disorders.

    For more information, please contact us at Extension@lmu.edu