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Program Outline

In 2005, the General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 705, which, according to the North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board (NCSAPPB), makes the substance abuse credential mandatory for all substance abuse professionals. Although professional credentialing assists in ensuring credibility, competency, and professionalism, it has left a dearth of qualified substance abuse practitioners in North Carolina. Western Carolina University’s Department of Social Work is responding to this workforce crisis.

The social work department has been approved by the NCSAPPB and the University for a Graduate Certificate in Substance Abuse Studies Program in spring 2009.

What is the benefit of obtaining the Certificate in Substance Abuse Studies?

• Practitioners who provide direct substance abuse services must be under the auspices of the NCSAPPB due to recent changes in legislation.
• Applicants for licensure must have 4000 hours (2 years) of post-graduate supervised practice, but certificate students are exempt from one of the two years of post-graduate supervised practice.
• Practitioners must acquire 180 hours of substance abuse specific training. MSW students are able to meet this requirement while in their graduate program.
• There is a high demand for substance abuse credentialed, master’s level practitioners so certificate students will be more marketable.
• Practitioners must complete a 300-hour practicu. WCU graduate students will complete this practicum as part of their academic

Core components of the Certificate in Substance Abuse Studies Program:

Four Substance Abuse Specific Courses (12 semester hours or 180 clock hours)
Addictions (45 clock hours or SOCW 520 for WCU MSW students)
Practice Methods in Substance Abuse Treatment (45 clock hours or SOCW 522 for WCU MSW students)
Cultural Competency in Substance Abuse Treatment (45 clock hours or SOCW 524 for WCU MSW students)
Science of Addiction (45 clock hours or SOCW 526 for WCU MSW students)
HIV/AIDS & other communicable diseases & Ethics workshop (3 days, 18 hours)
Concentration year field placement in substance abuse treatment setting
Supervision by a NCSAPPB approved supervisor (CCS or CSI)

Who's teaching what:
Dottie Greene, MSW, LCSW, LCAS, CCS

Addictions
Science of Addiction
Methods in SA Treatment

Dr. Mari Huff

Cultural Competency in SA Treatment

Dr. Patricia Morse

HIV/AIDS and Other Communicable Disease & Ethics

For more information contact:

Dottie Greene, MSW, LCSW, LCAS, CCS
WCU’s Department of Social Work
McKee G03
828-227-2194
dgreene@email.wcu.edu

NCSAPPB
P.O. Box 10126
Raleigh, NC 27605
(919) 832-0975