Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies

Addiction Studies
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The online Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies Program is designed for persons who have completed a bachelor or master’s degree with a background in social work, psychology, or a related field and are interested in obtaining coursework that can lead to certification as a Substance Use Disorder Professional in Washington state. Students without a background in social work, mental health, or related field may need to complete additional coursework to qualify for state certification. Financial aid is available for this certificate program.

Addiction Studies provides competency-based education to degreed professionals and others preparing to work in the field of addiction treatment or other community-based practice settings.

Curriculum & Requirements

Addiction Studies programs are offered completely online.  We work to provide education that helps qualify students to sit for certification/licensure examinations through states affiliated with NAADAC and IC & RC.  If you are a student from outside of Washington State please contact adst@ewu.edu for more information and to determine your state requirements.

EWU is monitoring requirements in every state. For more information please visit https://www.ewu.edu/state-authorization/

Admissions Requirements    

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university    
  • A calculated GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 90 quarter or 60 semester graded post-secondary credits
  • Please note that students may need to have specific courses from an undergraduate or graduate program to complete the requirements needed for Substance Use Disorder Professional in WA state.  Email adst@ewu.edu for more information.

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Curriculum & Requirements

Addiction Studies Certificate, Graduate

The Addiction Studies Graduate Certificate is designed for persons who have completed a bachelor's or master’s degree with a background in human services or a related field who are interested in obtaining coursework leading to certification as a Substance Use Disorder Professional in Washington state.

Certification as Substance Use Disorder Professionals in Washington State requires students to have 45 quarter or 60 semester credits in addiction-related coursework.  This Graduate Certificate provides most of those courses as some students may have already completed other required courses in previous programs.  Additional coursework required includes:

  • ADST 502 Counseling Theories for the Addiction Professional
  • ADST 503 HIV/AIDS and Addiction Treatment
  • ADST 505 Addiction Group Counseling
  • A course in Human Development, Developmental Models and Theories, Lifespan Development, or Human Behavior in the Social Environment will be required for certification in Washington State.

Other requirements include:

With a Bachelor of Arts Degree: 2,000 hours in a Substance Use Disorder treatment agency. Note: this Certificate Program does not equate to a master’s degree.

With a Master’s Degree: 1,500 hours in a Substance Use Disorder treatment agency. Note: those with a master’s degree that is not in human services or a related field will need to complete 2,000 hours.

A practicum option may be available for students and may count toward Washington State Certification required hours.  

Addiction Studies has not yet determined if this program meets the educational requirements to sit for licensure/certification outside of Washington State.  The department works to provide education that qualifies students to sit for certification/licensure examinations through states affiliated with NAADAC and IC & RC. 

Please contact the respective certification/licensing board for exact requirements in your state. Many states require students to have a practicum/internship listed on transcripts when they apply for certification/licensure.  If students do not know their state licensing/certification board or need assistance determining if EWU’s program is right for them, please contact adst@ewu.edu.

Required Courses
ADST 501RELAPSE PREVENTION2
ADST 504ADOLESCENT ADDICTION ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT4
ADST 512PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS4
ADST 520CASE MANAGEMENT4
ADST 530ADDICTION TREATMENT WITH FAMILIES AND DIVERSE POPULATIONS4
ADST 535CONFIDENTIALITY, LAW AND ETHICS FOR THE ADDICTION PROFESSIONAL4
ADST 542SCREENING AND ASSESSMENT OF CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS4
ADST 544TREATING CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS4
Total Credits30

 Optional Practicum–Students who are not currently working in a treatment agency may benefit from the practicum experience. Practicum hours may count toward Washington state certification required hours.

ADST 595ADST BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COUNSELING PRACTICUM2-4
ADST 695ADST BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COUNSELING PRACTICUM II1-4

Catalog Listing

Gainful Employment Disclosures – 2019

This program is designed to be completed in two years.

The online program will cost approximately $13,410 if completed within the normal time. There may be additional costs for living expenses. These costs were accurate at the time of posting, but may have changed.

Of the students who completed this program within normal time, the typical graduate leaves with $27,910 of debt.

Program qualifies students to sit for licensure exam in the following States: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Foreign Country, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming

For more information about graduation rates, loan repayment rates, and post-enrollment earnings about this institution and other postsecondary institutions, please visit College Scorecard.