Program

Associate of Technical Study in Addiction Counseling

Become part of the treatment team.   Experience Ohio’s only two-year program that prepares you for licensure as a chemical dependency counselor.  Gain practical experience through immersion in residential, diversion, outpatient and prevention practicum sites where you will gain hands on real world professional experience.

Hocking College offers the Addication Counseling degree and a certificate program in Addiction Counseling.

Both programs provide students with the classroom training hours and supervised clinical internship hours required to apply for the licensure exam offered by the Ohio Chemical Dependency Board as Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselors, following successful completion of the licensure exam and fulfilling the work hour requirements of the licensing board.  The programs also meet the licensure recommendations of the International Certification &  Reciprocity Consortium, which sets the international standards for competency-based chemical dependency counselors.

The Addictions Counseling program prepares students to enter the field as Chemical Dependency Counselors who wish to work within the fields of chemical dependency, criminal justice and corrections.   Students can also enter the field as Chemical Dependency Counselors working in a wide variety of environments including outpatient, residential, inpatient, and community based settings.

This program is particularly suited to those students who primarily wish to enter the workforce upon completion of their associate’s degree.  However, in addition to preparing students to enter the workforce, this program also prepares students to continue their education in the fields of counseling, education and human services at four-year colleges.

Certificate Program in Addiction Counseling

The Certificate program is appropriate for individuals who have completed an associate’s, bachelor’s, or graduate degree in a field of human services and wish to qualify for the licensure exam offered by the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board.   This program offers all of the classroom hours and supervised internships individuals with degrees would need to qualify for licensure.  Individuals may also choose to complete specific classes without completing the complete certificate program.

Program Outcomes

The following outcomes are skills, behaviors, and attitudes cultivated in students seeking the Associate of Technical Study in Addiction Counseling:

• Demonstrates and implements basic knowledge of counseling theories and techniques to diverse populations;
• Demonstrates and applies knowledge of addiction theories to the clinical Maintains professional standards and ethical boundaries;
• Gathers clinical information systematically to assess and support diagnosis and ongoing treatment;
• Compiles and completes accurate documentation in a timely manner;
• Practices respectful interpersonal awareness and clinical leadership skills;
• Maintains, encourages and contributes to professional development; and,
• Interfaces with allied community support and prevention services.

Curriculum

Career Opportunities

Job growth is strong in this field, with an expected increase of 34 percent in the number of Ohio jobs in the next 10 years.  Source: CareerOneStop; Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Job Titles include:
•    Chemical Dependency Counselor
•    Prevention Specialist
•    Case Manager
•    Clinical Case Worker
•    Corrections Officer
•    Probation Officer

Occupation Profile