Drug and Alcohol Counseling (Online Only)
Overview
The drug and alcohol counseling certificate program prepares master's- and doctoral-level professionals to:
- Effectively counsel substance abusing and addicted adults and their families.
- Provide coursework and expert consultation on practice in a convenient online environment.
- Become certified in substance abuse treatment by select national organizations such as:
- As applicable, allow hours of experience to be accrued concurrently to meet BBS, AAMFT, and other certifying organization requirements.
Students enrolled in the MS MFT, MS Counseling, or MS MFT/MS Counseling Dual Degree programs within the Department of Counseling and Family Sciences are able to graduate with this certificate by adding 4 units of practicum to their program of study.
The drug and alcohol counseling certificate program at Loma Linda University has graduated substance use/abuse treatment professionals for twenty years. This 100% online program has continually been refined to stay current with advancements in the field. Our alumni are drug and alcohol counselors working in outpatient and inpatient substance abuse treatment settings, for-profit and non-profit organizations, specialty private practices, and developers of their own substance abuse treatment programs.
Curriculum and Timeline
The program is 13 quarter units and anticipated to be completed in one year with full-time enrollment. The 100% online program consists of both synchronous and asynchronous content. Each practicum course is synchronous--students and the professor meet via Zoom for two consecutive hours every other week during the quarter (5 meetings each quarter). All other courses are asynchronous--students and the professor remain in consistent contact but there are no required meeting times.
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Additional requirements: 200 hours of clinical field work
Approximate Cost
- Non-practicum courses: $825/unit
- Practicum courses: $150/unit
- Cost of books vary but students may expect to invest a minimum of $100/quarter on textbooks.
Admission
Applications are accepted for fall quarter enrollment only. Each application is assessed at the time of completion. At this time, applications are accepted from 29 states in the United States. Please check here to see if your state is included. Applicants must:
- Hold a bachelor's degree in behavioral health or closely related field from an accredited university. Students enrolled in the MS MFT and MS Counseling programs may apply and complete the drug and alcohol certificate during their master's program. Applicants who are enrolled in a master's or doctoral program at the time of application to the program must be in good standing.
- Along with the Loma Linda University application, an application essay stating how the applicant will integrate the drug and alcohol counseling certificate into their clinical work, and how the applicant will contribute to their profession and the addiction-treatment field by completing the certificate.
- Two letters of reference are required.
- An interview by the coordinator is required. This interview may be completed via Zoom.
Contact Information and Application
For further details and additional information about the Drug and Alcohol Certificate, please contact the program director, Randall Walker, MS, LMFT, at rrwalker@llu.edu or 909-558-9568.
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School Counseling
Overview
The School Counseling Certificate program is designed to meet standards for the California Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling and is accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The PPS requirements are embedded for students enrolled in the Counseling MS program. Students also have the option of obtaining the certificate in conjunction with the Marital and Family Therapy degree. This requires the completion of an additional 27 academic units and 8 additional units of field experience. Professional school counseling has broadened in California recently to include more licensed mental health counselors such as Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) providing therapy to children and adolescents in school environments.
Admission
The School Counseling Certificate is open only to currently enrolled CFS students in good standing or recent CFS graduates whose degree requirements were congruent with current state standards for school counseling. As with all certificates, applicants must first apply to the university and meet the School of Behavioral Health admissions requirements. Additional admission requirements for candidates currently enrolled in the department are listed below.
- An application stating the reasons and goals for pursuing professional school counseling.
- Two letters of recommendation, which may be submitted by current CFS faculty or supervisors.
- An interview with a faculty member.
- Background check (clearance) by the DOJ and FBI prior to field placement.
Curriculum
Requirements for the certificate are delineated in the University Catalog and include successful completion of the following:
- Academic coursework and field seminars related to professional school counseling.
- Field experience in public education at two different school grade levels.
- California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) to be taken before or during the program.
Contact Information and Application
For additional information about the School Counseling certificate, contact the interim program director Randall Walker, MS, LMFT, at rrwalker@llu.edu or 909-558-4547, ext. 39568.