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đź”” Admissions and Program Requirements
- Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree in behavioral health or a closely related field. Applicants must also be licensed (Psychology, MFT, Social Work, or Counseling) or enrolled in a master's or doctoral program which leads to licensure in Psychology, MFT, Social Work, or Counseling.
- Earn your 13-unit Drug and Alcohol Counseling certificate entirely online.
- This program is open only to applicants residing within the United States.
At a Glance
- 1-year (full-time), fully online program
- Completion of 13 academic units
- 200 hours of supervised clinical field work
- Faculty mentoring and support available
- Christian environment emphasizing integrated learning, respect for all persons, and compassionate whole person care
Program Director
Dr. Nichola Ribadu
DMFT, MS, LMFT
Chair, Counseling and Family Sciences
Assistant Professor, Counseling and Family Sciences
Interim Director, Counseling MS and Drug & Alcohol Counseling Certificate Programs
Our Program
The Drug and Alcohol Counseling certificate program prepares master's- and doctoral-level professionals to:
- Effectively counsel individuals with substance use disorders and their families.
- Provide coursework and expert consultation on practice in a convenient online environment.
- Become eligible for certification in substance use 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 Marital and Family Therapy MS or Counseling MS programs within the Department of Counseling and Family Sciences are able to graduate with this certificate by adding one three-unit course and four units of practicum to their program of study.
The Drug and Alcohol Counseling certificate program at Loma Linda University has graduated substance use 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 use treatment settings, for-profit and non-profit organizations, specialty private practices, and developers of their own substance use treatment programs.
🗓️ Program Timeline
The Drug and Alcohol Counseling Certificate is a one-year program that begins in Summer Quarter and is completed over four consecutive quarters of full-time coursework, concluding at the end of Spring Quarter. The program is intended for master's‑level students currently pursuing a qualifying degree for licensure in psychology, social work, counseling, or marriage and family therapy who are interested in furthering their knowledge and clinical experience working with individuals with substance use disorders.
Sample Plan of Study
Year 1
This sample plan of study is provided as a general guide to illustrate the typical sequence of courses for this program. Course offerings, sequencing, and scheduling are subject to change based on curricular revisions, faculty availability, and student progression. Students who take a Leave of Absence (LOA) or enroll on a part-time basis should expect their program completion term to be extended. Students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor for individualized academic planning.
| Summer | Units | Fall | Units | Winter | Units | Spring | Units |
| COUN/MFAM 638 | 3 | MFAM 654 | 1 | MFAM 645 | 3 | RELR 540 | 3 |
| MFAM 654 | 1 | MFAM 654 | 1 | MFAM 654 | 1 | ||
| Total Quarterly Units | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
Total Program Units: 13 units
Student Story
Through collaboration and education from the Drug and Alcohol Counseling Certificate program, I've learned to factor in the varying aspects of substance use disorders in helping clients and members of their relational systems. Both faculty and fellow students are compassionate in their roles of walking with clients through the recovery process.
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. The program is available online only and is authorized in these states.
A suggested course schedule:
| Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer |
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Additional requirements: 200 hours of supervised clinical field work.
Please Note: The curriculum of this program includes attendance during the Summer term.
Admission
Applications are accepted for enrollment each Summer term. 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 Marital and Family Therapy MS and Counseling MS 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.
- Three letters of reference are required.
- An interview by the program director is required. This interview is completed via Zoom.