Addiction Treatment, P.B.C.

The Post Baccalaureate Certificate (P.B.C.) in Addiction Treatment program provides the foundational knowledge to become an addiction professional. The P.B.C. includes five online synchronous and asynchronous courses that prepare students to conceptualize and work with individuals with addictions by gaining knowledge in different models of addiction, drug classifications, neurobiology of addiction, develop and implement treatment plans and interventions, legal, ethical, and professional issues in addiction – and more.

The P.B.C. provides the educational requirements set forth by the North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board (NCASPPB) to apply for the Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS) and the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (formerly known as CSAC), as well as licensure and certification in additional states (see post-graduation section). If an applicant wants to be a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS) or Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) in the State of North Carolina or any other state, the applicant will need to contact the state board directly.

The P.B.C. is also open to individuals interested in gaining knowledge concerning addiction and addiction treatment. Individuals can enroll in individual classes or elect to enroll in the certificate program. A certificate cannot be received unless an individual has applied for and been accepted into the certificate program.

Program Distinctions

• Courses are offered online in a combination of synchronous and asynchronous modality, so they can be taken at your convenience.
• The courses align with the educational requirements set forth by the North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board.
• The P.B.C. can be completed in a 12-month time frame, or longer if an applicant decides to slow down time to completion.
• The P.B.C. is housed within the CED department, which has consistently been recognized as a top counseling program by the U.S. News and World Report, ranking in the top 10 list for more than two decades.

The Student Experience

• The mission of the Addiction Treatment P.B.C. is to provide concentrated education in addiction treatment for post-bachelor level helping professionals working with clients diagnosed with an addictive disorder, and others seeking to gain knowledge related to addiction treatment.
• In the Addiction Treatment P.B.C., you will obtain an advanced level of knowledge of addiction treatment, learn culturally responsive practices when working with members of the addiction population, and gain knowledge of evidence-based practices when working with members of the addiction population.
• The Addiction Treatment P.B.C. will operate on rolling admissions. The Admissions Committee, which consists of program faculty will review applications on an ongoing basis. Applicants are invited to submit their applications to the program at any time, while noting that applications are due for Fall admission by July 1st, November 1st for Spring admission, and March 15th for Summer admission.
• The Addiction Treatment P.B.C. courses are intentionally developed to provide foundational and advanced knowledge concerning addiction treatment. The P.B.C. is a fully online program that include synchronous and asynchronous courses to provide flexibility to address the diverse needs of the learner. Learners also have the option to decide how to pace the PBC program to align with their schedules. The P.B.C. can be completed at the earliest within 12 months on a full-time schedule or can be completed within 18-24 months on a part time schedule.
• The Addiction Treatment P.B.C. consists of five, 3-credit hour, 7-week courses. Each course will have an instructor who will facilitate learning and provide learner support. Our instructors are student-centered and respect and welcome diverse opinions and life experiences in the learning environment.
• Learners will be able to learn in an environment with diverse individuals and be exposed to a diverse range of opinions, thoughts, and life experiences.

Potential Sequence of Courses:

Fall

• CED 521 Legal, Ethical, and Professional Considerations in Addiction Treatment
• CED 522 Addiction Treatment

Spring

• CED 523 Treatment Planning and Evidenced-Based Practice in Addiction
• CED 524 Multicultural Foundations of Addiction

Summer

• CED 525 Special Issues in Addiction

* For CED 523, you must be enrolled in the certificate program and have completed courses CED 521 and CED 522 OR if you are taking the course outside of the certificate program you must have a mental health related bachelor’s degree.

Please note that this course schedule may shift, and is tentative and based on overall enrollment in the program and availability of instructors.

After Graduation

Graduates of the Addiction Treatment P.B.C. are well-prepared to seek a career as an addiction professional. Graduates of the program have the advanced and foundational knowledge to seek licensure or certification as addiction professionals. After the completion of the P.B.C. graduates are prepared to work with diverse members of the addiction population from a multicultural perspective and with individuals across the lifespan.

Addiction professionals can work in a variety of settings and employers such as: inpatient and outpatient treatment centers, private counseling practices, hospitals, Veterans Administration, community mental health centers, non-profit agencies, and correctional facilities.

The U.S. Department of Education requires that all higher education institutions advise students as to whether their curriculum provides them with the eligibility to apply for a professional license and/or certification in the state for which they plan to practice. The U.S. Department of Education requires that all higher education institutions advise students as to whether their curriculum provides them with the eligibility to apply for a professional license and/or certification in the state for which they plan to practice. As such, please review UNC Greensboro’s status by state for the initial license. Please note whether the program either “meets”, “does not meet”, or if there “has not been a determination” of the program’s status in the state for which you plan to practice (this refers to the educational requirement; we do not provide supervision or the actual license or certification). Licensure Reciprocity Information. It is recommended that applicant contact their state board directly to determine if the certificate will meet the educational requirements for licensure or certification.

Admissions

The P.B.C. has rolling admission throughout the year. Deadlines for application are July 1st for fall admissions, November 1st for Spring admissions, and March 15th for summer admission. Please contact the Graduate School to confirm all required information has been received.

The Graduate School
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
241 Mossman Building
1202 Spring Garden Street
Greensboro, NC 27412 
gradinquiry@uncg.edu

Online Application

We use a completely electronic application process.

All applicants should include the following supplemental documents as attachments to their online application:

• Personal Statement that includes why you wish to pursue this program, how it connects with your personal/professional goals, academic or career achievements, and what life experiences and/or skills prepare you for this program.
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Transcript providing evidence of a minimum of 2.7 GPA and a Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in any field.

Information regarding deadlines and requirements for admission

Additional Information

Applicants need to be aware that the North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board (NCASPPB) licensure/certification process for addiction counselors in North Carolina is a separate process from this certificate program. If an applicant wants to be a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS) in North Carolina or Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), the applicant will need to contact the board directly. The Addictions Certificate PBC provides the educational requirements, and all students would need to retain their own internship experience in addictions on their own, outside of program requirements in order to be eligible for the LCAS or the CADC.

To remain in the program, the following is required:

• 2.5 GPA required for continuing through the course sequence.
• Passing all 5 courses with a 2.5 GPA or higher is required to receive the certificate.
• Once all certificate courses are completed, the student must submit the online completion of the graduate certificate form.