Frequently Asked Questions

No, just a sincere interest in helping others and a commitment to doing what you need to do to be a successful student.

The first step is to complete the college admissions process, take an assessment to determine your math and English skills, and schedule an appointment with a curriculum or faculty advisor.

If you have no prior college work, you will be advised to complete the coursework required for the Associate of Technical Arts (ATA)degree in Addiction Studies.

This degree requires 90-quarter hours of coursework. If you attend school full-time and take an average of 15 credits per quarter, you should be able to complete this degree in two years. How long it will take depends on the factors listed below:

• Your current skill level in writing, reading comprehension, and math
• Whether you already have an associate or bachelor's degree
• How many previously earned college credits (whether or not you completed a degree) can be applied to our degree or certificate requirements
• How many credits of course work you are able to take per quarter
• The availability of courses you need when you are available to take them

The State of Washington requires applicants for the Chemical Dependency Professional (CDP) credential to have at least an associate degree. Furthermore, an applicant for the CDP credential must also have at least 45 credits of coursework related explicitly to chemical dependency counseling. Our ATA degree in Addiction Studies is designed to satisfy both of these requirements.

Each college or university makes its own rules regarding what courses they will accept and apply towards a particular degree that they offer. If you plan to transfer to another university or college, it is best to contact them directly about what courses within our programs they will accept. The transfer advisors on campus are also able to help you evaluate this.

Yes, but the faculty does not consider this choice the best way to prepare for a career in CD counseling. Please consult with your faculty advisor for details.

This will depend on the degree of overlap with the course requirements and electives necessary to complete the requirements for the other degree. You should discuss this issue with your faculty advisor as early as possible.

Your transcript will need to be reviewed to determine this. An unofficial copy will be adequate for a preliminary assessment. If you want to apply credits earned elsewhere towards a degree or certificate, the registrar’s office must receive and evaluate your official transcript from other colleges.

No, but If your degree did not include 45 credits of coursework related explicitly to CD Counseling, you will be advised to satisfy the coursework requirements only for the CD Counseling Certificate. Some previously earned credits may apply to this certificate and to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) requirements. Please consult with your faculty advisor.

Yes, but possessing an associate degree (or higher degree) is only one of several requirements that must be satisfied. If your degree did not include a minimum of 45 credits of coursework specifically related to ACD counseling, you must complete other coursework to fulfill DOH requirements. The Addiction Studies Certificate was specifically designed for this purpose.

Your transcript will need to be reviewed to determine this. An unofficial copy will be adequate for a preliminary assessment. If you want to apply credits earned elsewhere towards a degree or certificate, the registrar’s office must receive and evaluate your official transcript from other colleges.

The Department of Health will make that determination after you submit your application for the CDP credential. If you have questions about this, contact them directly.

The Department of Health will make that determination after you submit your application for the CDP credential. If you have questions about this, review their website or contact them directly.

Yes.

• All applicants for this credential must have hours of supervised clinical experience working with CD clients. The number of hours required depends on your highest academic degree level.
• You must submit an evaluation of your competence to practice.
• You must also sit for and pass an examination administered by the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors.
• For complete details about requirements, please contact the Washington State Department of Health, Division of Professional Licensing in Olympia.

Yes, currently, there is a shortage of counselors in the Northwest, and some students are offered paid employment before completing all the coursework and obtaining their CDP credential.

Washington State law restricts the use of the title Chemical Dependency Professional. Only people who have satisfied all the Department of Health requirements and have been issued this credential can call themselves a Chemical Dependency Professional. This does not mean that there are no employment opportunities for people in the CD or human services fields that do not have this credential.

Yes.

There are a variety of positions available in CD treatment and prevention programs that do not require possession of the CDP credential.

Yes.

This depends on factors similar to salaries in other helping professions. Among the most important factors is your level of educational attained and experience. For more information, please review the survey conducted by the Northwest Frontier Addiction Technology Transfer Center (2005) and the salary information provided by the Washington State Employment Security Department.

While this may have been somewhat true in the past, this is no longer the rule. Although some providers may prefer to hire people with a history of abuse and recovery, they could be accused of violating anti-discrimination laws if they ruled out all applicants except people with a recovery history.

Yes. Many factors will influence the range of opportunities for employment within human services. Alcohol and substance abuse, both occasional and chronic, is so widespread that many community agencies and businesses have come to value the presence of a person with specialized knowledge and skills in this area. Much of the knowledge and skills required to perform the duties of a CD counselor are commonly required of other human service workers serving a wide array of clients.