North Carolina Addiction Counseling Schools and State Licensure Information

Certification Information

The North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board (NCSAPPB) offers several types of certifications in the field of Addiction Counseling including the following:

CSAC - Certified Substance Abuse Counselor
LCAS - Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist
CCS - Certified Clinical Supervisor
CSAPC - Certified Substance Abuse Prevention Consultant
CSARFD - Certified Substance Abuse Residential Facility Director
CCJP - Certified Criminal Justice Addiction Professional

In order to become a CSAC, among the other certifications through the NCSAPPB, an application for an internship is required. Along with the application the following requirements to begin a career in Addiction Counseling in North Carolina are:

At least 270 hours of accredited education only approved by the board
190 hours of on substance abuse specific classes
12 hours of education related to HIV/AIDS
6 hours of Professional Ethics course

More information and an application check list can be found by visiting

Training to be a CSAC is extensive and requires a number of hours, (3,000 hours of full-time supervised experience) in treating drug and alcohol abuse

Schools in North Carolina Offering Addiction Counseling or Substance Abuse Programs

You can find a list of accredited schools directly onsite with the NCSAPPB. There are 9 schools currently listed on the boards’ site. We have listed the top three below.

The University of North Carolina

UNC at Charlotte is one of five schools in North Carolina to offer a graduate degree with emphasis in substance abuse counseling. Students can receive additional courses in addictions counseling while pursuing their master’s or doctoral degree. UNC prepares students to work as a substance abuse counselor, meeting all the requirements therein with the NCSAPPB.

For more information please visit

http://education.uncc.edu/counseling/graduate-certificates/certificate-substance-abuse-counseling

East Carolina University

ECU offers a master’s program through their Department of Rehabilitation and Addiction Studies. The Master’s Program consists of a 62 credit-hour program, and takes full-time students two years to complete. Graduates of the program are eligible for licensure as a Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS) and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

For more information please visit

http://www.ecu.edu/cs-dhs/rehb/SACC.cfm

Appalachian State University

ASU offers a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program and provides three options to enrolled students.

Enrollment in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program through the HPC department
Students can pursue their Master’s Degree which includes clinical experience
A 12 hour graduate certificate program in addiction counseling for people with a Bachelor degree who are working towards a substance abuse field.

The substance abuse curriculum at ASU is fully accredited and approved by the NCSAPPB.

For more information please visit

http://cmhc.appstate.edu/academics/certificates-concentrations/addictions-counseling