This certificate program is designed for students who seek the NYS Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse credential. Students are prepared to take the NYS OASAS-administered credentialing exam and the program is OASAS-certified every three years. Classes in this curriculum focus on addictive behaviors and various treatment approaches, pharmacological effects of alcoholism and/or illicit substance abuse, and the family effects of addictive disorders.
Program Coordinator Mark Bonacci served for two years on an OASAS planning committee which in late August of 2013 promulgated the re-designed NYS CASAC requirements and the SUNY Niagara CDC program was thus re-accredited as of that date with accreditation until June 1, 2025.
The Chemical Dependency Counseling certificate program is approved/accredited by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (NYS-OASAS).
Program Goals and Objectives
- To enable students to take entry level positions in the field as “CASAC-T’s” — CASAC Trainees.
- To prepare students to take the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services-administered CASAC exam.
- To teach future substance abuse counselors issues relating to diversity, ethical practice and diagnostic and counseling principles.
Professional Licensure Disclosure
Effective July 1, 2024, federal regulation requires institutions of higher education to make a determination whether a Title IV eligible academic program that leads to professional licensure or certification meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the U.S. State where the institution is located and the U.S. States where “distance education” students are located at the time of initial enrollment in the program, as well as U.S. States where the program is advertised as meeting such requirements, and if applicable, the U.S. State where students attest they intend to be licensed/certified.
The Chemical Dependency Counseling Certificate program at SUNY Niagara is registered by the New York State Education Department and thus meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification for New York State.
Through a good faith effort, and for the purpose of complying with the federal regulation, we have determined that Chemical Dependency Counseling Certificate program at SUNY Niagara, if successfully completed, is sufficient to meet the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the following U.S. States:
New York – https://oasas.ny.gov/credentialing
It is important to note that SUNY Niagara is not the licensure/certification authority in these U.S. States and cannot assess whether an individual candidate will be issued a license/certificate in these U.S. States and instead it is incumbent on each individual candidate to contact the licensure/certification authority in the applicable U.S. State for any further guidance on the requirements for licensure/certification requirements and application processes.