Substance Abuse Counselor 
(CASAC)

In 2024, 48.4 million people aged 12 and older—about 1 in 6 Americans—had a diagnosable substance use disorder, according to the most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health released annually by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). For the first time, the number of individuals with a drug use disorder (28.2 million people) surpassed alcohol use disorder (27.9 million people). Marijuana use disorder affected 20.6 million people, while 4.8 million had opioid use disorder and 4.3 million had stimulant use disorder. 

Despite 52.6 million people needing substance use disorder treatment, only 1 in 5 received any form of care. Most people who did not receive treatment either did not think they needed it or believed they could decrease drug use on their own. The report also found that 23.5 million people consider themselves in recovery from a substance use disorder. Trends from 2021 to 2024 show decreases in alcohol use disorder, cigarette use, and heavy drinking, but increases in drug use disorders, marijuana use, nicotine vaping, and overall illicit substance use.

Our School of Criminal and Social Justice offers a 30-credit Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Education Certificate program that will prepare you with the knowledge you need to start out on a truly rewarding career path. The CASAC online/virtual training program is open to new students pursuing their CASAC certification credentials, as well as to current Monroe students pursuing an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree.

*Learn more about the new research and insights of substance use disorder.

In New York State, substance abuse counselors must receive their Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) certification from the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). To do that, applicants must first complete an OASAS certified education training program. Our CASAC Education Training Program will qualify you to apply to OASAS for the CASAC Trainee (CASAC-T) certificate — the next step in your journey to helping people make the most of their lives. 

You’ll be making the most of your life, too. There’s a high demand for substance abuse counselors in the mental and medical health fields: school systems, correctional services, homeless shelters, and private practices. Along with behavioral disorder and mental health counselors, the need for substance abuse counselors is expected to grow by an incredible 17% from 2024-2034, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Our substance abuse counseling training will position you to meet that demand head-on.
 

Eligible master’s level students have the opportunity to complete the CASAC Education requirement faster by completing an accelerated program which would consist of 85 hours of section 1 and a portion of the Credentialing one-time requirements.
Students that are eligible must hold one of 5 master’s Degrees that leads to licensure in NYS and the degree must be obtained from an accredited institution.

1.    Creative Arts Therapy
2.    Marriage and Family Therapy
3.    Mental Health Counseling
4.    Social Work
5.    Psychotherapy

Eligible students are required to take 85 hours in Section 1 of the CASAC Standardized Curriculum and a portion of the Credentialing one-time requirements.

Note: Students in the accelerated track will be issued a certificate of completion only. The CASAC Certificate Ceremony is reserved for students completing the CASAC as a minor or the CASAC as a Stand-alone certificate (completion of the 10 required courses with Monroe University).

Also, master’s level students who are not already NYSED-licensed and/or whose degree does not specifically include one of the 5 licensure names should submit an application to the Credentialing Unit as part of the application process, so this way the student does not take courses they do not need to.

Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) | Office of Addiction Services and Supports
 

In accordance with NYS requirements, to become a credentialed substance abuse counselor, CASAC candidates must have at least a high school or GED diploma.

Candidates must also submit a completed application for admission and participate in a pre-admission interview.

Learn more about how to apply to Monroe University.

Tuition for our substance abuse counselor training program is $4800 — or $480 per class. There is also an academic resource fee of $150 for full time students ($75 for part-time students). Eligible students can apply to NYS OASAS for scholarships that may cover part of their tuition. Monroe also offers manageable payment plans.

Satisfactory completion of our online/virtual CASAC program will provide you with the opportunity to apply to receive your CASAC-T certificate from NYS OASAS. You can then begin your supervised, full-time work experience in a variety of clinical settings, including: 

• Residential addiction treatment facilities
• Outpatient addiction programs
• State drug courts
• Correctional facilities
• Mental health facilities
• Homeless shelters
• Community health centers

All you need is your CASAC credential, and Monroe University is here to help you get it — with substance abuse counselor education training. 

Have questions? Please reach out at any time.