The Department of Counselor Education offers a 21-credit hour program leading to the Addiction Counseling Certificate (ACC). The ACC program provides specialized education and training in the prevention, intervention, and treatment of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) disorders. Specifically, the coursework provides education in the theories, techniques, and core functions of substance abuse counseling, focusing on evidence-based research and best practice standards. Specialized clinical experience complements the coursework. The ACC program fulfills the educational requirements for the Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC) credential.

Applications are accepted for spring, summer and fall semesters:

Application deadline for spring November 1
Application deadline for summer April 1
Application deadline for fall July 15

The courses required for the program will be offered in remote and online formats:

Remote Learning (RL): A remote learning course meets virtually at set days/times that students are “present” for. The ratio of meetings and independent work varies by instructor. 

Online (OL): An online course has no set meeting times; students work independently through the course materials on D2L or a similar platform, submitting their work to meet deadlines. There may be group work, discussions etc., that students complete collaboratively. The instructor is available for assistance via office hours, email etc.

Cost of Attendance

Financial aid does not cover the cost of graduate certificate programs. For more information on the cost of attendance, please refer to the graduate tuition rates provided by Northeastern Illinois University.

Application Requirements

Applicants who are not current Counselor Education students must have a degree in counseling or a closely related mental health degree from an accredited university program that meets the academic and clinical requirements for licensure as a master's-level mental health professional. Applicants can apply through NEIU's online application system. The online application requires the following: 

  • Application form
  • Application fee
  • Official transcripts from all universities and colleges attended 
  • Current resume 
  • Two recommenders (applicants will be prompted to enter contact information for two professional recommenders)
  • Signed Informed Consent
  • Successful completion of coursework in the following areas: counseling theories and interviewing, human growth and development; assessment and evaluation; individual and group counseling; family counseling; and multicultural counseling. Those who have not successfully completed the necessary coursework may fulfill them during the course of their studies toward earning the CADC.

For applicants who are current Northeastern Illinois University students in Clinical Mental Health, Couple and Family, Rehabilitation or School Counseling:

Contact Counselor Education at (773) 442-5550 or counsedu@neiu.edu if you have further questions or if the links are not working.

Curriculum in the Addiction Counseling Certificate Program

The courses required to complete the 21-credit hour Addiction Counseling Certificate program are listed below. All courses are graduate courses:

Core Courses: 15 credit hours

  • COUN 425 Diagnosis & Treatment of Addictive Disorders (3 cr)
  • COUN 426 Advance Treatment of Addictive Disorders (3 cr)
  • COUN 428 Counseling Strategies and Assessment of Co-Occurring Disorders (3 cr)
  • COUN 429 Psychopharmacology (3 cr)
  • COUN 438 Trauma & Crisis Counseling (3 cr)

Clinical Courses: 6 credit hours

Completion of 500 hours of supervised clinical experience at an approved addiction counseling site. Students may choose from one of the four Counselor Education programs’ Practicum and Internship courses:

Clinical Mental Health Counseling
COUN 444 Practicum: Group Supervision in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3 cr)
COUN 464 Internship I: Group Supervision in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3 cr)

Couple and Family Counseling
COUN 445 Practicum: Group Supervision in Couple & Family Counseling (3 cr)
COUN 465 Internship I: Group Supervision in Couple & Family Counseling (3 cr)

Rehabilitation Counseling
COUN 446 Practicum in Rehabilitation Counseling (3 cr)
COUN 463 Internship I: Rehabilitation Counseling (3 cr)

School Counseling
COUN 442 Practicum: Group Supervision in School Counseling (3 cr)
COUN 462 Internship I: School Counseling (3 cr)

ACC Program Planning Guide

Use the ACC program planning guide to outline your proposed plan of study.