Besides
the required courses for all psychology majors - i.e., Introductory
Psychology, Statistics, and Experimental Psychology, OASAS has
approved the eight 3-credit psychology courses {and specific
instructors} listed below as meeting the NY State education
requirements for the addiction counselor-trainee credential.
These eight courses in four categories will also fulfill your
credit-requirements for a major in psychology.
A.
Knowledge of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse {85 hours required)
Drug and Alcohol Abuse (238) Prof. Thayer {45 hours}
Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience (371) Prof. Fishbein
{45 hours) *CCNY total=90 hours: Extra 5 hours covers D,
below
B.
Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Counseling {150 hours required}
Theories of Psychotherapy (388) Prof. King {45 hours}
Infancy & Child Development (246) Profs. King or Crain{45
hours}
Family Psychology (365) Prof. Fraenkel {45 hours}
Small Group Processes (367) Prof. Thayer {45 hours}
*CCNY total=180 hours: Extra 30 hours covers D, below
C.
Assessment; Clinical Evaluation; Treatment Planning; Case
Management; & Patient, Family & Community Education
{70 hours
required}
Treatment of Substance Abuse (**) Prof. Jurist {45 hours}
Psychology of Prevention (**) Prof. Yali {45 hours}
*CCNY total=90 hours: Extra 20 hours covers D, below
D. Professional & Ethical Responsibilities {40 hours required}
Credit-hour content covered in courses listed in A,B, &
C above
*CCNY total= 55 hours
** Check Psychology Dept. listing for these two correct course
numbers and sections.
Total
credit-hours required for OASAS CASAC-Trainee credential=350.
Total credit-hours of 8 OASAS-approved CCNY psychology courses=360
credits hours.
Deadlines:
Starting in Fall semester 2001, students who completed any of
the courses, with the specific professors listed above, will
have each course credited as 45 clock hours toward the CSAC-Trainee
credential. Courses taken before Fall 2001 did not have formal
approval for the credential. Students may appeal to OASAS for
credit for identical courses taken before this cut-off date
of 9/1/2001. All education and training claimed must have been
obtained within 10 years prior to submission of the application
for the CSAC-Trainee certificate (or the full, CASAC credential).
CASAC-Trainee Certification
You will be issued a CASAC-Trainee certificate by the NY State
OASAS when you document through your formal application to OASAS
that a minimum of 350 clock hours of OASAS-registered education
and training courses have been satisfactorily completed at CCNY.
At CCNY, only these particular psychology courses, taught by
these particular professors, have been approved by OASAS. Your
college transcript will also confirm that you completed the
8 OASAS-approved courses. Important: OASAS will only credit
your courses taken at CCNY with a grade of “C” or
better.
Two Levels of Addiction Counselor Credentials
There are two levels of the Credentialed Alcoholism & Substance
Abuse Counselor (CASAC) title awarded by the NY State Office
of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services (OASAS).
(1)The
first level is for the title of CASAC-Trainee. This credential
is awarded by the NY State OASAS upon completion of a minimum
of 350 hours of specific OASAS-registered psychology courses
at CCNY. The CASAC-Trainee certificate will serve as documentation
that you are working toward becoming a fully credentialed CASAC.
The trainee certificate is effective from the date of OASAS
approval until the end of the five-year period that your application
is active. The CASAC-Trainee certificate is not renewable.
(2)
The second level is for the full, non-trainee title of CASAC
and requires, in addition to completion of a minimum of 350
hours of specific OASAS-registered courses: (A) a minimum number
of supervised work hours in an OASAS-approved treatment facility
{see below}, (B) an OASAS written and oral exam, and (C) meeting
OASAS-ethical conduct requirements.
Requirements
for Full CASAC Credential
In order to become a fully certified Credentialed Alcoholism
& Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC)you must: (1) meet minimum
education & training requirements {i.e., the 8 CCNY psychology
courses listed above}; (2) meet specific work requirements {see
below}; (3) pass the International Certification & Reciprocity
Consortium/Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, Inc. (ICRC/AODA) written
examination for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselors; (4)
pass the ICRC/AODA Case Presentation Method (CPM) oral examination;
(5) meet specific competency and ethical conduct requirements.
All of these requirements are overseen and/or coordinated by
OASAS.
Work
Experience Requirements for Full CASAC Credential
To apply for the full (non-Trainee) credential, applicants must
document a minimum of 6000 hours of supervised, full-time equivalent
work experience in an approved work setting as a provider of
direct patient services. {See page 6 of the CASAC Application
Packet for different types of work settings.} A Bachelor's Degree
may be substituted for 2000 hours, and a Master's Degree may
be substituted for an additional 2000 hours. A minimum of 2000
hours must be paid (approximately one year) and obtained within
10 years before submission of the application for full credentialing.
Overall
Summary
After OASAS has certified that you have completed all eight
courses, you are identified by addiction treatment programs
as "CASAC-Trainee/Qualified Health Professional (QHP),"
and are qualified for entry-level jobs in the addiction treatment
field.
To receive your final, non-trainee "CASAC" credential,
you must also work a certain number of hours {approximately
two years of full-time supervised experience in a State-approved
treatment program - only one year with a Masters degree in Psychology},
and then pass a NY State Examination.
US
and International Recognition
This credential is recognized in 39 U.S. states and Wash. D.C.;
8 countries including the U.K., Canada, Puerto Rico, Germany,
Singapore, Malaysia, Sweden, and Bermuda; the U.S. Dept. of
Transportation, U.S. Administrative Office of the Courts, and
the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines.
Employment Opportunities
Neither the CASAC-Trainee credential nor the full CASAC credential
legally allows you to practice counseling or therapy privately
or independently - because only fully licensed and registered
psychologists, social workers, and medical personnel can legally
have a private practice. However, the full and trainee credential
will legally allow you to work under the supervision of a licensed,
trained professional in an OASAS-registered addiction treatment
program of facility. Additionally, students who go on to earn
a graduate degree in psychology or social work and become fully
licensed and registered professionals can legally practice addiction
counseling independently as part of their professional practice.
However, whether or not a student goes on for a graduate degree,
this credential increases their employment opportunities by
certifying particular expertise in addiction counseling and
treatment.
.
Further Information Prof. Stephen Thayer, Psychology Dept./Drug
& Alcohol Program, City College of the city University of
New York, NY NY 10031 (212) 650-6868
. Students must register for this addiction counselor training
concentration in the CCNY psychology Department office: NAC
7-120.
For complete information on the CASAC credential, including
the application form, contact: Credentialing Unit, NY State
OASAS, 1450 Western Avenue., Albany NY 12203-3526
1-800-482-9564. www.oasas.state.ny.us
Keep a record of semester & year each course is completed
in the following chart.
Semester & Year Completed
A. Knowledge of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse {85 hours
required}
____ Drug and Alcohol Abuse (238) Prof. Thayer {45 hours}
____ Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience (371)Prof.
Fishbein {45 hours}
*CCNY total=90 hours: Extra 5 hours covers D, below
B. Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Counseling {150 hours
required}
____ Theories of Psychotherapy (388) Prof. King {45 hours}
____ Infancy & Child Development (246) Prof. King or Crain
{45 hours}
____ Family Psychology (365) Prof. Fraenkel {45 hours}
____ Small Group Processes (367) Prof. Thayer {45 hours}
*CCNY total=180 hours: Extra 30 hours covers D, below
C. Assesment; Clinical Evaluation; treatment Planning; Case
Management;& Patient, family & Community Education {70
hours required}
____ Treatment of Substance Abuse (2) Prof. Jurist {45 hours}
____ Psychology of Prevention (2) Prof. Yali {45 hours}
*CCNY total=90 hours: Extra 20 hours covers D, below
D.
Professional & Ethical Responsibilities {40 hours
required}
Credit-hour content covered in courses listed in A, B,
*CCNY total=55 hour
Only the specific instructor-course list above is registered
with OASAS.
Check with the Psychology Dept. to see if the same course with
a different prof.
(not listed above) has been approved by OASAS.
Revised October 2022
