Addiction Prevention and Treatment Certificate

  • Undergraduate Certificate
  • Darden College of Education & Professional Studies
  • Department of Counseling & Human Services

Be part of the solution. Gain the latest skills with Old Dominion University's online certificate in addiction prevention and treatment certificate. You'll learn core competencies through rigorous academics and applied problem-solving. We teach according to guidelines from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

When you complete this program, you will have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to:

  • recognize the signs and symptoms of substance abuse,
  • understand crisis intervention and relapse prevention strategies,
  • develop substance abuse prevention and recovery programs,
  • treat individuals and families affected by drug addiction, and
  • make ethical decisions in as a human services professional.

This certificate may meet the educational (didactic) requirements for addiction credentialing, such as the Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) and the Certified Substance Abuse Counselor-Assistant (CSAC-A) in Virginia.*

* This certificate prepares you for the post-graduation residency program phase for Virginia CSAC or CSAC-A credentialing. It may fulfill the educational hours required to take the National Certified Addiction Counselor Level I (NCAC-I) exam as set by the Virginia Board of Counseling. If you plan to seek credentialing outside of Virginia, please contact your state board to determine how this certificate can meet your state’s requirements. If you plan to seek international credentialing, we encourage you to consider our Human Services bachelor’s program.

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    • 18 credit hours (six courses)

    This undergraduate certificate pairs well with criminal justicepsychology, health sciences, and similar majors.

  • Access course materials online from any location. Some classes will have live, regular online meeting times, while others will not. The instructor may schedule assignments and exams at specific times. All courses follow ODU's regular academic calendar.

  • When you complete this program, you will have an academic certificate in addiction prevention and treatment. We designed this program to benefit current undergraduate students as well as working mental health professionals. You can apply the skills you learn in public and private settings such as:

    • Residential and rehabilitation centers
    • Detoxification centers
    • Hospitals and medical clinics
    • Addiction treatment and recovery centers/programs
    • Methadone and Suboxone clinics
    • Geriatric facilities
    • Jails and prisons
    • Courts and probation settings
    • Schools and adolescent/youth programs
    • Social service settings
  • In-state Virginia Residents
    $408 per credit hour*
    Out-of-State Students
    $439 per credit hour

    Active duty military students may qualify for a discounted undergraduate tuition rate.

    These tuition rates are effective Fall 2024 and subject to change. 
    * In-state rate assumes residency requirements are met.

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In order to work as a substance abuse counselor, you must be licensed or certified. Some states accept national certification with reciprocity agreements, while others require licensure at the state level. State level requirements vary.

This certificate's coursework prepares you for the post-graduation residency program phase of Virginia CSAC or CSAC-A credentialing. It may fulfill educational hours required to take the National Certified Addiction Counselor Level I (NCAC-I) exam as set by the Virginia Board of Counseling.

If you plan to practice outside Virginia, we encourage you to contact your state's licensing authority to determine specific requirements. Use our licensure disclosure directory link to find contact information for your state.

If you have questions about how this certificate can help you meet your career goals, please contact us using the form above.

You'll have a dedicated academic advisor for this program.

Contact us if you have questions about admission requirements, transferring credits, or application deadlines.

  • If you're a student at ODU, talk to your advisor about adding this addiction prevention and treatment certificate to your studies.

    Working professionals and undergraduate students at other institutions can take this certificate by applying to ODU as a non-degree seeking undergraduate student. They should also have:

    • undergraduate coursework and/or degree from a regionally-accredited institution or the equivalent from a foreign institution; 
    • transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work at those institutions.
    • If your native language is not English, take the TOEFL with a minimum of 230 on the computer-based TOEFL or 80 on the TOEFL iBT.