About Substance Use Counselor Training
Substance Use Counselor Training is a combination of education and supportive services designed to help you become a certified substance use counselor. We cover all expenses, including tuition, registration as a substance use registered counselor, textbooks and certification.
The Process
Application – Applications for this program are closed. If you recently applied for the October 18 application deadline, your application will be processed within the next two weeks. Please refrain from reaching out about the status of your application until then. When applications are open, it usually takes 10–15 minutes to complete. You then receive a link to schedule an appointment with a program specialist who assists you throughout the program and places you at one of our partnering education providers.
Education – Depending on your eligibility, you receive training at either Palomar College or UC San Diego, Division of Extended Studies.
Registration – The first step to becoming a substance use counselor is to register with California Association of DUI Treatment Programs (CADTP). To do this, you must first complete the 9.5-hour ethics course. A program specialist will guide you through this process.
Internship – You need to commit to completing a total of 2,650 hours of combined formal education and supervised work experience to become a certified substance use counselor. Completing 2,650 hours can take up to 18 months on a full-time schedule. Our team helps place you in a paid internship throughout the course of the program.
Certification – After you’ve completed all required hours, you are eligible to take the certification exam. Certification is offered through California Association of DUI Treatment Programs and the cost is covered by the Workforce Partnership.
Education offered through Palomar College Community College
| Semester | Application window |
| Fall 2024: 8/26/24–12/21/24 | Fall 2024: Applications closed |
| Spring 2025: 2/3/25-5/31/25 | Spring 2025: Open from 12/2/2024–1/15/2025 or until full |
| Summer 2025: 6/2/25-8/23/25 | Summer 2025: Open from 5/1/2025–5/31/25 or until full |
Eligibility requirements: To be eligible for enrollment in courses at this college, you must be 18+, fully vaccinated and live in and plan to work in San Diego County.
Course options: Courses are available in-person and online; some online courses require live instruction.
Course overview:
- Introduction to Alcohol and Other Drug Studies
- Physiology/Pharmacology of Psychoactive Drugs
- Prevention, Intervention, and Education
- Group Leadership and Process
- Case Management, Law and Ethics
- Chemical Dependency Family Counseling ONLY
- Directed Field Experience
- Directed Field Experience ll
- Introduction to Psychology
- Psychology of Abnormal Behavior
- Social Problems or Introduction to Sociology III
Timeline: 11 courses over 18 months
Education offered through UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies
| Semester | Application window |
| Fall 2024: 9/23/24–12/14/24 | Fall 2024: Applications closed |
| Winter 2025: 1/2/25-TBA | Winter 2025: Application window TBA |
| Spring 2025: 3/24/25-TBA | Spring 2025: Application window TBA |
| Winter 2025: 6/23/25-TBA | Summer 2025: Application window TBA |
Eligibility: To be eligible for enrollment in courses at this college, you must be 18+, fully vaccinated (two shots and booster), unemployed or underemployed, live in and plan to work in San Diego County, must have been sober for one year and cannot be dual enrolled in another education or training program.
Course options: Courses are available In-person and online; some online courses require live instruction.
Course overview:
- Cultural, Social, and Historical Overview of Alcohol and Drug Related Problems
- Introduction to Counseling Models
- Addiction and Recovery: Etiology and Physiology
- Addiction Science: Psychology and Pharmacology
- Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery
- Applied Skills for Group Dynamics and Facilitation
- Co-Occurring Disorders
- Addiction Problems: Prevention, Public Health, and Public Policy
- Advanced Intervention
- Crisis Intervention: Theory and Practical Skills
- Basic and Advanced Counseling Skills and Characteristics
- Practicum for the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor
Timeline: 12 courses over 18 months
Education offered through San Diego City College
| Semester | Application window |
| Fall 2024: 8/6/24–12/16/24 | Fall 2024: Applications closed |
| Spring 2025: 1/29/25-TBA | Spring 2025: Application window TBA |
| Summer 2025: 6/3/25-TBA | Summer 2025: Application window TBA |
Eligibility requirements: To be eligible for enrollment in courses at this college, you must be 18+, fully vaccinated, and live in and plan to work in San Diego County.
Course options: Courses are available in-person and online; some online courses require live instruction.
Course overview:
- Introduction to Chemical Dependency
- Chemical Dependency Family Counseling Techniques
- Law, Ethics, and Skills in Alcohol and Other Drug Counseling
- Principles of Sociology
- General Psychology
- Case Management in Alcohol and Other Drug Counseling
- Pharmacology of Psychoactive Drugs
- Co-Occurring Disorders in Alcohol and Other Drug Counseling
- Group Dynamics in Alcohol and Other Drug Counseling
- Introduction to Counseling
- Internship Seminar: Alcohol and Other Drug Counseling
- Internship: Alcohol and Other Drug Counseling OR Work Experience in Chemical Dependency
Timeline: 12 courses over 18 months
Email hello@workforce.org or call (619) 319-WORK (9675) with any questions.
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