From Beaufort County Community College

Class will begin Jan. 11 at Beaufort County Community College in a new program that will prepare those who complete it to become substance abuse counselors.

The training program, approved by the North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board, will be offered via the Internet through BCCC’s Division of Continuing Education.

Students will be able to access instruction in the program from anywhere with an Internet connection.

Substance abuse counselors serve to assess, guide and treat individuals with substance abuse additions and issues, primarily alcohol and drugs. Counselors work in outpatient and inpatient settings, private and nonprofit organizations and serve individuals, families and other groups.

The average salary for certified substance abuse counselors is $41,090, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The expected job growth for these counselors is about 31 percent, especially for individuals adding this certification to previous certifications, such as behavioral disorder counseling.

Instruction will be offered in four sections: Intake and Assessment; Understanding Addition/Basic Pharmacology; Intervention, Prevention and Client Services; and Group Process and Certificate Preparation. In addition to the course work, students will be required to complete 300 hours of clinical experience to obtain certification. Potential students are asked to refer to the NCSAPPB Procedure Manual or visit www.ncsappb.org for more information on completing practicum hours.

Students must have a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate and provide a transcript showing completion before enrolling in the program. The fee for the course includes a $180 registration fee and a $5 technology fee. The required textbooks are “Substance Abuse Counseling-Fifth Edition,” “Concepts of Chemical Dependency” and “An Introduction to the Counseling Profession” and are available at the BCCC bookstore for an estimated total of $393.48. Scholarships may be available for qualified applicants.

 

For more information about the new substance abuse counselor program, contact Justin Rose, director of Occupational Extension, at 252-940-6262 or by email at justin.rose@beaufortccc.edu.

Students may register by calling 252-940-6375 or in person in room 802 of Building 8 on the BCCC campus. BCCC accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover. Checks payable to Beaufort County Community College may be mailed to the attention of Eva Peartree, 5337 U.S. Highway 264 East, Washington, N.C. 27889.

For more information about other Continuing Education classes, visit BCCC’s website at www.beaufortccc.edu/coned/.