The Substance Abuse Counselor certificate is an 18-credit hour certificate that will qualify individuals with an associate degree or higher to become a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (LADAC) through the New Mexico Counseling and Therapy Board after completing internship hours and passing the National Certified Addiction Counselor (NCAC) Level 1 exam. For questions regarding specific requirements for the LSAA and the LADAC certification, contact the New Mexico Counseling and Therapy Practice Board (NMCTPB) at www.rld.state.nm.us or (505) 476-4610.
This certificate can also be embedded in the Human Services associate degree as program electives allowing students to earn a certificate in substance abuse counseling within their degree.
Professionals in the fields of Social Work and Counseling may be interested in taking the certificate coursework to qualify to become a LADAC or to earn the required Continuing Education Units (CEUs) required to maintain their professional licenses.
Many students pursuing the Human Services degree are interested in working in the field of substance abuse counseling, social work or case management. Human Services careers are expected to continue to grow in the areas of counseling, mental health and substance abuse counseling.
Program Proficiencies and Prerequisites
Students must demonstrate proficiency in these areas either by placement exam scores or specific course work.