Addictions Studies—FAQs

Where can I obtain specific information about the criteria for Addictions Certification?
All certification requirements can be obtained by contacting the Illinois Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification (IAODAPCA) Board at 800-272-2632 (within Illinois) or by visiting www.iaodapca.org.

What are some of the career opportunities for the certified counselor?
CADC's can seek employment in a number of substance abuse facilities, including inpatient, detox, residential, outpatient, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization and dual diagnosis programs throughout the state. There are hundreds of such licensed facilities in the state of Illinois and certified counselors will meet the eligibility requirements for such positions as substance abuse counselor and related job titles. More information about career opportunities, including salary ranges, can be obtained by visiting our career opportunities page.

What are the requirements of the practicum, and how do I get placed at a site?
In order to be eligible to begin work in the practicum setting, a student must first complete a minimum of 30 credits in ADC coursework with a grade of "C" or higher in each course, including all of the required courses in the ADC-100 and 200 series. A formal application is required to be submitted to the program coordinator who will approve students to enroll in the practicum session. Once a student has been approved, the student will receive a copy of the approved practicum site list and may begin contacting sites to arrange to begin their practicum. The internship coordinator, will assist students throughout the process and will work with the practicum site's supervisors to ensure that all Moraine Valley and IAODAPCA requirements are being met at the practicum sites.

Are there any classes offered on evenings or Saturdays?
Moraine Valley is committed to meet students' needs in class availability. Currently, we have day, evening and Saturday classes as well as online classes with an open schedule. Student input on class scheduling and class offerings is welcomed in order to ensure student satisfaction and to meet the needs of those students who may have special needs.

How will Moraine Valley's Addictions Studies Certificate Program help me to obtain certification?
Our Addiction Studies Certificate Program is approved by IAODAPCA and will prepare the student to meet the requirements in all 12 of the core function areas required by IAODAPCA. Successful completion of the Addictions Studies Program through Moraine Valley provides the student with the educational requirements as well as the supervisory requirements through our internship program, needed for state certification. An Associates degree or higher in the Human Services field will also waive part or all of the work experience needed for state certification.

Approximately how long will it take for me to complete the Certificate Studies Program?
Moraine Valley offers two levels of training: Associate in Applied Science Degree and a Certificate Program. The Certificate program involves completing 40 credit hours of course work, which includes the completion of 500-hour practicum experience in an approved substance abuse facility. Students may work at their own pace, taking one or more classes per semesters. The amount of time it will take depend s upon the student's availability to take the schedule classes and complete the required practicum hours. A suggest program for the Certificate may be found using the following link: http://www.morainevalley.edu/programs/2009-2010/2009-2010_fall/1321_course.htm
The Associate's in Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.) in Addictions Studies requires 68 credit hours, including 40 hours of addictions classes and three electives. and a suggested schedule for the Associate in Applied Science Degree may be found using the following link: http://www.morainevalley.edu/programs/2009-2010/2009-2010_fall/1314_course.htm.

Which program should I pursue - the Associate in Applied Science degree or the Certificate in Addictions Studies?
The Associate in Applied Science degree in Addiction Studies is designed to give students an opportunity to develop the skills necessary to become a certified addictions counselor in Illinois through the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association (IAODAPCA) and related certification entities. The Illinois Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse (DASA), under the Department of Human Services, requires all clinical staff working in a licensed addictions treatment program to be certified as an Addictions Counselor through IAODAPCA within two years of employment. Students who complete the Associate in Applied Science degree are eligible to take the credentialing exam for the Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC). Upon completion of this degree, the two-year work experience requirement for certification is waived.

The primary goal of the Certificate in Addictions Studies Program is to give students who already possess a degree in Human Services an opportunity to become certified alcohol counselors in Illinois through the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association (IAODAPCA). Students who do not hold a degree in one of the Human Services and who complete the Addictions Studies Certificate Program will also be required to complete two years of work experience to meet the eligibility requirement to challenge the CADC examination.

If I take courses in Addictions Studies, do I still need to have work experience to be eligible to challenge the CADC exam?
The State of Illinois Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse requires addictions counselors in the State of Illinois to have 2 years of work experience prior to certification. This requirement can be waived if the student has an Associate's degree or higher in the Human Services field. The Associate in Applied Science degree offered by Moraine Valley Community College meets this requirement. The completion of the Addictions Studies Certificate Program without a degree in the Human Services field requires two years of work experience in the addictions filed to be eligible to take the CADC exam.

I have taken similar courses at another school, can I have these courses waived at MVCC?
You may be able to have previously completed Addictions classes waived. These decisions are made by the Program Coordinator on a case-by-case basis. First, only classes that you have earned a "C" or higher will be considered. Next, students must submit copies of the syllabi and catalog descriptions of coursework completed to the Program Coordinator. The Program Coordinator will review the syllabi and catalog descriptions from your previous course work to determine if your previous course work meets the learning objectives of MVCC's Addictions Courses. This only applies to Addictions classes. Students seeking waivers for general education classes (Communications/Math/Humanities/Social Sciences, etc.) should meet with an Academic Advisor. To make an appointment with an Academic Advisor, phone (708) 974-5721.