Social Work

The substance abuse certificate program is designed to provide social work graduate students with the necessary core functions and competencies of substance abuse counseling. This body of knowledge will allow the student who earns the certification an opportunity to earn their Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS) credential from the North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board (NCSAPPB). Individuals who are licensed may engage in clinical practice with substance abusing clients. The courses will be taught both on site at ECU by social work faculty as part of the Master of Social Work program. The certificate classes will be offered as electives in the graduate social work curricula.

NCSAPPB certifies the Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist. Students receiving the certificate qualify under NCSAPPB Criteria “C” for LCAS Certification. After completion of the certificate program, students will be required to meet the additional requirements of Criteria “C” in order to be licensed. This certificate will not waive other NCSAPPB requirements.

Core Courses:
SOCW 6800 Social Work Practice in Substance Abuse Treatment SOCW 6801 Clinical Approaches to Working with Substance Using/Abusing Clients SOCW 6701 Psychopathology SOCW 6140 Advanced Clinical/Community Social Work Practice SOCW 6950 Field Instruction II SOCW 6960 Field Instruction III

The Graduate Certificate in Substance Abuse is taught in a traditional face to face environment and by Distance Education.

Check Sheets

Course Descriptions

Admission Requirements:

Current enrollment in the Master of Social Work program at East Carolina University
(Final certification at the LCAS level requires the completion of a master’s degree)

NOTE: The two substance abuse elective academic courses may be utilized by others holding a master’s level degree in social work or other human services field as partial fulfillment of the NCSAPPB requirements. Such candidate would have to comply with all other requirements by the Board for certification.