Curriculum - Admission Information - Program Fees - Credentials & Licensure
Introduction - Admission Information - Program Fees - Credentials & Licensure - Frequently Asked Questions
Curriculum
The ACEP program provides the educational component of the required three-part qualification for either national certification or Massachusetts state licensure as a substance abuse clinician. The required coursework is delivered in two modules, the core program of 190 hours and practicum, which meets eligibility to take the exam; and the two electives that combined provide the full 270-hour education requirement.
Assistance is provided in the other two aspects of licensure/certification, the written exam and 6000 hours work experience, by providing a two-day workshop on preparing for the exam; and the 300-hour practicum requirement of the program that allows students to access potential employment sources and build the experience area of their resume. Many students are hired by their practicum sites, and assignments given in class allow students to meet many treatment providers and learn about others.
Core Courses
- Use and Abuse of Alcohol and other Drugs in Society
- The Delivery of Alcoholism/Chemical Dependency Treatment Services
- Counseling the Alcoholic and Other Chemically Dependent Persons
- Psychopharmacology
- Family and Alcoholism/Chemical Dependency Treatment
Electives and Workshops
The electives fulfill the total education requirements begun in the Certificate Curriculum, or can be taken for continuing education credits for recertification or personal enrichment.
Electives and workshops are currently offered, with more to come, in areas including; Criminal Justice; Dual Diagnoses; Gambling and other Process Addictions. The current electives include:
- Co-Occurring Disorders
- Criminal Justice and Substance Abuse
- Gambling: The Hidden Addiction
- Pre-Sentencing Mitigation
Course Offerings
Admission Information
On-campus Program
Boston: To enter the professional development sequence leading to licensing, you must interview with the Program Director, Bill Carlo, before registering. Please contact Reca Quarles at 617.287.7900 or reca.quarles@umb.edu to arrange an interview.
Brockton: For information about classes, call Bill Carlo, ACEP Program Director, at 617.287.5489, or email, bill.carlo@umb.edu
Framingham: For information about classes, call Bill Carlo, ACEP Program Director, at 617.287.5489, or email, bill.carlo@umb.edu
One Beacon St, Boston: For information about classes, call Bill Carlo, ACEP Program Director, at 617.287.5489, or email, bill.carlo@umb.edu
Plymouth: For information about classes, contact Kathleen Schedler-Clark at 508.674.2788 ext. 110.
Springfield: For information about classes, call Bill Carlo, ACEP Program Director, at 617.287.5489, or email, bill.carlo@umb.edu
Online Program
Requirement for admission is a high school diploma or the equivalent. Please contact the online program director, Dianne Doyle Pita, for more information at acep-online@umb.edu
Program Fees
On-campus
The fee for most courses is $440; the fee for "The Practice of Addictions Counseling" and the "Practicum" is $1,500. These fees include the cost of books.
Online
The fee for most courses is $600. The fee for the "The Practice of Addictions Counseling" and the "Practicum" is $1,100. These fees do not include the cost of books.
Credentials & Licensure
Students with credits or degrees in the behavioral sciences (e,g., BA in Psychology) can seek acceptance of those credits from the credentialing boards. Students may opt out of the two additional courses if they find they have the sufficient educational hours, as authorized by their credentialing board.
States vary in the acceptance of CEUs toward licensure and certification. For instance, the state of Massachusetts does accept online CEUs toward licensure; however, the CADAC board does not. For any information about licensing or credentialing, please contact your licensing or credentialing boards.
| Educational/Practicum/Work | Hours |
|---|---|
| Total Required Educational Hours for UMass Boston certificate* | 190 |
| Total Required Educational Hours for LADC/CADAC* | 270 |
| Total Required Practicum Hours for UMass Boston Certificate | 300 |
| Total Work Hours for LADC/CADAC** | 4,000-6,000 work hours |
| * Contact state substance abuse credentialing boards for work hour and CEU requirements, as well as current policies regarding acceptance of online educational hours. ** The number of program work hours varies based on previous credits earned. |
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