Online Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate
The Certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling online through the University of Cincinnati is best for people who wish to obtain credentials in substance abuse counseling. Substance Abuse Counseling is a rewarding field for people interested in providing assistance to others in counseling, corrections, administrative, and prevention settings.
What is Substance Use Counseling?
Substance use disorders occur when frequent and severe use causes symptoms of clinically significant impairment (e.g., health problems, failure to meet major responsibilities at work).
This 24-credit-hour certificate equips students to work with persons impacted by substance use disorders. The certificate is for working professionals with a bachelor’s degree or students wanting to get a bachelor’s degree. This certificate provides the knowledge and skills needed to support people struggling with addiction as well as advance related careers in the helping professions.
Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate Program Highlights
High Quality Education
- Successful completion of the Certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling with an overall, holistic GPA of at least a 2.0 GPA, can result in credit towards the: Bachelor of Science in Substance Abuse Counseling, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice & other UC Online programs.
- Award winning Faculty
Flexibility
- 100% online
- Part-time flexibility
- Graduate in 6 months
- Enroll in spring, summer or fall semester
Support from Application through Graduation
At UC, you’ll have a full support team behind you:
Enrollment Services Advisor: Your partner through the application process, getting enrolled, and starting your program
Student Success Coordinator: Helping you prepare for classes and stay on track
Access to Resources: Access to university resources that will support you through your program including online learning expectations and resources, health and wellness resources, and academic support
The online Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate is 23 credit hours and a customized individual schedule will be available after admission and transfer credit evaluation.
| Course | Title/Description | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| SACN1000 | Introduction to Substance Abuse Counseling This course is designed to provide an overview of the field of substance abuse counseling and its graduate level academic trajectories (counseling, social work, psychology, etc.) Students will be oriented to the learning expectations of the program and the university consistent with UC's baccalaureate competencies. Students will develop a portfolio, including a career plan and personal learning contract, which will be supplemented throughout the course of the substance abuse counseling program. |
3 |
| SACN2000 | Basic Pharmacology This course provides students with concepts in pharmacology explored through the lens of substance use disorders. Students will gain an understanding of the human nervous system, learning how it reacts to addictive drugs and the physiological reasons one becomes dependent. In addition, students will learn about clinical trials and the research designs used to test the safety and efficacy of prescription medications. Finally, students will explore the role of drug therapies, including opioid replacement therapies, in substance abuse treatment settings. |
3 |
| SACN2011 | Drugs and Behavior In this course, students will review the individual, family, and societal factors that are associated with individual substance use. In addition, this course will explore the biochemical and predisposition variables of chemical dependency, as well as the psychological and behavioral effects on the dependent person and the family system. Primary therapeutic and relapse interventions are presented as well as an overview on prevention models. |
3 |
| SACN2021 | Assessment and Diagnosis in Substance Abuse Counseling The purpose of this course is to introduce students to clinical assessment and diagnostic processes in substance abuse counseling. The students will learn the key elements of the multidimensional assessment process, which will include the use of various screening and assessment tools, proper interviewing techniques, and impediments to the assessment process. Students will be introduced to the Multiaxial System in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) with specific concentrations on substance use disorders. |
3 |
| SACN3032 | Fundamental Substance Abuse Counseling Skills This advanced class focuses on the development of fundamental skills necessary for individual counseling of client with a substance use disorder. Drawing from a variety of approaches andtechniques, the student will develop a greater depth of therapeutic communication skills. Experiential exercises, skill demonstration, and self/peer assessment, guide the student to a broader ability to successfully influence a positive therapeutic outcome. |
3 |
| SACN4000 | Group Skills in Substance Abuse Counseling This course is an introduction to group process, leadership and practice for substance abuse counseling. Students will gain insight into theoretical and practical concepts of group counseling used within a substance abuse clinical setting. Ethical, legal, and professional concerns of group process will be addressed, along with parameters for best practices. Within the course, students will conceptualize and develop a group proposal that can be implemented for recovering clients or their families. |
3 |
| SACN4001 | Substance Abuse Counseling for Families and Other Relationships Using systems perspectives, this course provides students the core framework with which to provide substance abuse counseling to families and other intimate relationships. Students will learn the etiology of substance abuse from a relationship perspective, understanding how families and other relationships relate to substance addictions. Overthe term, students will learn how to apply systemstheories and relationship counseling skills to various clinical scenarios. |
3 |
| SACN4004 | Case Management and Treatment Planning in Substance Abuse Counseling This course is designed to help student build their treatment planning and case management skills in substance abuse counseling. Students will apply best practices in treatment planning tovarious case scenarios including clients from populations including men, women, AIDS/HIV infected persons, dually diagnosed individuals, adolescents, older adults and some culturally-specific populations. In addition, students will learn skills to develop community relationships with other service providers and howto appropriately make referrals consistent with best practices and state and federal regulations. |
3 |
With cutting-edge research and proven practical course content, the University of Cincinnati’s online certificate is open to students with a high school diploma or GED. While admissions are open, accepted students must meet the academic standards upon enrollment.
Complete the online application and submit the application fee.
Standard Application Fees:
- $50.00 for domestic applicants to most degree programs
- $100.00 for international applicants to most degree programs
- Application fees for UC Online programs are waived through Summer 2026 for all applicants
- Fee waivers are automatically applied for applicants who:
- are currently serving in the US armed forces
- are veterans of the US armed forces
Applications are accepted continuously throughout the year. Our staff will review your application based on the following:
After submitting your application form, all applicants are required to have official transcripts sent directly to University of Cincinnati in order to be eligible for admissions review.
- First-Year and Transfer Applicants with Fewer Than 24 Completed Semester Hours at a Prior College:
- Order official transcripts from your high school and all prior colleges (if applicable) for delivery directly to University of Cincinnati.
- Transfer Applicants with 24+ Completed Semester Hours at a Prior College:
- Order official transcripts from all prior colleges for delivery directly to University of Cincinnati.
- You are exempt from the High School transcript requirement, this item will be removed from your application checklist once your college documents are received.
Please review the section below for guidance on how to submit your transcripts.
Online transcript request systems are the preferred method to deliver official transcripts electronically. To see if your transcript(s) can be ordered electronically, visit the links below and search for your previous school(s).
- Parchment
- Please select “University of Cincinnati – Main Campus” as the recipient of your transcript.
- National Student Clearinghouse
- Please have your transcript sent directly to admissions@uc.edu.
If you do not see your past school(s) listed on either site, please contact the school(s) directly to determine their ordering process.
If a physical copy must be sent, DO NOT request it be delivered to you. It must be sent directly from your prior school to the following address:
University of Cincinnati
Office of Admissions
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0091
| Term | Application Deadline | Classes Start |
|---|---|---|
Summer 2026 Fall 2026 |
March 15, 2026 July 15, 2026 |
May 11, 2026 August 24, 2026 |
The University of Cincinnati's online course fees differ depending on the program. On average, students will accrue fewer fees than students attending on-campus classes.
The one fee applied across all UC Online programs is the distance learning fee. Students living outside the state of Ohio must also pay an additional “non-resident” fee to enroll in courses at UC Online. This fee is lower than the out-of-state fee for traditional on-campus programs.
To view tuition information and program costs, visit the Online Program Fees page.
- The University of Cincinnati and all of its regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
- Michael Brubaker (Program’s Associate Professor) was awarded the 2020 Faculty Excellence Award.
- Our BS Substance Abuse Counseling program is ranked #10 for Best Online Accredited Counseling Programs on bestcolleges.com in 2022.
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We offer over 130 degrees from undergraduate to doctoral programs. Each program is supported by a team of Enrollment Services Advisors (ESAs) who are here to help answer any questions you have.