Who issues the certificate?
Individuals become certified through the Chemical Dependency Professionals Board. Additional information can be found at: https://ocdp.ohio.gov/CounselorAssistant
Am I eligible to enroll in the course?
Any Mount St. Joseph University degree-seeking student is eligible to enroll. Current Mount students should speak with an advisor if interested taking these courses. In addition, any community member interested in the certificate program may sign up for the courses as a non-degree seeking student. While there are no pre-requisites for the CDCA Preliminary course, Junior or Senior status is highly recommended OR is recommended for persons already working in the field and just starting the certificate process.
Is there financial aid available for the CDCA certificate courses if I am not a Mount student?
If you are taking the course as a non-degree seeking student, there is no financial aid available.
How many credit hours is each course?
Both courses are three credit hours a piece, which equals 45 clock hours each. This provides more than enough hours towards the 40 hour requirement for the CDCA certificate for Preliminary and the 30 hour requirement for Renewable. Upon completion, you will earn 6 college credits.
When is the course being offered?
The CDCA Preliminary course, SWK 313, will begin in January and end in March. The CDCA Renewable course, SWK 314, begins in the Fall.
How are the courses offered and how long is each course?
These courses are only offered in a fully online format. Each course is eight weeks long.
How are the online courses designed?
The online course is a self-directed learning course. Each week you will have a taped lecture to view, an assignment due and discussion board posts to create. All of these activities are designed to be very much like a normal in class experience, with the added flexibility of being able to view the lectures when you have time. There are firm dates for assignments.
Are there a certain number of classroom hours I must complete in accordance with CDCA requirements?
Yes, SWK 313 is designed to meet the 40 hour classroom requirement for CDCA Preliminary certification through the State of Ohio, and SWK 314 is designed to meet the requirements for Renewable.
What content do the courses cover?
Topics for the courses include addiction theory, counseling procedures and strategies, group process, assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, ethical issues in chemical dependency counseling, and psychopharmacology.
What requirements are met by these courses?
SWK 313 meets the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professional Board (OCDP) educational requirements for the Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant (CDCA) Preliminary, while SWK 314 meets the educational requirements for Renewable.
What is the benefit of receiving my CDCA Certificate?
Many social service and criminal justice agencies are now requiring Chemical Dependency Counseling Assistant (CDCA) Preliminary certification through the State of Ohio. If you are a current student at the Mount, having your CDCA Preliminary Certificate can give you a leg up on the competition for jobs. Many organizations in the fields of probation and corrections are requiring their employees to attain a CDCA Preliminary Certificate to maintain employment. The Mount offers a quality CDCA program with materials/curriculum having been developed by an experienced and licensed chemical dependency counselor.
Which department at Mount St. Joseph University houses the CDCA Preliminary and Renewable certificate requirement courses?
The Department of Sociology and Social Work at Mount St. Joseph University currently offers the CDCA courses.
What types of jobs can I get with a CDCA Certificate?
There are several fields that are currently looking for employees who have the CDCA Certificate already completed at the time of hire. Examples of fields interested in potential employees with an active CDCA are Probation (Adult and Juvenile), Corrections (Adult and Juvenile), Social Work organizations/companies and Chemical Dependency treatment programs.
Contact
Contact the Office of Admission at 513-244-4531 or admission@msj.edu.