General Information on Addictions Counseling
Purpose: The Associates of Science degree in Addictions Counseling and the Addictions Minor are both designed to prepare students for state licensure as a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) in the state of Texas. Given that LCDC state laws are based on national standards, the course offerings for the associates’ degree and minor in addictions should meet the requirements for most if not all state laws outside of the state of Texas. If a student intends to practice in a state other than Texas, the student is strongly encouraged to contact the Chemical Dependency Licensing Board in that state and ask if these courses meet the state’s requirements prior to taking the courses offered.
For those students who intend to obtain their license in the state of Texas, here’s a link to the entire law for the Licensed Chemical Dependency Program & its program rules for the state of Texas.
Students are encouraged to read the law prior to beginning this program.
Frequently asked questions:
What are the general requirements for the LCDC?
Basically, there are two stages for obtaining licensure:
1) Meet General Educational Requirements:
- Completion of the Chemical Dependency Curricula [18 hours – (6 courses)]
- Completion of 300 clock hours of approved supervised practicum experience in the field of substance abuse
- Completion of an associates’ degree or more advanced degree in a mental health field
Examination and Practical Experience (upon graduation)
- Apply to the state board for registration as a Counselor Intern and initiate licensure application process
- Complete 4000 hours of approved supervised experience working with chemically dependent individuals
- Pass written chemical dependency counselor examination
- Submit an acceptable written case presentation
- Pass an oral chemical dependency counselor examination
When obtaining the 300 clock hours in my practicum and the 4000 hours of approved supervised experience, can I do this as part of my job?
Both the 300 clock hours of approved supervised field work practicum and the 4000 hours of approved supervised experience may be paid or voluntary as long as they are in a supervised substance abuse treatment setting.
What if my major is in a field other than mental health and I still want to obtain my LCDC?
The General Educational Studies for the Associates of Science in Addictions Counseling is almost identical to the first two years of most majors. As soon as you complete the general educational studies for your non-mental health major, the chemical dependency curricula, and the practicum experience in substance abuse, petition the Registrar’s Office to receive your Associate of Science degree in Addictions Counseling. This will allow you to apply with the state as a Counselor Intern and work toward your 4000 hours in a paid position while you finish your last two years of college.
What courses are included in the Chemical Dependency Curricula (18 hours)?
The following six (6) courses make up the Chemical Dependency Curricula and must be completed prior to beginning an approved supervised field work practicum.
- COU 2533 Pharmacology of Addiction
- COU 2223 Addictive Behavior and Recovery
- COU 2513 Counseling Methods in Chemical Dependency & Other Addictions
- COU 2523 Professional, Ethical and Special Issues for the Addictions Professional
- COU 2123 Introduction to Counseling
- PSY 3443 Crisis Intervention and Management
Please check the undergraduate catalogue for course descriptions.
How many hours of Practicum Experience must I complete?
State law requires a student to complete 300 clock hours of an approved supervised field work practicum experience in the field of substance abuse.
Can I begin my practicum at any time in my program?
A student may not begin their practicum experience until after completing all eighteen (18) semester hours of chemical dependency curricula. This is a requirement of the state board and not SAGU. As such, this rule is non-negotiable. Any practicum hours begun prior to completion of all eighteen semester hours of chemical dependency curricula will not count towards the practicum requirement.
Must I complete the practicum hours in one semester or can I spread them out over several?
We have designed the practicum experience in such a way that you have a choice which allows you to fit it into your schedule. These are the three practicum courses you must take.
- COU 2111 Practicum Substance Abuse Counseling I
- COU 2121 Practicum Substance Abuse Counseling II
- COU 2131 Practicum Substance Abuse Counseling III
Each of the courses represent 100 clock hours of the 300 required by the state.
Here are some examples of how this might work. If you wanted to complete all 300 clock hours in one semester, sign up for all three courses. (This would mean working roughly 22 hours a week in your practicum for 14 weeks to complete the 300 clock hours.) If you wanted to complete 100 hours over three semesters, sign up for the first course in the first semester, the second course in the second semester, and the third course in the third semester. (This would mean working a little over 7 hours a week for 14 weeks each of the three semesters.) If you wanted to complete 200 hours in one semester and 100 hours in the next, sign up for two of the courses to complete the 200 hours and one of the course to complete 100 hours.
What kind of practicum experience should I look for?
The practicum site should be one that delivers services for those individuals with substance abuse issues. The practicum shall be delivered according to a written training curriculum that provides the student with an orientation to treatment services and exposure to treatment activities in each of the KSA (Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes of Professional Practice) dimensions. The practicum must include the intern observing treatment delivery and the intern providing services under direct observation. The practicum shall include at least 20 hours of experience in each of the KSA dimensions.
For an understanding of the KSA dimensions, here’s a link.
This information (KSA dimensions) will also be covered in the six (6) courses listed under the Chemical Dependency Curricula.
How do I know if the practicum site has a qualified supervisor?
All practicum training sites shall be supervised by qualified credentialed counselors (QCCs). When you interview a site, make sure to ask who will be supervising you and what their qualifications are. The following is a list from the state of what constitutes a qualified supervisor.
Qualified Credentialed Counselor (QCC) – A licensed chemical dependency counselor or one of the practitioners listed below who is licensed and in good standing in the State of Texas, to the extent that such individual is acting within the authorized scope of the individual’s license, including:
- Licensed chemical dependency counselor (LCDC)
- Licensed professional counselor (LPC)
- Licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)
- Licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT)
- Licensed psychologist
- Licensed physician
- Licensed physician’s assistant
- Certified addictions registered nurse (CARN)
- Advanced practice nurse recognized by the Board of Nurse Examiners as a clinical nurse specialist or practitioner with a specialty in psychiatric-mental health nursing.
- The QCC is not a type of license – each facility is responsible for designating a QCC.
What if I’m an online student in another state, will this degree meet my state requirements?
You should know that SAGU’s chemical dependency program is designed to fulfill requirements for the Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor in the state of Texas. As it is with most states, these laws are based on national standards that most states adhere to. With that said, at the beginning of your degree program in Addictions Counseling, all students in other states should contact your state’s licensing board governing chemical dependency counselors for licensing requirements in that state. When contacting your state boards, we encourage you to submit the six courses that make up the Chemical Dependency Curricula at SAGU along with course descriptions to ensure each class meets your state’s requirements. Those courses are listed elsewhere on this page and the descriptions of these courses are found in the online catalog.
Can I do my practicum in another state?
The short answer is yes. If after completing your practicum and degree you intend to become licensed as a chemical dependency counselor in another state, contact that state’s board governing chemical dependency counselors for licensing requirements to ensure you are following their guidelines for practicum experiences. In addition, we encourage you to inquire as to the number of practicum hours needed to fulfill your state’s requirements in this area. In most states, the number of practicum hours needed is 300 to become a Counselor Intern. Finally, with regards to who supervises your practicum hours, ask your state board what type of license they will accept from a supervisor in a practicum setting. If you intend to return to the state of Texas after completing your practicum and degree to become licensed as a chemical dependency counselor, you must follow Texas’s guidelines for practicum experiences. Those guidelines are listed elsewhere on this page and in the link to the state’s licensing laws.
Frequently asked questions after completion of degree?
Now that I have my degree, what do I do now?
Contact the License Chemical Dependency Counselor Board, apply for registration as a Counselor Intern and initiate licensure application process. The following information will connect you with the state board.
Licensure information:
Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) :
Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Program
Texas Department of State Health Services MC-1982
Mail Code 1982
P.O. Box 149347
Austin , Texas 78714-9347
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: (512) 834-6605 or 1-800-832-9623
Fax: (512) 834-6677
Website: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/lcdc/
What is a Counselor Intern?
Counselor Intern (CI or intern)–A person seeking a license as a chemical dependency counselor who is registered with the department and pursuing a course of training in chemical dependency counseling at a registered clinical training institution or under the supervision of a certified clinical supervisor.
To become a Counselor Intern you much have completed the Chemical Dependency Curricula, completed the practicum experience (300 clock hours), obtained your degree, and registered with the state board.
What is a Clinical Training Institution?
Clinical Training Institution (CTI)–An individual or legal entity registered with the department to supervise a counselor intern.
Clinical Training Institutions should click on the following link to register with the state of Texas:
https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/lcdc/default.shtm
What happens if I get my LCDC in the state of Texas and later move to another state? Is my license good in that state?
Most states have what’s called reciprocity, which means that most will accept the licensure from another state if it meets the minimal requirements in their state. However, each state is different and you must check with each state’s board regarding that matter.