Alcohol and Drug Counseling Online Graduate Certificate Meeting Needs for Nebraska Mental Health Practitioners

Alcohol and drug abuse is a growing epidemic that requires licensed specialists in the field. The state of Nebraska has identified a need for more rural behavioral healthcare, according to the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska and the Nebraska State Legislature. On a national scale, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that Substance Abuse Counselors will see “a 31 percent job growth rate through 2022, which is much faster than the national average.”

In the state of Nebraska, education specifically in addiction counseling is required beyond the graduate level for a Mental Health Counseling License. The University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) is rising to address that market demand through an online graduate certificate program in Alcohol and Drug Counseling. Launched in 2016 through the UNK Department of Counseling and School Psychology, the program equips professionals with expertise and licensure to serve the needs of those battling with addiction.

The program is designed for Mental Health Counselors who need to obtain a license in Alcohol and Drug Counseling or for current graduate students in clinical mental health counseling. Upon entrance into the certificate program, students must be enrolled in a graduate degree program in mental health counseling or a related field or have completed a degree program in clinical Mental Health counseling. This certificate meets state requirements and allows students and current professionals in the field to gain the necessary education to hold the specialty license.

Led by Dr. Christine Chasek, instructors in the program are licensed professionals who work in addiction counseling. The certificate program consists of three graduate-level courses in addiction counseling and a practicum course in an Alcohol and Drug Counseling facility to help students find a clinical placement and obtain the hands-on experience for licensure.

Graduates of the certificate program may be eligible for higher pay in their field and expanded career opportunities, including positions in hospitals, treatment centers, medical clinics, or private and group practices. They will also be prepared to help address the need for more rural-based addiction counseling in the state of Nebraska.

Learn more about helping others through the addiction recovery process by inquiring about the Alcohol and Drug Counseling Graduate Certificate.