CASAC Training Programs
Are you passionate about working with people who are struggling with substance use and addictions?
Do you want to build your knowledge, skills, and readiness to enter the addiction workforce?
Are you ready to improve lives and make the world a better place?
If so, join us. Your path begins here. At Stony Brook University we believe we are Stronger Together.
The Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare (SSW) is delighted to offer a state-of-the-art New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) approved 350-hour Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) training program to eligible applicants.
With funding provided by OASAS, eligible applicants admitted to the program will participate at no cost, with the full fee for the CASAC training provided through an OASAS scholarship.
The 350-hour Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) program leads to a certification by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) for direct care providers in the field of alcoholism and substance abuse. To ensure that counselors are competent and ethical in their work, and skilled in addressing the current epidemic of the opioid crisis and substance dependence, OASAS issues a professional credential to individuals who participate in a certified CASAC training program, satisfy an internship requirement, and pass an examination.
To complete the educational requirements of this program, students must complete a combination of CASAC education and internship hours. Students, with master's degrees in approved fields who attend the 100-hour course must complete a minimum of 35 internship hours under the appropriate level of supervision in the appropriate OASAS-CERTIFIED, OMH-CERTIFIED, or DOH-authorized settings within one (1) year of completing the CASAC program.
Students who attend the 350-hour course must complete a minimum of 120 hours under the appropriate level of supervision in the appropriate OASAS-CERTIFIED, OMH-CERTIFIED, or DOH-authorized settings within one (1) year of completing the CASAC program.
Stony Brook, a flagship of the State University of New York, is ranked the #1 public university in the state and is the 35th best public university in the country.
The School of Social Welfare has been a leader in social work education for nearly 50 years and is deeply committed through our degree programs and our specialized continuing education and certificate programs to ensuring a well-prepared, dedicated workforce to meet the needs of people, organizations, and communities in the region, state, and nation.
Benefits of our School of Social Welfare CASAC Training Program include:
- Highly skilled and experienced instructors with expertise in substance use disorders.
- All training is delivered 100% online for enhanced accessibility.
- Topic-specific modules/sections.
- Weekly instructor-led virtual classroom sessions.
- Small class sizes.
- Certification exam preparation.
- Professional level certification* upon successfully passing the certification exam.
- Affordable excellence.
- For those eligible applicants who are accepted, OASAS will provide full scholarships to complete the CASAC 350-hour program. For other pricing structures, please follow this link.
Classes are now in session! The estimated duration of the full CASAC 350-hour program is 16 months. The School of Social Welfare will offer training to multiple cohorts, with multiple start dates (please see the application materials for more details).
- Those who meet the eligibility criteria for the CASAC 350-hour program only.
- The CASAC Training Program is for those who want to develop their skills and increase their command of the dynamic and highly in-demand field of addiction counseling.
- The CASAC 350-hour program is for New York State residents who are at least 18 years of age, with a minimum of a high school diploma or a High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma from an accredited institution, and who are employees of one of the following:
- OASAS-certified, funded, or otherwise authorized programs.
- Office of Mental Health (OMH) and/or Department of Health (DOH) certified Integrated Outpatient Services (IOS-SUD); and DOH Drug User Health and/or Harm Reduction programs.
- Individuals who work in the addictions field (prevention, treatment, recovery, and/or harm reduction) or in an eligible non-OASAS setting such as OMH and DOH programs not listed above.
- Individuals or students interested in working in eligible OASAS, OMH, or DOH settings.
Please be sure to have the required and optional documentation before starting an application. This will ensure the completion of your application submission. Only complete applications will be reviewed and considered for admission. Please Note: OASAS, OMH, or DOH applicants will be prioritized to receive OASAS-funded scholarships.
In order to apply:
- Complete the OASAS Addiction Professionals Scholarship Application Form.
- Submit a copy of your high school diploma, HSE, college transcripts, or college diplomas (note: unofficial transcripts will be accepted).
- Provide a brief statement (500 words or fewer) about why you are interested in pursuing the CASAC program. In this statement please provide information about the following: Any previous volunteer or work experience along the addictions continuum of care, your interest in working in the OASAS Provider System, and the qualities you possess that you believe would make you an effective CASAC.
- Provide three (3) references.
- Applicants who are currently an employee of one of the following program types must submit three (3) professional references:
- OASAS-certified/authorized program.
- OMH or DOH-certified Integrated Outpatient Services (IOS-SUD) Program.
- DOH Drug User Health/Harm Reduction Program.
- A program that provides addiction care (prevention, treatment, recovery) or harm reduction services in another setting that is not reflected in above.
- Applicants working within the addictions field (prevention, treatment, recovery, and/or harm reduction) in an eligible non-OASAS setting such as OMH and DOH programs not listed above or are interested in working in eligible OASAS, OMH, or DOH settings must submit a total of three (3) references. It is preferred that applicants submit three (3) professional references. If that is not possible, applicants must submit at least one professional or academic reference and 2 personal references from individuals who can speak objectively about the applicant’s character and/or about their job-related skills.
- Please utilize these forms for the submission of your references:
- For those applicants currently working in OASAS, OMH, and DOH-certified programs, submit the Employment Verification Form.
Please send your completed application documentation to casac.ssw@stonybrook.edu.
Listen to this Podcast from the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS)
Addiction: The Next Step features SSW Clinical Associate Professor, Melissa J. Earle, Ph.D., LCSW, along with OASAS, AVP of Residential Treatment, Harry Scott Jr., and Roger D. Walker, LMSW, CASAC, Director of the Ed Thompson Veterans Program. In this podcast, they discuss the OASAS scholarship program and the emerging academic opportunities within the field of addiction treatment.
