Roadmap to an Addiction Professional Career
Directions
The future addiction professional must consider the requirements of the state in which they reside. Each state has unique requirements and credentials. Complete the items below using the provided resources to map out your journey to become an addiction professional. As you explore the websites, make sure to follow the guidelines outlined by the credentialing board in your chosen state.
State Specifics Overview
Directions: Find your state’s licensing requirements for substance abuse professionals and locate the credentialing requirements for a bachelor’s degree or lower. If none of your state’s credentials are available with a bachelor’s degree or less, use the master’s level credential. Complete the table below using complete sentences.
PSYC FPX 2300 Assessment 1 Roadmap to an Addiction Professional Career
| Which state do you reside or plan to live? | Massachusetts |
| What credentials does your state offer for addiction professionals? | Multiple certifications for helping people with addiction are accessible in the state I’ve chosen. Among these are the Certified Alcohol/Drug Counselor (CADC) certificate, the CADC-II certificate, the Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) certificate, the Certified Criminal Justice Addictions Professional (CCJP) certificate, and the Certified Prevention Specialist(CPS) certificate. |
| Which credential are you interested in pursuing? | After careful consideration, I have decided to pursue the Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) qualification. This credential will enable me to develop strategies for promoting wellness among patients, families, and community members with regards to drug use. Given my background as a healthcare practitioner, I believe that specializing in CPS will enhance my abilities as a nurse. I have a strong passion for learning and believe that this area of expertise will enable me to provide even better care to my patients. |
| URL for your state’s requirements: | https://csps-ma.org/certification |
Education Requirements Overview
Each state credentialing board outlines educational requirements by the following, quarter hours, semester hours, or credit hours. Please note the differences and use the formulas below to complete the rest of the worksheet.
- If state requirements are described by hours:
- 1 Capella quarter credit hour = 10 hours.
- If state requirements are described by semester hour:
- Divide semester hour by 1.5 to get Capella quarter credit hour.
Complete the table below using complete sentences.
PSYC FPX 2300 Assessment 1 Roadmap to an Addiction Professional Career
| It is necessary for me to earn a total of 12 quarter-credit hours from the University in order to fulfill the criteria for the certification. Of the total 4 Capella quarter credits, I can earn 3.6 credits online, while the remaining 0.4 credits must be obtained through other means. | What degree is required (none, associate, bachelor’s, master’s)? |
| How many educational hours are required? | It is necessary for me to earn a total of 12 quarter-credit hours from the University in order to fulfil the criteria for the certification. Of the total 4 Capella quarter credits, I can earn 3.6 credits online, while the remaining 0.4 credits must be obtained through other means. |
| Are there specific courses required for your state, and are there a certain number of hours in this content (that is, Ethics=4 hours)? | A CPS certificate necessitates that I take a number of classes, including. Prevention ethics: 0.6 Credit Hours.Cultural competence: 1 Credit Hour.Gambling education: 0.5 Credit Hours.Mental Health Education: 1 Credit Hour.HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C: 0.5 Credit Hours.Alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD): 3 credit hours.Prevention Practice and Theory: 3 Credit Hours.Electives: 1.9 Credit Hours. There are two other courses I must complete in addition to these. Massachusetts CPS Content Training: 3.6 Credit Hours.Prevention professional ethics: 0.6 Credit Hours. |
| What specific content is required? | The material that I will be studying for my CPS certification will cover a broad range of topics, including drug and alcohol abuse, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), mental health awareness, psychology, diversity, and ethical considerations. |
Other Requirements Overview
In addition to educational requirements, states require credentialing exams, supervision hours, and prior experience in the field. Complete the table below using complete sentences.
| How many hours of supervised experience is required? | To earn my CPS credential, I must accomplish 200 supervised quarter credit hours of work on alcohol, tobacco, and other substance abuse. |
| Are working experience hours required? If so, how many? | Yes, relevant work experience is a requirement for obtaining the CPS certification. Particularly, I will have to acquire 12 hours of work experience in the aforementioned areas in order to graduate from Capella University: administrative duties, clinical duties, and assessment processes for monitoring, evaluating, and improving learning experiences. |
| Are any licensing or certification tests required? | In order to acquire the necessary certification, I need to first take the CPS certification test and then the IC&RC International Examination for Prevention Specialists, both of which I must pass with good scores (CPS). Moreover , I must gain a certificate from the Massachusetts Board of Substance Abuse Counselor Certification (MBSACC). |
| What other requirements are there that you haven’t already listed on the form? | In addition to the aforementioned criteria, there are some additional requirements that I must fulfill. Among these are providing an application for CPS certificate that has been hand-written, signatured, and supported by all official certifications that are required. It is important that the name on each document correspond to the legal records, and every document must be verified by MBSACC. |
Final Thoughts
Based on your research, provide a summary paragraph of the requirements needed in your chosen state to become an addiction professional.
There are numerous requirements that must be met in order to obtain CPS certification. It is crucial that I complete all of these requirements in a timely manner, as they encompass various disciplines such as coursework and work experience. I found it helpful to break down the requirements and create a simple flowchart to better understand the process.
My aspiration to work in a clinical setting and provide direct care to patients is what drives me to pursue CPS certification as a nurse. CPS certification provides comprehensive training by necessitating practical work experience, which will enable me to learn more effectively in a classroom setting. According to Graupensperger et al. (2023), alcohol and drug use have risen, particularly among young adults. To assist patients with their diagnosis and deliver tailored solutions for health improvement, it is necessary to incorporate both evidence-based and clinically based resources. By earning my CPS credential, I will gain the foundational expertise in a variety of fields, including mental, psychological, and physical health, that will allow me to provide treatment that is uniquely tailored to each individual and further the cause of patient safety (Baker et al., 2023).
PSYC FPX 2300 Assessment 1 Roadmap to an Addiction Professional Career
References
Baker, J. T., Cusanno, B. R., & Dean, M. (2022). Dilemmas in patient-clinician communication about do-it-yourself hormone therapy: A qualitative study. SSM – Qualitative Research in Health, 100213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmqr.2022.100213
Graupensperger, S., Calhoun, B. H., Fleming, C. B., & Lee, C. M. (2023). Trends in Young Adult Alcohol and Cannabis Use through the First Year and a Half of the COVID-19 Pandemic from a Community Cohort Sample. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
