Who issues the certificate?
Individuals become certified through the Chemical Dependency Professionals Board. Additional information can be found at: http://ocdp.ohio.gov/
Am I eligible to enroll in the course?
Any Mount St. Joseph University degree-seeking student is eligible to enroll. In addition, a non-Mount student 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.
What is the cost of a CDCA course?
The total cost of a course is $1,665 or $555 per credit hour (3) plus applicable general fees.
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.
When is the course being offered?
The CDCA Preliminary course, SWK 410, is offered online and will begin in January 2020 and end in March 2020. The CDCA Renewable course, SWK 420, begins in the Fall of 2020.
How are the courses offered?
These courses are only offered in a fully online format.
How long is each course?
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 410 is designed to meet the 40 hour classroom requirement for CDCA Preliminary certification through the State of Ohio, and SWK 420 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 410 meets the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professional Board (OCDP) requirements for the Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant (CDCA) Preliminary, while SWK 420 meets the 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.
Do you also offer coursework for the CDCA Phase III requirements?
No, the Mount does not offer the CDCA Phase III course requirement.
How do I sign up for the program?
Contact Casey O'Neill by phone at 513-244-4598 or by email atCasey.Oneill@msj.edu to receive information on how to sign up for the program.