This is a 26.5-unit California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) accredited Certificate that will prepare students to work as credentialed counselors in Substance Use Disorder Programs. This program is designed for working adults, new and returning students. The Addiction & Recovery Counseling Certificate is funded by the San Francisco Department of Public Health /Behavioral Health Service (BHS).

Accreditation by the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals is important because the California Department of Alcohol & Drug Programs now requires all Substance Use Disorder counselors to be certified within five years of registering with a certifying organization.

Substance Use Disorder counselors perform many duties of which the following are but a few: provide clinical evaluations, develop treatment plans, provide referrals, coordinate client-centered services, provide individual, group or family counseling and provide community education and outreach.

Substance Use Disorder counselors work in various arenas such as: inpatient and outpatient treatment programs, residential treatment programs, jail treatment programs, juvenile services, homeless programs, mental health services, harm reduction centered programs, maternal-child health programs, and senior services.

The average starting salary for a Substance Use Disorder counselor in San Francisco ranges from $32,000-$50,000 depending on the agency and experience.

Part-time students can complete the certificate in 4 semesters. Many students in our program work full time and may take longer to complete the certificate.

Yes. Students must take and successfully complete (with a grade of "C" or higher) Health 100: Introduction to Addiction & Recovery Counseling. This 1-unit course provides an overview of the Addiction & Recovery Counseling field as well as an orientation to the requirements of the CCSF Addiction & Recovery Counseling program.

This is a vocational training program that requires a significant time commitment, discipline, stability, maturity, and predictability. As part of the program, you will be required to complete 300 internship hours for CCAPP certification.

Classes begin every semester. Refer to City College Class Schedule for specific dates and times. After completing Health 100, classes must be taken sequentially.

1. Complete the CCSF Application Online or at the Admissions & Records Office.
2. Register for class

1. Enroll in HLTH 100
2. Email Eric Lewis, edlewis@ccsf.edu, to schedule an appointment

Classes are held at the Ocean Campus. Most required classes are held after 5 p.m.* During the third and fourth semesters, students will be required to complete 300 hours (150 hours x 2 semesters) at an internship site. 

City College of San Francisco classes are $46 per unit plus a student health and registration fee each semester. (Community College prices are subject to change.) You can expect to spend approximately $2000 for the Certificate program (not counting books). Extensive financial aid is available to students who qualify. Visit the financial aid website for more information.

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