Are you interested in serving the public? Rio Salado College’s Addictions & Substance Use Disorders (ASD) program can give you the background and skills you need to prepare you for a career as a counselor in the growing ASD field. You can take online classes that will give you a firm foundation in mental health, rehabilitation, criminal justice, psychology, relapse factors, family dynamics, professional ethics, and utilization of various intervention models. You can go through the ASD program on a part-time or full-time schedule, whichever works best for you.
Whether you’re pursuing a two-year degree or looking to expand your career options, Rio Salado College offers degree and certificate of completion programs to help you meet your educational goals.
The ASD degree and certificate programs will give you the skills and training you need to prepare you for jobs in a wide variety of fields that include:
Rio Salado College is a NAADAC (the Association for Addiction Professionals) approved education provider (provider #93246, expiration date 9/1/2021). Our program is accredited by the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission (NASAC) and Rio Salado College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Rio Salado College’s ASD program is led by Faculty Chair Dr. Kirk Bowden, past president of NAADAC and past chair of NASAC and the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. Dr. Bowden was awarded the Society For Addiction Psychology Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Public Interest at the 2020 American Psychological Association (APA) Annual Conference. This is an award conferred on APA members who've made distinguished and significant contributions to the advancement of public interest in the addictions field.
Students enrolling in this program can expect to learn from instructors who have hands-on, real-world experience in the ASD world.
Rio Salado College offers a certificate of completion (CCL) program with two levels, as well as an Associate degree program. Our Associate program includes both certificate levels as part of the curriculum, so if you've completed your CCL requirements you have already done half the work needed to get a two-year degree!
The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Addictions & Substance Use Disorders program has been designed by professionals in the ASD field to provide relevant skills and a deeper level of knowledge in the subject. It’s also a stepping stone towards getting a four-year degree at a university.
The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Addictions & Substance Use Disorders program is designed for students seeking to gain skills and knowledge in the ASD field.
Rio Salado College is committed to support you in achieving your professional and personal advancement goals. We offer affordable and convenient online Continuing Education Seminars, designed and taught by addictions professionals. Each online course provides 15 clock hours of continuing education.
The Associate of Applied Science in Addictions and Substance Use Disorders is designed to meet the coursework requirements for a Licensed Substance Abuse Technician in the State of Arizona. For students seeking certification or licensure in a state other than Arizona, you may need to fulfill additional coursework or training requirements prior to applying for your certification or licensure, and additional requirements including but not limited to: obtaining a fingerprint clearance card, passing licensure or certification exams, completing supervised work experience in the practice of substance abuse counseling, and/or a supervised practicum.
The Rio Salado Addictions and Substance Use Disorders Program State Approval Map identifies whether the Rio Salado Addictions and Substance Use Disorders program meets or does not meet academic requirements for licensure/certification state-by-state.
Browse the class schedule to find the classes you need.
Learn how to be a force for healing and health in your community by enrolling in Rio Salado's Addictions & Substance Use Disorders program.
