College officials say the offering will provide students with more career opportunities.
Rowan College at Burlington County, an educational provider with the Addiction Professionals Certification Board of New Jersey, Inc. (APCBNJ), is now offering the training required to apply for the Chemical Dependency Associate credential (CDA), which college officials say will provide students with more career opportunities.
“I am pleased Rowan College at Burlington County has created a new career pathway that will prepare students to join our fight against the scourge of drug and alcohol addiction,” said Burlington County Freeholder Deputy Director Linda Hughes, chair of the county’s Addiction Task Force. “As we work to expand access to treatment, this new program joins our recent initiatives to reopen Post House Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center and supporting the Opioid Overdose Recovery Program. It is so important that we continue to provide assistance and resources to residents battling addiction.”
Officials say the CDA provides a clear career path for students interested in a career in drug and alcohol counseling and is also advantageous for those with career goals in other related areas such as mental health or corrections.
“Students interested in working to help people overcome drug or alcohol abuse can register now to obtain a real marketable credential,” RCBC Acting President Dr. Michael Cioce said. “This is not only good for RCBC and our students, but the entire region, which needs skilled workers to address this epidemic.”
Officials say RCBC became an APCBNJ provider in 2005. The college offers all the required coursework to apply for the CDA credential, which serves as a first step in a substance-abuse prevention career and contains the courses required for more advanced certification.
“Earning the entry-level CDA credential proves to employers that you are serious about educational and professional development,” said Brina Sedar, RCBC Assistant Professor of Human Services. “Employers have a need for these qualified applicants and students who earn this credential will have an advantage when looking for jobs. In addition, RCBC is offering APCBNJ-approved educational hours beyond the CDA requirements and the hours may be applied toward initial certification for their Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor or Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor credential.”
RCBC also offers a degree program in human services. According to officials, students majoring in human services only need to take the Addiction Dynamics and Interventions course as their elective to qualify for both the CDA and their associate in human services. The associate degree program is designed to prepare students to work in a variety of settings, including community health centers, senior citizen and social agencies and organizations, halfway houses, rehabilitation programs, and more.
The RCBC fall registration is currently underway at www.rcbc.edu.
