VITERBO ALCOHOL AND DRUG COUNSELING PROGRAM RECEIVES BOARD CERTIFICATION

LA CROSSE, Wis. - The Alcohol and Drug Counseling Certification Program at Viterbo College was recently certified by the Education & Training Committee of the Wisconsin Certification Board—making it the only program of its kind in the area endorsed by the state board.

The program, designed to develop knowledge and skills in identifying substance abuse problems, utilize resources and referrals, and deliver effective intervention and treatment services, is a series of seven psychology courses which fulfill the 360 hours of educational and classroom experience required for drug and alcohol counselor certification. The other requirement is supervised practice, which is arranged by the students and their employers.

While most students in the courses are full-time and from a variety of disciplines, the program also accommodates non-traditional students who are employed full-time and still seek certification. Many of the courses are offered in the evening or over the lunch hour and, in addition, non-traditional students can receive college credit for work experience.

"We designed the program to be accessible to multiple disciplines because chemical abuse and dependency permeate so many areas of society. Individuals working in the human service fields, psychology, nursing, social work, criminal justice, healthcare, education, and business often work with clients, patients, co-workers, and acquaintances who are abusing or dependent on chemicals," says Debra Murray, coordinator of the Certification Program.

For more information on the Alcohol and Drug Counseling Certification Program at Viterbo, contact Debra Murray at 796-3720.