Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much does it cost?
A: Currently for North Carolina residents, tuition is $69.00 per credit hour and $261.00 per credit hour for non-residents. There are also other fees such as a student activity fee, a campus access, parking, and security fee, and a technology fee that are based on the number of credit hours taken. Some courses include a lab fee. (tuition is set by the state and is subject to change) For more information on tuition click here.
Q: Is State Certification/Licensure required to work in the field of substance abuse?
A: Yes, if you are working with substance abuse specifically. However, you can, in fact it is required, that you work in the field while you are in the process of obtaining your certification/licensure.
Q: How do I learn more about State Certification/Licensure?
A: Contact the North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board at 919-832-0975 or www.ncsappb.org
Q: If I complete the certificate or degree program at CPCC, will I be certified by the State?
A: No. The certification process is outlined by the NCSAPPB. Those requirements are found at the contact information listed above. CPCC certificates and degree program will provide you the required number of education/training hours needed. The degree as well as the Case Management and Counseling Certificates will also provide you with the 300 hours of clinical supervision required. The information obtained in all courses helps to prepare you for the State written exam.
Q: Do I have to complete the degree or certificate program to become certified?
A: No. However, we do offer a high quality, cost-effective, and efficient path towards certification.
Q: How long does it take to complete the degree program?
A: The degree program is a total of 76 credit hours. If you are a full-time student taking 12 hours/semester, it would take you roughly 6 semesters to complete. If you take more hours each semester or transfer hours in from another college it will take you less time, if you can only attend on a part-time basis it will take you longer to complete. The Program Chair works with each student every semester to advise them on course sequence and offers guidance on how many credit hours to take.
Q: How long does it take to complete the certificate program?
A: Most students complete in 4 semesters, but may take longer depending on scheduling. It is imperative to seek advisement from the Program Chair for course sequence to complete as quickly as possible. Please note this timeframe does not apply to students that have a degree in an unrelated field and will need to take additional courses. The timeframe for those students varies depending on how many additional classes they may need to take.
Q: Where do I do my internships?
A: Once all requirements have been met, the student will meet with the Program Chair to discuss the agency that might best suit the student’s interests, strengths and schedule. The purpose of your internship is to learn the 12 core functions of a substance abuse professional, therefore an internship site must be substance abuse specific.
Q: Do you offer any classes online?
A: Currently no substance abuse classes are offered online. Our classes are very interactive and often have experiential aspects to them, thus are not conducive to online instruction. Many of the general education classes are offered online.
Q: Do you offer any classes in the summer?
A: No. However, some of the general education hours are offered during the summer.
Q: Which campuses do you offer classes at?
A: All substance abuse and human services technology classes are on central campus. Several general education classes are offered at a variety of campus locations.
Q: Whom do I contact for more detailed information on the Substance Abuse Programs?
A: The program Chair for Substance Abuse is Frankie Tack. She may be reached at 704-330-6749 or Frankie.Tack@cpcc.edu is the preferred method of contact.
