Master of Rehabilitation Counseling - Addiction Counseling

On this page:

• Why Choose Addiction Counseling?
• Addiction Counseling Narrative Report
• Careers
• Real-World Experience
• Academics and Curriculum
• Admission
• Practicum
• Internship
• Program Outcomes

Why Choose Addiction Counseling?

You can earn a Master of Rehabilitation Counseling (M.R.C.) degree in addiction counseling at Wright State University. This degree qualifies you to earn professional counseling licensure (LPC) in Ohio by taking the National Counseling Exam (NCE). Licensure and certification requirements vary from state to state, and we have not determined if this program meets educational requirements outside of Ohio. If you are planning to pursue professional licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please contact the appropriate licensing entity in that state to seek information and guidance regarding that state’s licensure or certification requirements. Addiction counseling is a designated Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) entry-level specialty area. The addiction counseling program is not a rehabilitation counseling program and does not qualify you for the certified rehabilitation counselor credential (CRCC). If interested in acquiring CRCC credential, the clinical rehabilitation counseling concentration in the Department of Human Services is the appropriate specialty area. 

You will pursue an in-depth study of addictions, clinical treatment, diagnosis, counseling theory, and practice. If you become an LPC, you can provide the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders with appropriate clinical supervision. You can also earn your independent clinical license with two years of post-master's degree supervision and successful passing of the National Mental Health Counseling Examination to earn the PCC. You would also be eligible to apply for the Ohio Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor (LICDC). 

In addition to working as a professional counselor, addiction counseling graduates may also work as prevention specialists and employee assistant counselors. Some of the courses required in this program are also offered as traditional classes taught face to face. 

Program Highlights

• Program is offered completely online with some optional face to face courses.  
• Program allows you to take the National Counseling Exam (NCE) to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Ohio 
• Program allows you to become an Ohio Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor (LICDC) 
• You will log 700 hours of field experience through a required practicum and internship.  
• Program can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. 
• Program provides in-depth study of addictions, clinical treatment, diagnosis, counseling theory, and practice. 

Contact Information

Program Director:
Mary Huber Ph.D., CRC
108U Allyn Hall
937-775-2022/2075
mary.huber@wright.edu

Related Links

• Graduate Student Handbook (PDF)
• Department of Human Services graduate counseling program FAQ

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Addiction Counseling Narrative Report

The data presented below is from the MRC Chemical Dependency program in 2018 and 2019. The program transitioned to a CACREP Addictions Counseling in 2020. New data will be available in 2021. 

In 2018, there were three graduates of Wright State University's MRC chemical dependency program. In 2019, there were 10 students in the chemical dependency counseling program. The pass rate for graduates taking the CRC certification examination in the last 3 years was 100%. Of the admitted students, 60% graduate from the program in the expected time period and 100% of those program graduates responding to request for information were employed in the field.   

• Year: 2018 
• Number of Graduates: 3  
• Completion Rate: 60%*  
• Exam Pass Rate (3-year average): 100%  
• Placement: 100%  

*Represents the percentage of students that graduated within the 3-year expected time frame. Many students exceed this time frame due to part-time enrollment. 

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Careers

Many careers exist in the field of drug abuse treatment and prevention. The drug abuse treatment field is a rewarding career choice for many people, as it makes a difference in the lives of millions of people annually. Those who work in this field use hard work and determination to help patients earn sobriety, which is worth more than a paycheck to many. 

Career opportunities in the field of addiction counseling are growing much faster than average and are expected to grow by 22 percent between 2018 and 2028.  

The College of Education and Human Services has provided a dedicated career consultant to assist you in connecting your major to a career. The career consultant focuses on staying up to date on career trends in education, kinesiology and health, leadership, and human services. Our assigned career consultant is an extension of services offered through Wright State’s Career Services.   

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Real-World Experience 

You will practice and build skills in both a required practicum and internship. You will complete 100 hours during your practicum and 40 of those hours will involve direct contact with clients. For internships, you are required to complete 600 clock hours of experience in a clinical setting that works with individuals experiencing addiction issues. This setting must allow interns the opportunity to treat and diagnose mental and emotional disorders under the supervision of a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with Supervisor (LPCC-S). You must spend a minimum of 240 hours in direct contact treating and diagnosing mental and emotional disorders. Faculty will support you in finding a placement that meets the minimum requirements.

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Academics and Curriculum

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Admission

Admission Requirements

• 2.7 cumulative minimum GPA or better, and GRE score of 291 (Q&V sections combined) or MAT scaled score of 403

OR

• 3.3 cumulative minimum GPA

*Applicants can also be admitted conditionally if cumulative GPA is between 2.3 and 2.7

Admission Deadlines

The graduate counseling and addiction counseling programs review and admit new student twice a year. You are eligible to begin your program the following semester after you are admitted (i.e.., students admitted in the fall are eligible to start taking classes in the spring semester, and so on.) The deadline to have all required application materials submitted to the Graduate School is as follows:

• Fall 2021: December 1, 2020
• Spring 2022: August 7, 2021
• Only complete applications will be forward to the Department of Human Services office for review. Please check with the Graduate School at 937-775-2976 to determine if your application is complete. After department review, successful candidates will be invited to a required group interview (successful candidates will receive an invitation via mail). Group interview details are provided in the invitation letter.

Admission Process

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Practicum

• Practicum and Internship Prerequisites (PDF)
• Semester Schedule (PDF)
• Graduate Counseling Practicum Manual (PDF)

Application for Practicum

Practicum Requirements 

The following indicates the minimum requirements for counseling practicum placements (based on a 15-week semester). 

On-Site Requirements Individual and Group Practicum (RHB 8650): You are required to spend a minimum of seven hours per week* (for a minimum total of 100 hours per semester) at your site; however, a site may require additional hours. Of the 100 hours, a minimum of 40 must involve direct client contact. Of these 40 hours, at least 25 percent (10 hours) must be of individual counseling and at least 25 percent (10 hours) must be of group counseling. The remaining 50 percent (20 hours) may be a combination of counseling: individuals, groups, couples, families, consultation, and appraisal. In addition, one hour per week must be direct individual supervision of the practicum student by the site supervisor. For purposes of critique and evaluation, two videotapes are required. Intake interviews alone will not fulfill these requirements. You will be responsible for following site procedures, both for securing permission to tape and ensuing the confidentiality of the obtained tape. You are strongly encouraged to exceed the minimum number of required counseling hours per week. 

*Wright State University’s summer sessions are 12-week semesters. If you are registered for practicum during a summer semester, you will be required to spend a minimum of nine hours per week at your site to obtain the minimum 100 hours required for practicum. If you are in the addiction counseling programs, you must have a site supervisor who is a PCC-S.  

Practicum Appendices 

• Appendix 1—Application (Online Form)
• Appendix 2—Practicum Contract (PDF)
• Appendix 3—Practicum Site Supervisor Information (PDF)
• Appendix 4—Practicum Site Information (PDF)
• Appendix 5—Practicum Site Supervisor Evaluation of Student, Chemical Dependency (PDF)
• Appendix 6—Student's Evaluation of Practicum Site (PDF)
• Appendix 7—Time Log, Traditional Format (PDF)
• Appendix 7—Time Log, Electronic Format (XLSX)
• Appendix 8—Counselor Trainee (CT) Status (PDF)

*Note: All of these appendices and the information regarding them can be found in the practicum manual. 

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Internship

• Graduate Counseling Internship Manual (PDF)

Prerequisites

In addition to completing the requirements for practicum, the practicum (RHB 8650) must be completed.

Internship Requirements

he following are minimum internship requirements. Students must spend 100 hours on site for each credit registered per semester. Students are required to complete a total of 600 clock hours of experience in a clinical setting that works with individuals experiencing addiction issues. This setting must allow interns the opportunity to treat and diagnose mental and emotional disorders under the supervision of a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with Supervisor (LPCC-S) status. Students must spend a minimum of 240 hours in direct contact treating and diagnosis mental and emotional disorders. Students in the Addiction Counseling program are required to complete a total of 600 clock hours of experience in a facility that treats people with addictions and other mental and emotional concerns.   

The student is required to complete a total of 6 credits of RHB 8670 for a minimum of 600 hours at his/her internship site. Of the required 600 hours, 240 must be in direct service to the agency’s clientele. Credit hours may be divided over the desired number of semesters with the following requirements: 

• 1 hour per week minimum of direct supervision with the site supervisor per week. 
• 1.5 hours per week minimum of group supervision with the university faculty supervisor. 

Students are also required to complete a log for the time spent at the internship site identifying tasks performed. At the end of the week, a personal reaction summary should be written regarding the student's experience at the internship site. These logs must be typed and submitted every three weeks or on the due dates specified in the syllabus. 

All logs and evaluation forms MUST be submitted to the university supervisor by 4 p.m. the Tuesday of finals week. It is the student's responsibility to make sure all forms and assignments have been submitted on time to receive their grade. Students who do not turn in required documentation by the deadline will receive an unsatisfactory grade. Students must have an appropriate credentialed faculty supervisor and a PCC-S site supervisor.  

The entire application package consists of:

• Resume
• Verification of Professional Liability Insurance (photocopy of the insurance application and check will fulfill this requirement)
• Copy of academic advising report from Wings Express
• Verification of membership in professional counseling organization (ACA)
• Appendix 1 (Application Form) (Online Form)

This information must be submitted to the graduate assistant for practicum and internship. Students MUST reapply each semester they plan to take internship. After the above information is received, you will be notified of your conditional acceptance and you will have approximately two weeks to submit the following to the graduate assistant for practicum and internship: 

• Appendix 2 (Internship Contract) (PDF)
• Appendix 3 (Internship Site Supervisor Information) (PDF)
• Copy of the Supervisor’s License
• Appendix 4 (Internship Site Information) (PDF)
• Copies of Trainee Supervision Agreement which you will submit to the CSWMFT board for counselor trainee status (only if you are working toward the PC licensure and if this is your 1st semester of internship)
• Proposal of Internship Objectives (this should be submitted to your university supervisor)

Additional Internship Appendices

• Appendix 5 (Site Supervisor Evaluation of Intern, Addictions) (PDF)
• Appendix 6 (Student Evaluation of Internship Site) (PDF)
• Appendix 7 (Time Log, Traditional Format) (PDF)
• Appendix 7 (Time Log, Electronic Format) (Excel File)
• Appendix 8 (Counselor Trainee (CT) Status) (PDF)

*Note: All of these appendices and the information regarding them can be found in the internship manual. 

Internship may be accomplished in one of the following sequences:

Sequence 1: 2 credit hours per semester (for 3 semesters)

• A minimum of 14 clock hours per week on site for fall and spring semester, and 17 clock hours per week on site for summer semester (minimum 200 clock hours per semester). 
• A minimum of 80 direct client contact clock hours. Additional requirements are detailed in the graduate counseling internship manual. 
• A minimum of 1 clock hour per week of direct face-to-face supervision with the LPCC-S Site Supervisor. 
• A minimum of 1.5 clock hours per week of group supervision with the university faculty supervisor. 

Sequence 2: 3 credit hours per semester (for 2 semesters)

• A minimum of 20 clock hours per week on site for fall and spring semesters, and 25 clock hours per week for summer semester at the site (300 clock hours minimum per semester). 
• A minimum of 120 direct client contact clock hours. Additional requirements are detailed in the graduate counseling internship manual. 
• A minimum of 1 clock hour per week of direct face-to-face supervision with the LPCC-S site supervisor. 
• A minimum of 1.5 clock hours per week of group supervision with the university faculty supervisor. 

Sequence 3: 4 credit hour semester (for a combination of 2 credit hours one semester and 4 credit hours another semester)

• A minimum of 27 clock hours per week at the site for fall and spring semester and 34 clock hours per week at the site for summer semester (400 clock hours minimum per semester). 
• A minimum of 160 direct client contact clock hours. Additional requirements are detailed in the graduate counseling internship manual. 
• A minimum of 1 clock hour per week of direct face-to-face supervision with the LPCC-S Site Supervisor per week. 
• A minimum of 1.5 clock hours per week of group supervision with the university faculty supervisor. 

Sequence 4: 6 credit hour semester (Fall or Spring Semester Only)

• A minimum of 40 clock hours per week at the site for fall and spring semester (600 clock hours minimum per semester). 
• A minimum of 320 direct client contact clock hours. Additional requirements are detailed in the graduate counseling internship manual. 
• A minimum of 1.5 clock hour per week of direct face-to-face supervision with the PCC-S site supervisor per week. 
• A minimum of 1.7 clock hours per week of group supervision with the university faculty supervisor. 

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Program Outcomes