To meet the minimum education requirements for First-Year Registered Addiction Counselors (RAC), a person must enroll in and complete each paired course for a given college. Counselors cannot mix and match courses across colleges to meet these requirements.
Most colleges listed below will have start dates in May and June. Summer start dates will be updated in March 2026. Additional options for March and April of 2026 will be updated in early February.
Students should explore enrollment processes well in advance of course start dates.
Legend:
- “In-person” means that at least one class will require in-person/on-campus attendance.
- “Live online” means the class has a scheduled lecture, but it will be delivered via a platform such as Zoom. Students will not need to be in person.
- “Asynchronous” means that the class has materials to cover each week, but there is no scheduled or live lecture. Students can complete these requirements on their own time during the scheduled time for those materials.
- Options with stated times (e.g., “eight weeks”) mean that all courses can be completed within that time.
- Course numbers with an “H” are generally listed in college schedules under “Human Services.” The rest of the courses are either Psychology, Addiction Studies, or some derivation thereof.
- Note: This information is provided to help students navigate options that may be beneficial due to time constraints or the need for distance learning. Some programs with eight-week options still have full-semester options (16 to 18 weeks), just as some programs with online or asynchronous options may still have in-person or other live lectures. It is strongly encouraged that students explore the possibilities at the school they wish to attend for their Certificate of Achievement or Degree.
Private Colleges. The private colleges below offer pathways to earn degrees. Private colleges offer robust learning opportunities and in-depth knowledge of addiction studies. The courses listed below may have limited transferability. Students should consider using private college options if they plan to complete their certificate or degree from that program. The options below are accredited colleges with financial aid opportunities available.
America Evangelical University (Kairos Pacific University, a branch campus of AEU)
- Course pairing: CADC 104: Case Management; CADC 103: Law and Ethics for SUD Counselors; & CADC 105: Counseling
- Start date: Please check with the university for start dates of AALS and BALS degree programs
- Course pairing: AOD222X: Intro and Overview of AOD & AOD223X: Law and Ethics for SUD Counselors
- Start date: every three weeks. Taught entirely online/asynchronous
- Campuses: West Covina, Riverside, Granada Hills, Fairfield, and Rancho Cordova
University of Southern California – open to USC graduate students only and required for Master of Addiction Science and Master of Science in Nursing students seeking CATC IV certification.
- Coming soon
Public Colleges. The colleges below are community colleges. Most courses are generally transferable to other community colleges, but students should always consult with their college about any criteria. These schools all offer pathways to degrees, alternate or parallel careers, and transfer opportunities to universities, along with robust resources for student learning and support services. Community colleges offer programs to cover or waive tuition for most students, provide low-cost or no-cost textbooks, and offer gift-based financial aid to cover the cost of attendance, such as housing, food, transportation, and more to eligible students.
American River College (Sacramento, Sacramento County)
- Course pairing: HSER 340 / PSYCH 400: Introduction to Chemical Dependency & HSER 310: Ethical Issues and Client’s Rights
- Upcoming Start Dates: August 24 (in-person)
Antelope Valley College (Lancaster, Los Angeles County)
- Course pairing: PSY 102: Introduction to Alcohol & Other Drug Studies & PSY 106: Case Management, Law & Ethics
- Upcoming Start Dates: February 9 (asynchronous)
Cabrillo College (Aptos, Santa Cruz County)
- Course pairing 1: HSERV 161: Addiction Intervention, Treatment & Recovery & HSERV 51: Practices in the Human Services
- Course pairing 2: HSERV 164: Ethics & HSERV 60: Alcohol/Drugs and Society
- Upcoming Start Dates: January 23 (in-person)
Cerro Coso Community College (Ridgecrest, Kern and Inyo Counties)
- Course pairing: ADST C101: Introduction to Addiction Studies & ADST C106X: Law and Ethics in Addiction Counseling
- Upcoming start dates: January 17 (online)
College of the Desert (Palm Desert, Riverside County)
- Course pairing: HSAD 001 Intro Alcohol/Drugs & HSAD 025 Prevention, Intervention
- Upcoming start dates: January 26 (live-online)
Cypress College (Cypress, Orange County)
- Course pairing: HUSR 200: Introduction to Human Services & any other three-unit course for certificate or degree
- Upcoming start dates: February 2 (live-online)
Diablo Valley College (Pleasant Hill, Contra Costa County) – Addiction Counseling
- Course pairing: PH 127: Drugs, Health & Society & ADS 102: Motivational Interviewing
- Upcoming start dates: January 26 (in person)
East Los Angeles College (Los Angeles, Los Angeles County)
- Three courses required: (1) ADDICST 001 Understanding Addiction and Counseling & (2) ADDICST 007 Addiction Treatment and Recovery & (3) ADDICST 022 Prevention Specialist Training
- Upcoming start dates: January 5 (asynchronous, five weeks), February 9 (asynchronous, eight weeks), April 13 (asynchronous, eight weeks)
Fresno City College (Fresno, Kern County)
- Course pairing: HS 42: Introduction to Alcohol and Drug Counseling & HS 43: Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling: Case Management
- Upcoming start dates: January 12th (consecutive eight-week classes; in person)
Glendale Community College (Glendale, Los Angeles County)
- Course Pairing: ADST 101: Alcohol/Drug Abuse and Dependency & ADST 103: Chemical Dependency: Intervention, Treatment, and Recovery
- Upcoming start dates: February 17 (live online)
Imperial Valley College (Imperial, Imperial County)
- Course pairing: ADS 101: Intro to Addiction Studies & any other three-unit course for certificate or degree
- Upcoming dates: January 5 (asynchronous; five weeks), February 17 (asynchronous; eight weeks); April 20 (asynchronous; eight weeks)
Los Angeles City College (Los Angeles, Los Angeles County)
- Course pairing: ADDICST 001: Understanding Addiction and Counseling & Psych C 1000: Intro to Psychology.
- Upcoming start dates: February 9 (live online)
Los Angeles Southwest College (Los Angeles, Los Angeles County)
- Course pairing: Psychology 64: Introduction to Alcohol and Drug Abuse & Psychology 65: Chemical Dependency: Interventions, Treatment and Recovery
- Upcoming start dates: February 9 (asynchronous)
Long Beach City College (Long Beach, Los Angeles County)
- Course pairing: HS 43: Crisis Intervention, Treatment & Aftercare & HS 41: Introduction to Chemical Dependency
- Upcoming start dates: February 9 (in-person)
Madera City College (Madera, Madera County)
- Addiction studies coursework launching Fall 2026. Please consult the college for more options.
Merrit College (Oakland, Alameda County)
- Course pairing 1: COSER 41: Substance Abuse and the Law & COSER 25: Relapse Prevention
- Course pairing 2: Coser 28: Co-Occurring Disorders & Coser 26:Case Management
- Upcoming start dates: January 20 (in person)
Modesto Junior College (Modesto, Stanislaus County)
- Course pairing: HUMSR 101: Introduction to Human Services & HUMSR 120: Legal and Ethical Issues
- Upcoming start dates: January 12 (online)
Moreno Valley College (Moreno Valley, Riverside County)
- Course Pairing: HMS 5: Intro to Evaluation and Counseling & HMS 6: Intro to Case Management
- Upcoming start dates: February 17 (asynchronous)
Mt San Antonio College (Walnut, Los Angeles County)
- Course Pairing: AD 1: Intro to Addiction Counseling & AD 3: Prevention and Intervention
- Upcoming start dates: January 6 (asynchronous, six weeks), February 23 (live-online)
Oxnard City College (Oxnard, Ventura County)
- Course Pairing: ADS 102: Case Management & ADS 124: Ethics and Confidentiality
- Upcoming dates: January 12 (live online)
Palo Verde College (Blythe, Riverside County)
- Course Pairing 1 (Fall): ADS 101: Introduction to Addiction Studies & ADS 103: Case Management & Documentation
- Course Pairing 2 (Spring): ADS 104: Addiction Prevention Education and Outreach/Referral & ADS 110: Introduction to Human Services
- Upcoming start dates: January 26 (asynchronous)
Palomar College (San Marcos, San Diego County)
- Course pairing: Coming soon
Pierce College (Woodland Hills, Los Angeles County)
- Course pairing: AS 1: Understanding Addiction and Counseling & AS 7: Intervention, Treatment, and Recovery
- Upcoming start dates: February 9 (in-person)
Rio Hondo College (Whittier, Los Angeles County)
- Course pairing: Human Services 124: Case Management & Human Services 135: Law and Ethics
- Upcoming start dates: January 24 (live online)
Saddleback College (Mission Viejo, Orange County)
- Course pairing: HS 174: Case Administration, Crisis Intervention and Referral & HS 105: Ethical Issues and Clients’ Rights
- Upcoming start dates: January 12 (live online), March 23 (live online; eight weeks)
San Bernardino Valley College (San Bernardino, San Bernardino County)
- Course pairing: HUMSV 130: Intro to Addiction Studies & HUMSV 179: Law and Ethics
- Upcoming start dates: January 20 (asynchronous; eight weeks); March 23 (asynchronous; eight weeks)
San Diego City College (San Diego, San Diego County)
- Course pairing: AODS 150: Introduction to Chemical Dependency & AODS 154: Law, Ethics and Skills in Substance Abuse Counseling
- Upcoming start dates: Feb 2 (in-person)
San Joaquin Delta College (Stockton, San Joaquin County)
- Course Pairing: Psychology 40: Case Management / Treatment Planning & Psychology 26: Co-occurring Disorders
- Upcoming start dates: January 12 (delivered in 8-week courses, live-online options)
San Jose City College (San Jose, San Jose County) – not CAADE accredited
- Course pairing: ADS 70: Intro to Chemical Dependency & ADS 074: Ethics and Personal and Professional Development
- Upcoming start dates: January 26
College of San Mateo (San Mateo, San Mateo County)
- Course pairing: SOSC 301: Introduction to Addiction Studies & any other three-unit course toward certificate or degree
- Upcoming start dates: January 12 (in person)
Santa Barbara City College
- Course pairing: Coming Soon
- Upcoming start dates: January 26 (in person)
Santa Rosa Jr College (Santa Rosa, Sonoma County)
- Course pairing: SWHS 80: Intro to Addiction Studies & any other three-unit course toward certificate or degree
- Upcoming start dates: January 12 (live online)
Shasta College (Redding, Shasta County)
- Course pairing: ADS 11: Substance Abuse Counseling for Diverse Populations & ADS 10: Introduction to Addiction Studies
- Upcoming start dates: January 21 (online)
West Los Angeles College (Culver City, Los Angeles County)
- Course pairing: ADS 2: Physiology and Pharmacology of Psychoactive Drugs & ADS 007: Addiction Treatment & Recovery
- Upcoming start dates: February 9 (live online)
Community colleges not listed above may reach out to office@caade.org for questions and guidance. Students attending colleges not listed above may reach out to the college program for guidance.