Career Ladder

The Family & Human Services Department offers a career ladder in addiction counseling that prepares students for state certificate/licensure at the Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s levels. Our program is approved by the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB) and NAADAC. If you are not from Kansas, please contact your state licensing board to see if we meet your needs.

1. Associate's Degree

Our Associate’s degree in Family & Human Services (with the inclusion of HS 323, Service Coordination, as an elective) qualifies students to apply for certification as a Person Centered Case Manager (PCCM) with the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services. Courses may be taken online or face-to-face (or both). Internships may be completed at an approved addiction counseling agency in your home community. All courses in the Associate’s degree may be applied to the next step in the career ladder: the Bachelor’s Degree. 



2. Bachelor's Degree/Certificate in Addiction Counseling

In order to become a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) in Kansas with the BSRB, you need a Bachelor's degree and 33 credit hours of specific coursework in addiction counseling. We offer a Bachelor's degree in Family & Human Services with an emphasis in addiction counseling that includes these 33 credit hours.

For students who already have a Bachelor's degree but don't have the necessary addiction courses, we offer a 33 credit hour Certificate in Addiction Counseling to prepare you to sit for the LAC examination. We may be able to accept some previous coursework from other universities toward our Certificate if this coursework is in-line with BSRB requirements. Classes may be taken online or face-to-face (or both).

Internships may be completed at an approved addiction counseling agency in your home community. (Note: students who have an LBSW should contact the department to learn more about the fast-track option for getting a LAC).



3. Master's Degree

For students who already have a bachelor’s degree, we offer a Master's degree in Family & Human Services with an emphasis in Addiction Counseling that provides the coursework students need to become Licensed Masters Addiction Counselors (LMAC) and Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselors (LCAC) in Kansas. This program is 36 credit hours and fully online.


GET IN TOUCH WITH Family & Human Services

Family & Human Services
Benton Hall, Room 311
1700 SW College Ave.
Topeka, KS 66621

Phone & Email
Ph: 785.670.2116
human-services@washburn.edu

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