A substance use disorder professional (SUDP) is a professional certified by the Washington State Department of Health to work with individuals of all ages who are experiencing problems with substance use, abuse, and addiction. SUDPs are counselors who provide assessment, counseling, and treatment to individuals, groups, and families. They may be working as members of treatment teams in inpatient or outpatient settings, in schools, medical clinics, hospitals, or other community agencies. They have deep knowledge of the effects of psychoactive drugs, legal and ethical considerations, interviewing, and counseling techniques to support clients who are accessing treatment services. SUDPs promote recovery by providing client education, advocacy, and prevention services. 

Yes. You must apply to the Department of Health and meet their various eligibility requirements. This includes completing supervised experience hours, passing a credentialing exam, and meeting other eligibility requirements that may include a criminal background check.

For complete details about substance use disorder professional requirements please review the SUDPT and SUDP application, as well as contacting the Washington State Department of Health (360-236-4700) or www.doh.wa.gov.

To become a substance use disorder professional, students must have an associate degree in human services or related field from an approved school or successful completion of ninety quarter or sixty semester college credits in courses from an approved school. At least forty-five quarter or thirty semester credits must be in courses relating to the substance use disorder profession and must include the topics specific to alcohol and drug addicted individuals, as listed in the WAC 246-811-030. Whatcom Community College’s certificate and degree are designed to meet these educational requirements.

An approved school means any college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body, at the time the applicant completed the required education or other educational programs approved by the secretary. Whatcom Community College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

The Washington State Department of Health accepts and reviews applications for substance use disorder professional trainees (SUDPT) and substance use disorder professionals (SUDP). We recommend you review the Department of Health website as well as SUDPT and SUDP applications and contact their office with specific questions. 

Your transcript will need to be reviewed to determine this. To apply credits earned elsewhere toward any degree or certificate, an official transcript from other colleges must be received by the registrar's office and officially evaluated. There is a form within the program application, where you can list previously completed courses that you would like to be evaluated to transfer in to this degree or certificate.

For the associate in applied science degree, there are no specific life experience or training requirements for the substance use disorder professional program. Successful students will have a passion for helping others, strong interpersonal and communication skills, empathy, boundaries, and commitment to professionalism. The certificate program does require a prior degree.