03-28-2024, 03:23 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-28-2024, 03:25 PM by studyingfortests.)
Hi, folks.
In my job, I work with a lot of drug/alcohol counselors. In CA, the SUDCC/CADC/CATC credential (same credential, we have three completely separate certifying bodies for some reason) requires only about 10 college classes. Further, two of the three certifying bodies will accept certificates from schools that have no accreditation; they are basically trade schools that provide education of highly variable quality. The result is many students completed their drug/alcohol schooling through these schools of questionable quality, and the credits are thus unlikely to transfer to a legitimate college or university.
I am often asked about degree planning for these folks, since many want to go on to MFT/LPC/MSW graduate degrees.
Also, these counselors typically are working at very low wages (for their responsibilities) by CA standards; often $20-25/hour, so they don't have a lot of money to pay for schooling.
Finally, many of these counselors are, themselves, in recovery, which typically (but certainly not always) means they lack academic preparation, but those who are pursuing higher education do have a high degree of motivation to better themselves.
Would Sophia + Pierpoint likely be the best route to start their journey? Or UMPI? The only concern about UMPI is it seems to have more picky general ed requirements including math and foreign language that either don't exist at TESU, or are easier to fulfill (math via CSMLearn, for example). But the problem with TESU is that they will hae to pay the $3500 waiver, which, as I understand, cannot be covered with student loans. Most counselors will have no way to get the $3500, and since most also work full time, they are likely to have difficulty going the full semester 15 credit route to save money that way.
Thoughts?
In my job, I work with a lot of drug/alcohol counselors. In CA, the SUDCC/CADC/CATC credential (same credential, we have three completely separate certifying bodies for some reason) requires only about 10 college classes. Further, two of the three certifying bodies will accept certificates from schools that have no accreditation; they are basically trade schools that provide education of highly variable quality. The result is many students completed their drug/alcohol schooling through these schools of questionable quality, and the credits are thus unlikely to transfer to a legitimate college or university.
I am often asked about degree planning for these folks, since many want to go on to MFT/LPC/MSW graduate degrees.
Also, these counselors typically are working at very low wages (for their responsibilities) by CA standards; often $20-25/hour, so they don't have a lot of money to pay for schooling.
Finally, many of these counselors are, themselves, in recovery, which typically (but certainly not always) means they lack academic preparation, but those who are pursuing higher education do have a high degree of motivation to better themselves.
Would Sophia + Pierpoint likely be the best route to start their journey? Or UMPI? The only concern about UMPI is it seems to have more picky general ed requirements including math and foreign language that either don't exist at TESU, or are easier to fulfill (math via CSMLearn, for example). But the problem with TESU is that they will hae to pay the $3500 waiver, which, as I understand, cannot be covered with student loans. Most counselors will have no way to get the $3500, and since most also work full time, they are likely to have difficulty going the full semester 15 credit route to save money that way.
Thoughts?
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