Rutgers Launches Nation's 1st Drug Counselor Apprenticeship

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — Rutgers University announced Tuesday the school will launch the nation’s first-ever apprenticeship program for certified alcohol and drug counselors. While Rutgers and other institutions have offered drug- and alcohol-counselor training in years past, this is the first time in the nation it is offered as an earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship program.

There was a pilot class last year and the first official class starts this February. The 200 students who will be part of it haven't been selected yet. That process is just beginning and anyone who’s interested in applying for the free program can email its executive director, Dr. Padma Arvind at parvind@smlr.rutgers.edu. Rutgers assists with job placement after students complete the on-the-job training and pass the certification exam.

Gov. Chris Christie and Rutgers President Robert Barchi, among others, made the announcement Tuesday at the Livingston Student Center on the Rutgers New Brunswick campus.

The apprenticeship is free for those selected for it: It will consist of 270 hours of free classroom instruction at Rutgers and 3,100 hours of paid on-the-job training with a participating health care employer. Those studying to become alcohol and drug counselors will learn the science of addiction, counseling techniques, crisis intervention, case management and addiction recovery.

Apprentices who successfully complete the program and pass the state certification exam will be qualified to work as certified alcohol and drug counselors in addiction treatment centers, community health centers and hospitals.

The Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations received $1.3 million in state funding to launch the apprenticeship program.

There is a growing demand for addiction recovery specialists, both nationwide and here in New Jersey: The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the employment of substance abuse and behavioral counselors will grow 20 percent from 2016 to 2026 – much faster than the average for all occupations.

Proponents, such as Gov. Christie, say this is an important step in New Jersey’s ongoing efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.

Pictured: Gov. Chris Christie and Rutgers President Robert Barchi pictured Tuesday announcing the new program at the Rutgers camps. Photo by Amanda Brown/Rutgers University