Guiding Recovery, Inspiring Hope, Changing Lives

Earn your Associate’s degree in Substance Use Disorder Professional

Take the first step in supporting individuals toward their path of recovery. Substance Use Disorder professionals develop a deep understanding of substance use disorders and their impact on individuals, families, and communities. The SUDP program at Highline College prepares students for positions in substance use prevention, intervention, and treatment. It also fulfills the educational requirements for licensure as a Substance Use Disorder professional in Washington state. If you have already earned a college degree in human services or a related field you may complete the 45 credits of Substance Use Disorder coursework required for SUDP certification.

In addition to our comprehensive curriculum in SUDP, you will have the opportunity to apply classroom learning to the “real world” through a structured field experience program.

Upon enrolling in an academic program and beginning your preparation to become a Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP) complete and submit an application to become a Substance Use Disorder Trainee (SUDP-T). The application, along with addition Substance Use Disorder Professional requirements and procedures, can be accessed at the Washington State Department of Health – Chemical Dependency Professional webpage.

Questions about the program? Contact us at humanservices@highline.edu, or complete our information request form.

Career Outlook

Over the next 5-7 years Washington state is expected to see 71,500 new positions in SUDP, Behavioral Health, and Mental Health Counseling. The average annual salary for a SUD professional in the greater Seattle area is $60,450 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022).

Sample Careers Include:

• Substance Use Disorder Counselor
• Group Counselor
• Substance Use Case Manager

Program Cost:

$9,846 for tuition, plus books and other fees. Financial Aid is available. Fees and costs are subject to change.

Program Length:

Two years for full-time students (full-time is 12 credits or more).  Students may also attend part-time. Classes are offered in multiple modalities, with  many offered in an online or virtual (Zoom) format. Students may start any quarter.

START HERE, STAY HERE!

The AAS in Substance Use Disorder Professional transfers directly into the Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Human Services at Highline College, opening doors for promotion, increased salary, and increased responsibility and leadership.

Questions about the program? Contact us at humanservices@highline.edu, or complete our information request form.

View program map View Degree requirements

Those courses are listed below, along with the academic quarter during which they are taught. Please consult the current Highline College class schedule for course times and formats.