LSC-Montgomery Agreement with ICDS Yields College Credit for Students

A new affiliation agreement between Lone Star College-Montgomery and the Institute of Chemical Dependency Studies will result in college credit for previously taken ICDS courses, providing progress towards an associate’s degree in a field that is in great need of qualified professionals.

“LSC-Montgomery is pleased to be able to now accept ICDS students into our associate-level substance abuse counseling program and give them transfer credit for the courses they have already completed,” said LSC-Montgomery Associate Professor of Human Services, Glen Killian, MA, LPC.

Students who trained at the Institute of Chemical Dependency Studies receive ACE (American Council in Education) credits, ACE 24 college credits for those who complete the training. However we have found that a direct relationship with specific educational institutions is more beneficial to our students said Institute Director Carol Cloud.
  “We knew that there are colleges, particularly those with substance abuse programs, who would be interested in a direct relationship with ICDS through an articulation agreement, so we approached LSC-Montgomery about working with us to provide an option for our students who wanted to put their work towards a certificate or an associate’s degree,” said Cloud.

LSC-Montgomery offers a specialized Basic Chemical Dependency Counselor Certificate and a Human Services Certificate which both lead to credit towards the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Human Services program.

Career InfoNet reports that substance abuse counselor jobs in Texas will increase by 35 percent over the next six years.

“There are more counselors retiring than there are entering the field, plus there is an increasing need for counselors as addiction treatment becomes more accepted,” said Cloud. “With the national exposure that substance abuse is given in todays world be it through alcoholic characters on television, drug abusing celebritiesthe news media, or prescription drug addicted individuals sharing their stories on Oprah, people are becoming more familiar with it. Drug and alcohol addiction effects a broad spectrum of people and is not isolated to certain socio-economic populations. Addictions happens in all types of families, it’s not something to be ashamed of.”

Killian said training for a career in substance abuse counseling at this point in time is wise due to the relatively small investment of time (approximately 21 hours to earn the basic chemical dependency certificate and 60 to earn the Human Services associate’s degree ) and money (community colleges like LSC-Montgomery are less expensive than four-year schools).

“Treating substance abuse is a field where a great number of professionals are needed and we have the ability to train them, and this new partnership with the Institute of Chemical Dependency Studies just increases the options for those wanting to make additional progress in this field.” 

As of January 1, 2009, LSC-Montgomery began offering credit for courses taken at the Institute of Chemical Dependency Studies . For more information on the credits to be received, as well as the LSC-Montgomery Basic Chemical Dependency Certificate, the Human Services Certificate, or the Human Services Associate’s degree programs, visit the Web site: http://montgomery.lonestar.edu/11553/, or contact Killian by phone at (936) 273-7061, or via e-mail at Glen.H.Killian@lonestar.edu.
Lone Star College-Montgomery is located at 3200 College Park Drive , one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The Woodlands. For more information about the college, call (936) 273-7000 or visit http://montgomery.lonestar.edu/.

Lone Star College System consists of five colleges, including Cy-Fair, Kingwood, Montgomery , North Harris, and Tomball, six centers and Lone Star College-University Center . With 49,250 students, it is the largest college system in the Houston area, and third largest community college district in Texas . To learn more, visit www.lonestar.edu.