Thank you for your interest in Outreach Training Institute’s CASAC programs and trainings!
If you have questions beyond the FAQs, no problem! Please call OTI at 718-847-9233 if there are questions beyond the FAQ’s.
CASAC Program FAQs • Re-credentialing & Professional Development Trainings FAQs
The CASAC Training Program is a 350 hour training program. A typical schedule track spans over 11-12 months. As required by the State, students must complete the full 350 hours to graduate from the program, which may extend student participation in order to allow for missed classes to be made up.
No, students are required to make up the exact class that is missed. This can be done the next time that class is available; either in their current schedule track or in another schedule track at different location and time. A training administrator will work with you to coordinate.
The CASAC Training Program at Outreach Training Institute is a distance learning program offered via live video-conference (WebEx). Participants are expected to have all the necessary tools to participate in this training program (Computer or Laptop with a functioning camera, microphone & speakers / reliable internet service) as well as the basic knowledge of these devices to navigate their own technology. Classes in the 350- hour program are now scheduled as followed:
Our current tuition rates are as follows:
Monthly installment plans are available.
Please note: If accepted, students must submit the first two (2) installment payments up front, and the remaining 8 payments to be made on the 1st or 15th of each month thereafter; depending on the enrollment date of the student. This payment is non-refundable.
Payment can be made in one lump sum for a 10% tuition discount, or in 10 monthly payment installments. For the latter arrangement, upon acceptance into the CASAC program, students will receive a payment contract and will be required to submit the first two (2) installment payments up front, and the remaining 8 payments to be made on the 1st or 15th of each month thereafter; depending on the enrollment date of the student. This payment is non-refundable.
Yes. Outreach Training Institute will provide a 25% scholarship to applicants who meet the eligibility requirements, which include income and other criteria. To be eligible for the 25% scholarship, an applicant must provide the proper financial documentation indicating the following household income:
| Household Income | Annual Income |
| 1 | 32,000 |
| 2 | 36,000 |
| 3 | 40,000 |
| 4 | 44,000 |
| 5 | 48,000 |
| 6 | 52,000 |
| 7 | 56,000 |
| 8 | 60,000 |
NEW** Outreach Training Institute has received funding for a limited number of 50% scholarships. For more information, please refer to our Financial Aid & Scholarships page.
Outreach Training Institute can accept tuition payment from an approved outside agency willing to fund your training.
To inquire about eligibility from an agency you must contact the agency directly and obtain approval from them prior to applying to OTI.
OTI also has 25% and 50% scholarships available to applicants who meet the eligibility requirements, which include income and other criteria. Please refer to our Financial Aid & Scholarships page for more information.
Yes, for those with vocational rehabilitation needs stemming from a previous incarceration, substance use, mental health disorders, health problems and/or physical disabilities may receive funding for their tuition and other costs via ACCES-VR.
To inquire about eligibility for ACCES-VR, please contact them directly.
Provided here is the ACCES-VR link .
No. Outreach Training Institute (OTI) is not an academic institution. OTI is an approved Training Provider by the New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services.
Any veteran interested in applying for the CASAC training program must contact OTIoutreach@opiny.org for information regarding current available internal scholarships/financial assistance provided by Outreach Training Institute prior to applying to the program. Your inquiry will be answered in the order that it is received.
Entry points to the CASAC training program are available approximately every 6 – 8 weeks. If accepted into the program, you will begin at the next available entry point. This will be discussed during the interview and required student orientation prior to start of class.
All interviews will be held remotely as well as the student orientation. The student orientation will be conducted online via Webex.
Every prospective student must complete an application for to be considered for acceptance and enrollment into the CASAC training program. The online application will indicate what additional documents are required.
Interested individuals can apply for the CASAC program by completing our online application here. Once your application has been received, we will contact you for next steps.
Your application will be reviewed and processed within 30 days. You will be contacted by an OTI representative to ensure all required documents have been submitted and for further instruction on next steps.
All applicants of the full 350-Hour CASAC Training Program will be required to take a reading comprehension exam. You will be interviewed by an OTI representative.
Thereafter, your application and interview responses will be reviewed by an admissions committee to determine acceptance.
Yes, we ask that you first obtain a deficiency letter from OASAS in order to demonstrate the hours you will need to complete your training. A deficiency letter can be obtained by submitting an application for your credentials to OASAS. You will be required to show proof of the training hours you received at the previous training provider.
Provided here is the link to OASAS.
Only if you have obtained one of the following licenses: Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Creative Arts Therapy, Psychotherapy/Psychoanalysis or Marriage/Family Therapy.
Note: Other masters and advanced degrees in counseling related disciplines must be evaluated by OASAS by submitting a transcript and application to OASAS directly (www.oasas.ny.gov )
Outreach Training Institute has been approved by New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) to offer a 135-Hour CASAC Training Program to all applicants that have one of the approved licenses mentioned above.
Yes, OTI is offering its CASAC program online effective May 4, 2020.
There are two tracks available and are scheduled as follows:
In-person classes will resume once state and local guidelines permit. However, students who began with virtual online training will be given the option to continue their classes online.
Please submit the follow application here.
Once your application has been received, please allow 3-5 business for it to be processed. We will contact you for next steps.
Outreach Training Institute is sometimes approached by individuals from outside of New York State and asked about whether our CASAC training program will meet the training requirements to be certified, credentialled or licensed as a substance abuse professional in another State.
Our training program is specifically designed to meet the training requirements set by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports to obtain its Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) designation. And – while the CASAC credential has reciprocity through the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (ICRC) with 47 States, 6 Native American territories, all branches of the United States military and 25 countries – the training requirements to be certified in each of those jurisdictions can vary. In addition, reciprocity might occur only between those professionals who already possess an established credential and wish to transfer that credential to another location.
Because recognition and reciprocity is determined between the individual boards of each of these entities, we cannot guarantee that successful completion of our training program will be sufficient to meet the professional educational requirements of a non-New York State board for some form of substance abuse counselor certification, credential or license. We advise interested applicants who might be seeking our training to meet non-New York State training certification requirements to therefore contact the board of the jurisdiction that they might practicing before applying to our program offerings in order to determine if a New York State-approved CASAC training program might meet their training requirements.
A list of contacts for ICRC member boards can be found at: https://internationalcredentialing.org/memberboards
All of Outreach Training Institute’s trainings fulfill continuing education hours or re-credentialing requirements.
Please refer to our Continuing Education and Re-credentialing page for more information.
The Professional Development Trainings are specifically designed for individuals who have experience working in the behavioral health field.
The overall courses within the 350 hour CASAC training program are designed for individuals who are seeking to complete the educational hours required by New York State to obtain certification as a CASAC-T and eventual CASAC. However, certain classes within the CASAC Training Program can be attended for re-credentialing & professional development since they serve as refresher courses of foundational information that every professional in the field should know and utilize.
If you wish to register for the Professional Development Trainings, please complete our online registration form. Once your form has been received, we will contact you for payment.
For more information about our Professional Development Trainings during this time, please refer to our Professional Development Trainings page.