Behavioral Health Paraprofessional Training
A short, affordable, fully online certificate that gets you ready to step into behavioral health and addiction recovery work — in about one semester.
Program Overview
Shawnee State University’s Behavioral Health Paraprofessional Training Program offers one of the fastest and most affordable pathways into the field of behavioral health support and addiction recovery. Designed for students who want to make an immediate difference in their communities, this 13-credit hour certificate program prepares you to pursue credentials as a Chemical Dependency Counseling Assistant (CDCA), Qualified Behavioral Health Specialist (QBHS), or Peer Recovery Supporter (PRS).
The program is offered fully online* and includes a required in-person fieldwork component. With flexible course formats, hands-on experience, and available tuition assistance for Ohio residents, you can begin building a career in behavioral health — or supplement your current degree or job — in just one semester.
Whether you are a college student exploring behavioral health, a working paraprofessional seeking credentialing, or someone in recovery wanting to give back, this program is your next step forward.
Career Outcomes
How to Apply
-
Start your application
Free, takes about 15 minutes.
-
Send transcripts
Have your high school guidance counselor send them to admissions@shawnee.edu
-
File the FAFSA
School code 009942. Required for Free Tuition.
-
Get your decision
Most decisions in under 7 days.
Admission Requirements
- Desire to work in behavioral health
- High School Transcript or GED
- For those in recovery, demonstrate a minimum 6-9 months of stable recovery
- Review Disqualifying Factors (PDF)
At A Glance
Behavioral Health Paraprofessional Training
Degree
Certificate
Length
About one semester (often completed in 1–2 terms)
Credits
13
Class Size
12:1
Location
Online, with fieldwork arranged near your home
Why Study Behavioral Health Paraprofessional Training at Shawnee University
Get to work fast. The certificate is 13 credit hours, and many students finish in a single semester.
Choose the credential that fits your goals. The program prepares you to pursue Ohio's Chemical Dependency Counseling Assistant (CDCA), Qualified Behavioral Health Specialist (QBHS), or Peer Recovery Supporter (PRS) credentials.
Flexible online courses with fieldwork close to home. You complete coursework online and do hands-on fieldwork at a behavioral health or recovery agency near where you live.
Tuition support and scholarships are available for qualifying Ohio residents, often reducing or eliminating cost.
Designed to stack. The credits can complement a degree in social work, psychology, or human services, or stand on their own as a credential.
The 13-credit program is built around three core courses and two approved electives chosen with your advisor.
- BHPP 1101 — Behavioral Health Foundations: Peer Recovery Supporter
- BHPP 1102 — Behavioral Health Core: CDCA & QBHS
- BHPP 1103 — Behavioral Health Field Work
- Two approved electives (selected with your advisor)
Learn more about these courses
View the full curriculum and sample schedule in the Academic CatalogField work is built in. You complete in-person hours at a behavioral health or addiction recovery agency near your home, working alongside clients and staff under qualified supervision. That experience is the bridge between the coursework and the credential you're working toward.
By the end of the program, you'll be able to:
- Support individuals in recovery and behavioral health settings
- Demonstrate professional ethics and communication in client-facing work
- Qualify to apply for the CDCA, QBHS, or PRS credential in Ohio
- Apply foundational knowledge of addiction, behavioral health, and the systems that support recovery
Coursework is fully online. The required field work component is arranged at a behavioral health or recovery agency near your home.
Graduates step into paraprofessional roles such as:
- Peer Recovery Supporter
- Chemical Dependency Counseling Assistant
- Qualified Behavioral Health Specialist
- Case management aide in community mental health and recovery agencies
- Direct-support roles in addiction recovery and behavioral health programs
Ohio communities, including the Appalachian region, face a critical shortage of behavioral health and recovery support workers. Agencies are actively hiring people with these credentials.
Free Tuition and Financial Aid
Shawnee State's tuition is among the lowest in Ohio, and the Shawnee Advantage Tuition Guarantee keeps your rate flat for four years. Scholarships including Choose Ohio First and the Pell-Eligible Free Tuition Program may also apply.
See if you Qualify for Free Tuition
Ohio students can apply to receive a $1500 scholarship up to full-tuition when you apply and are accepted.
Learn More about Choose Ohio First
Scholarships may be available for Ohio Residents! For more information contact Sarg Engle at sengle@shawnee.edu or (740) 351-3196
Behavioral Health Paraprofessional Training Frequently Asked Questions
Students exploring behavioral health, working paraprofessionals who need formal credentials, and people in recovery who want to support others. You don't need a prior degree to apply.
A high school diploma or GED. Applicants in recovery are asked to demonstrate at least 6–9 months of stable recovery.
Yes. The courses pair well with degrees in social work, psychology, rehabilitation studies, and other health and human services fields.
Yes. Tuition support is available for qualifying Ohio residents. Contact the program coordinator for current opportunities.
Program handbook
Contact the program coordinator directly for current advising materials and curriculum guidance.
Accreditation
Shawnee State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Credentials (CDCA, QBHS, PRS) are awarded by the State of Ohio after you apply through the appropriate state board on completing the program.
