For students participating in the Joint MSW/CASAC Credentialing program, the Wurzweiler School of Social Work will make every effort to place you in a field site where your hours will count towards the 2000 post-MSW training hours required to become a full CASAC-II. In the right circumstances, up to 1200 hours may count (all of your field hours), leaving you only 800 more supervised hours post-MSW to earn the CASAC-II. The Office of Substance Abuse Services and Supports (OASAS) is the final determiner of what will be accepted. There are very specific written and published guidelines concerning what “counts,” and to what degree. An approved work setting, according to the CASAC Field Placement Guidelines, is one of the following: It is operated by OASAS (i.e., Addiction Treatment Centers) and/or it holds a valid OASAS operating certificate to provide treatment (your best option). It is a program that includes alcoholism and/or substance abuse treatment consistent with OASAS’ standards and is licensed and/or operated by another recognized State or Federal authority, for example Office of Mental Health, Veterans Administration or Indian Health Services. It is a non-certified setting which involves the legal provision of chemical dependency services and which affords the opportunity to establish proficiency in one or more of the professional competencies associated with a credential administered by OASAS and on-site supervision by a Qualified Health Professional (QHP) meeting the supervisory standards established by OASAS. Only 50 percent of the required work experience may be obtained in this work setting.If you choose work setting #3, you may not be authorized to provide individual/group counseling (chemical dependence) and/or treatment planning. Provision of such services may require OASAS certification.As part of field experience, CASAC students must have a minimum of 300 hours of specific supervised practical training. Each of the following 12 Core Functions must have been performed for a minimum of 10 hours, under the supervision of a QHP and licensed or credentialed professional. See the CASAC application for further detail.The safest work setting (placement) for ensuring that your hours count is #1 above.Work diligently to see that you practice the right amount of time in each function, track it on a draft of the application sheet and have it signed off on by your Qualified Health Professional supervisor.When in doubt about your placement hours counting, work directly with OASAS Credentialing.