ASAM 2-Day Training Details

This training provides a comprehensive overview of the ASAM Criteria (2013 edition) and equips behavioral health professionals with the skills necessary to apply it effectively in clinical assessment, level of care determination, and treatment planning. The program is designed for clinicians, care managers, and other behavioral health providers working in settings where substance use and co-occurring behavioral health disorders are addressed. Participants will explore the clinical philosophy and development of the ASAM Criteria, with an emphasis on individualized, multidimensional assessment and patient-centered care. The training includes interactive case studies, decision-making exercises, and practical strategies for integrating the ASAM Criteria into real-world practice.

Training Dates:                                                  Registration Closing Dates:

Virtual Location Big Blue Button platform with hosting by https://bhs.unc.edu

Learning Objectives Participants completing this training will be able to: 

• Explain the foundational philosophy and clinical purpose behind the ASAM Criteria and its evolution as a national standard for addiction treatment.
• Utilize key components of the ASAM Criteria (2013 edition), with specific attention to adaptations for various populations, including special populations.
• Analyze the role of the six assessment dimensions in forming a comprehensive biopsychosocial evaluation and guiding individualized treatment planning.
• Evaluate cases to determine appropriate severity ratings across each ASAM dimension to inform appropriate placement recommendations.
• Differentiate between ASAM levels of care and articulate the scope of services, staffing, and treatment intensity appropriate to each level.
• Apply ASAM decision-making principles to real-world case examples, using clinical judgment and dimensional ratings to determine suitable level of care.
• Interpret the admission, continued service, and transfer criteria embedded in the ASAM framework and their relevance in clinical and administrative decision-making.
• Develop approaches for resolving level-of-care conflicts within care teams or with external stakeholders using ASAM-aligned tools and collaborative dialogue.
• Identify practical barriers to ASAM implementation in varied treatment environments and propose strategies to enhance fidelity and integration.

Agenda - Two-Day ASAM Criteria Skill Building Training

Day 1 – 8:30a.m. – 4:30p.m. EST

Opening Session (8:30-9:00 AM)

Session 1: ASAM Foundations (9:00-10:30 AM)

Break (10:30-10:45 AM)

Session 2: The Six Assessment Dimensions - Part 1 (10:45 AM-12:15 PM)

Lunch Break (12:15-1:15 PM)

Session 3: The Six Assessment Dimensions - Part 2 (1:15-2:45 PM)

Break (2:45-3:00 PM)

Session 4: Dimensions 5-6 and Initial Case Application (3:00-4:15 PM)

Day 1 Wrap-up and Q&A (4:15-4:30 PM)

Day 2 – 8:30a.m. – 4:30p.m. EST

Day 1 Review and Day 2 Preview (8:30-8:45 AM)

Session 5: ASAM Levels of Care - Outpatient (8:45-10:15 AM)

Break (10:15-10:30 AM)

Session 6: ASAM Levels of Care - Residential and Inpatient (10:30 AM-12:00 PM)

Lunch Break (12:00-1:00 PM)

Session 7: Special Populations and Adaptations (1:00-2:15 PM)

Session 8: Clinical Decision-Making and Case Studies (2:15-3:45 PM)

Break (3:45-4:00 PM)

Session 9: Implementation and Conflict Resolution (4:00-4:15 PM)

Training Wrap-up and Evaluation (4:15-4:30 PM)

Registration New training dates now open for Fall 2025!

Registration fee:  $250 per person. Organizations purchasing multiple registrations can buy 3 and get the 4th half off. The registration fee is specific to the dates selected and is not transferrable to a different date. Fee includes 13 contact hours and a hard copy of The ASAM Criteria manual.

Refunds Refunds will be issued up to 2 weeks before the training date.

Requests for Accommodations:

Registrants requiring any of the auxiliary aids or services identified in the Americans with Disabilities Act to participate in our training programs, please contact us by email at bhs-support@unc.edu or by phone at (919) 843-6083 after completing registration to ensure we have enough time to secure the requested services.

Contact for Questions: bhs-support@.unc.edu (919) 843-6083

Continuing Education

Full attendance is required to receive credit; no partial credit will be given.

All participants completing the training will be issued a certificate of completion demonstrating 13 contact hours.

NBCC: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6642.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.  13 contact hours

NCASPPB: This course has been submitted to the North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board for up to 13 SS (EBT) contact hours. 

Registration Confirmation Notices and Certificates of Completion:

Registration fee is $250, and participants must register at least 2 weeks in advance of the training date to attend. We will confirm your registration by email. Successful completion includes being logged in and virtually participating for the entire two days. Immediately after the training concludes participants will receive an email notifying them of the process and the manner, they will gain access to the evaluation and the certificate of completion for the training. The Certificate of Completion email will go within 5 business days after the training concludes to participants who met the time requirement listed in the continuing education policy based on the length of the training. Fees include credit hours, a hard copy ASAM manual, and training material.