Build your expertise and make a lasting impact.

Overdose Lifeline’s Advanced Certificate Program provides continuing education across eight core topics in substance use disorder (SUD) and opioids. Designed for clinicians and professionals, it builds knowledge, confidence, and practical skills for prevention, treatment, recovery support, and advocacy.

Enhance Professional Knowledge and Effectiveness

92% of people strongly agree/agree...
"The course information has enhanced my professional knowledge and effectiveness in my interaction with individuals affected."

Trusted SUD Education

Trusted by clinicians, professionals, and partners in all 50 U.S. states, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Navy, NIH National Institute of Drug Abuse, Health Departments, Schools, Universities, non-profits and more.

Evidence Informed

Evidence-informed learning design drawn from cognitive psychology research, a broad-based theory that analyzes the process of taking in new information. Applies Bloom’s taxonomy of educational objectives.

Video-Based On-Demand Courses

Nationally accredited video-based on-demand courses. Take online courses from anywhere, completing when it is convenient for you.

CE Credit and Certificate

Obtain the CME/CE hours required for licensed professionals and DEA MATE Act. Certificates and CE credit available upon successful 8 course and practicum completion.

Highly Recommended

87% of people strongly agree/agree... "Would recommend this certificate program to a friend or colleague."

Learning Outcomes

8 Online Courses and Practicum Assignment

Increased knowledge about SUD and treatment, result in a more informed and aware professional, improved interaction with patients with SUD or recognition of early-stage display of risk factors.

Raised confidence, better able to serve individuals affected by SUD.

Improved attitudes and alleviate discomfort working with patients who have SUDs.

Reduced barriers to care and improved health outcomes with individuals accessing/receiving support and services more easily/earlier in the disease cycle.

What people are saying

Prior to taking the courses, I was not aware of the physiologic changes in the brain leading to addiction. I had no idea that using substances during the teenage yielded a higher chance of developing a substance use disorder. Additionally, the fact that the brain is basically rewired to place drugs at the top of the survival hierarchy within the brain.

20-Credit Certificate Student - Pharmacist

Learning about the cycle of addiction and stages was eye opening. With an understanding that setbacks are an expected part of the process toward recovery, therefore working with the client on their recovery plan is as important as the treatment plan.

20-Credit Certificate Student - Clinician

In the past when I thought about stigma and addiction, I typically thought about how another person (family member, neighbor) stigmatize someone with this disease. I now have a better understanding of how stigma from other areas of one's life (medical communities, law enforcement, etc.) affects someone with this disease and creates a barrier for recovery.

Social Worker

This was a very eye opening course as to how childhood trauma not only affects our behavior but our health outcomes and chronic conditions directly. This is a true public health threat that needs to be addressed with education and concern placed on early intervention.

Pharmacist

The courses and exercise emphasized the issues that can complicate recovery beyond physical and mental cravings. Recovery impacts the whole person as well as those around them. Rather than focusing on how to decrease physical cravings only, I have learned that I should also be working with patients to identify stressors, situational concerns, and positive reinforcement of positive behaviors.

20-Credit Certificate Student - Nurse

The program helped me understand the importance of harm reduction in the recovery process and the value of a ‘meet them where they are’ approach. Before taking these courses and completing this project, I believed that going cold turkey was the only path to recovery. Now I realize that recovery exists on a continuum—and that a setback, or the fact that someone hasn’t fully stopped using, doesn’t mean they’re not making meaningful progress on their journey.

Health and Human Services Professional

One of the hardest lessons I’ve taken from this training is learning to retrain my mind—to move beyond a lifetime of experiences and judgments about patients with substance use disorders. I’ve come to understand that what once appeared as manipulation or weakness is, in fact, the manifestation of a treatable medical condition. With the right medication, guidance, and support, people can build productive lives free from addiction—and, hopefully, avoid the unnecessary deaths that too often result.

20-Credit Certificate Student - Nurse

Certificate Program Track
  • The Brain and the Disease of Addiction MATE Act Approved
  • Removing the Shame and Stigma MATE Act Approved
  • Guide to Harm Reduction
  • Guide to SUD Treatment and Recovery MATE Act Approved
  • MATE Act Treatment MATE Act Approved
  • ACEs and Trauma in SUD MATE Act Approved
  • Opioid Public Health Crisis MATE Act Approved
  • Layperson Naloxone Administration
  • PLUS: Certificate Practicum Assignment

Choose your Advanced Certificate Program

Frequently Asked Questions

The Overdose Lifeline advanced certificate program is intended for those pursuing professional development and continuing education.


Completion illustrates that you have knowledge in a specific area (in this case Substance Use Disorders). The courses are focused on skills building / knowledge enhancement and may also satisfy licensure continuing education requirements (e.g. CE credits for nurses, pharmacist, etc.) and for opioid prescribers DEA Mate Act training requirements.

The certificate program includes a practicum exercise and assignment and eight (8) online courses delivering 20 credits.

The submission of the practicum exercise and assignment completes the certificate track.

What ODL provides is different from a professional certification which confirms that an individual has met specific standards and competencies in a profession or role. 


A professional certification may lead to credentials (letters after your name) Example: becoming a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) or a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS).


There is typically a financial difference as well.  Professional development and continuing education are based on $15 per credit hour model with Certifications often involving exam preparation fees and certification exam fees.

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ (ACCME) is accepted for many clinical continuing education requirements and many societies and credentialing bodies accept the AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ as an equivalent as long as the topic is relevant to the applicant’s field or discipline.

The practicum for the 20-credit Advanced Certificate Program includes the completion of a: 

  • 5-question Reflection Exercise
  • Brief Assignment

Download Overview: Practicum-Assignment-Overview.pdf

To earn your CE credits and receive your certificate for each of the 8 courses:

  • 100% course completion
  • 80% minimum passing grade on the final course exam
  • Course ending feedback survey completion

To receive your certificate for the Advanced Certificate Program:

  • Completion of the 8 courses
  • Practicum submission and approval.

Yes, group or enterprise pricing is available as is progress reporting.

Learn more about Group Pricing

Yes, the ODL courses are fully responsive site designed for learning on any device, including mobile, tablet, desktop and laptop.

The ODL courses may be accessed from a computer, tablet, or mobile device. Internet access is required as are speakers for audio.

The following web browsers are supported: 

Desktop - Firefox, Safari, Chrome, and Edge. Note the course platform does not support Internet Explorer. 

Mobile - iOS Safari: 11 and up, Chrome, Samsung Internet.


While this will vary per individual, you can approximate 20 hours to complete the 8 courses and the practicum approximately 3-4 hours*.

The courses and practicum will remain available in your account for 6-months --allowing you to resume and complete the courses and practicum at your own pace and schedule within the 6-month time period.

*The two practicum assigment options each require approximately 3-4 hours of written work. The Abstinance project option would entail 3-4 hours of written work over a 2-week period.

Download the Practicum Overview: Practicum-Assignment-Overview.pdf