2025 NBCCF Minority Fellowship Program for Addictions Counseling (Master’s)

The NBCC Foundation (NBCCF) is pleased to announce the 2025 application period for the NBCCF Minority Fellowship Program for Addictions Counseling (MFP-AC). This program is made possible by a grant awarded to the NBCC Foundation in collaboration with NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals, by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The program will administer up to 43 master’s degree–level counseling fellowships of $15,000 for addictions counseling students, plus the travel expenses to participate in other program-related trainings.

The NBCCF MFP helps ensure that the behavioral health needs of all Americans are met, regardless of language or culture, thereby reducing health disparities and improving overall community health and well-being. By strategically promoting and providing fellowships to master’s-level counseling students, the NBCCF MFP strengthens the infrastructure that engages diverse individuals in counseling and increases the number of substance use disorder professional counselors who provide direct substance use disorder services to underserved populations. 

Eligible applicants must demonstrate knowledge of and experience in addictions/substance use services to one or more underserved communities. 

Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens or have permanent resident status.
• Applicants must not already possess a master’s degree in a behavioral health field.
• Applicants must not receive any other federal funds (except for federal loans or work-study).
• Applicants must be enrolled and be in good standing in one of the following programs:

1. A Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)-accredited, master’s-level addictions counseling program or other master’s-level counseling program with a concentration in addictions.
2. An institutionally accredited master’s-level addictions counseling program or other master’s-level counseling program with a concentration in addictions.
3. An addictions program accredited by the National Addictions Studies Accreditation Commission (NASAC).

• Applicants must have completed courses in fall 2024 or spring 2025 in a master’s-level addictions counseling program or other master’s-level counseling program with a concentration in addictions that is CACREP-accredited, institutionally accredited, or NASAC-accredited at the time of application.
• Applicants must be enrolled and be in good standing in courses in a master’s-level addictions counseling program or other master’s-level counseling program with a concentration in addictions that is CACREP-accredited, institutionally accredited, or NASAC-accredited. If awarded, all MFP-Addictions Counseling Fellowship (Master’s) recipients must remain enrolled part time or full time in their academic program for the duration of the fellowship.
• Applicants must commit to obtaining an addictions counseling credential, as evidenced by showing proof of applying for a state addictions certification after graduation and submit proof to NBCCF. It is the applicant’s responsibility to determine their eligibility to obtain an addictions counseling credential prior to applying for the fellowship.
• Applicants must commit to 12 semester hours of substance use/addictions coursework, plus a full academic year of internship. (Note: The addictions coursework need not be completed at your home university. The 12 hours must be taken by the end of your academic program, not exclusively during the fellowship award year. On a case-by-case basis, the 12 semester hours may be waived if you apply for your state addiction counseling certification and agree to complete the process.)
• Applicants are expected to graduate by Dec. 31, 2028 (within 3 years of the date of the fellowship funding).
• Eligible applicants must not have an anticipated academic program completion date before Sept. 30, 2026, which will be verified in writing by their academic department prior to the awarding of funds.
• Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of and experience with addressing the substance use disorder needs of one or more underserved communities. 
• Applicants must commit to providing substance use disorder services to one or more underserved communities within 1 year of graduation and must commit to providing such services for the duration of 2 years postgraduation.
• Applicants must commit to securing a substance use services–related internship that provides experience with an underserved population.
• Applicants must commit to becoming nationally certified by applying for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) certification or applying for certification from the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP) prior to graduation and to completing the application process. It is the applicant’s responsibility to determine their eligibility to obtain these certifications prior to applying for the fellowship.
• Applicants should be able to attend the 2026 NBCC Foundation’s Bridging the Gap Symposium the week of March 12–14, 2026, and up to two other training events during their fellowship year. If applicants cannot attend a training, an alternate assignment identified by NBCCF will be required.

To check the CACREP status of a program, search the CACREP website. 

To check the NASAC status of a program, search the NASAC website.

NOTE: Applicants are strongly advised to verify their eligibility for the NCC or NCC AP prior to applying. Requirements of the NCC certification can be found on NBCC’s website at nbcc.org/Certification/NCC. Requirements of the NCC AP certification can be found on NAADAC’s website at naadac.org/types-eligibility.

The application opens March 28, 2025, and the deadline is June 30, 2025, at 11:59 pm EDT. 

Fellowship awardees will be announced in October 2025.

Disclaimer: Please be advised that all NBCCF MFP awards are subject to future funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

For questions, please review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). If after reviewing our FAQ document you still have questions, please email foundation@nbcc.org or call 336-232-0376.