Applications are now being accepted for the 2024-26 Kealaho’imai Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate cohort offered through the UH-Maui College Human Services Program.

The free cohort is sponsored by Hui No Ke Ola Pono’s Kealaho’imai program, which promotes Native Hawaiian workforce development in the health care and wellness industries.

Students will complete seven online courses over two years. Upon completion, they will earn two certificates of competence that satisfy the requirements to become a certified substance abuse counselor.

The cohort will enroll in one three-credit course per semester or summer for a total of 21 credits. All courses will meet online on weekday evenings. The first course will begin on Jan. 8 for the 2024 spring semester and will meet from 5 to 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday evenings.

Applicants must be 18 and older, have a high school diploma or equivalent and reside on Maui, Molokai or Lanai.

The online application deadline is Dec. 17 for current UH-Maui College students and Dec. 3 for non-students. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and select applicants will be contacted for an interview. For more information or to access an application, visit www.hnkop.org/kealahoimai or email kealahoi@hawaii.edu.