Eligibility Requirements

(A) To be eligible for applying for licensure as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor I, an applicant shall: (1) be at least 18 years of age with a copy of either a birth certificate, driver’s license or passport as documentation; 168.006: continued have a master’s or doctorate degree in behavioral sciences from an educational institution which is recognized by a nationally or regionally recognized educational or professional accrediting organization, with a minimum of 18 graduate semester hours in counseling or counseling-related subjects; and have completed an approved program of education consisting of a minimum of 270 hours that address the full range of knowledge, skills, and professional techniques related to alcohol and drug counseling. Minimum requirements are as follow: (a) 110 hours related to knowledge of alcoholism and drug abuse. (b) 75 hours related to alcohol and drug abuse counseling; assessment; clinical evaluation; treatment planning and case management. (c) 75 hours related to patient, family and community education (for alcohol and drugs, HIV/AIDS, infectious diseases, tobacco cessation, etc.); cultural competency and/or other co-existing issues. (d) ten hours related to professional and ethical responsibilities. (3) have completed 300 hours of supervised counseling practicum in a program approved by the department for the education and training of alcohol and drug counselors. Of the 300 total hours, each of the 12 counselor core functions must be performed for a minimum of ten hours. A minimum of one hour of direct face-to-face supervision to ten hours of practical experience must be documented. Applicants must provided documentation of the time spent in supervision from a professional supervisor directly involved in providing this practical training to the applicant. have at least three years or 6,000 hours of supervised full-time work experience (approved work experience). This experience must include the provision of direct patient services or the provision of documented supervision of direct patient services, and must have been obtained within the past ten years prior to application. Work experience must include all of the following minimum requirements to be approved: (a) practice in diagnostic assessment, intervention, and alcoholism and/or drug counseling in both individual and group settings; (b) practice in alcoholism and/or drug counseling to establish and maintain recovery and prevent relapse; and (c) weekly, on-site and documented clinical supervision; (5) successfully completed a Department prescribed written examination, provided, however, that portions thereof may be conducted orally. (6) accept the standards set forth in the Code of Ethical Principles by signing a affidavit agreeing to abide by the Code. (B) To be eligible to apply for licensure as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor II an applicant shall: (1) be at least 18 years of age with a copy of either a birth certificate, driver’s license or passport as documentation, and show proof of a high school diploma or equivalent; (2) have completed an approved program of education consisting of a minimum of 270 hours that address the full range of knowledge, skills and professional techniques related to alcohol and drug counseling. Minimum requirements are as follows: (a) 110 hours related to knowledge of alcoholism and drug abuse. (b) 75 hours related to alcohol and drug abuse counseling; assessment; clinical evaluation; treatment planning and case management. (c) 75 hours related to patient, family and community education (for alcohol and drugs, HIV/AIDS, infectious diseases, tobacco cessation, etc.); cultural competency and/or other co-existing issues. (d) ten hours related to professional and ethical responsibilities. (3) have completed 300 hours of a supervised counseling practicum in a program approved by the department for the education and training of alcohol and drug counselors. Of the 300 total hours, each of the 12 counselor core functions must be performed for a minimum of ten hours. A minimum of one hour of direct face-to-face supervision to ten hours of practical experience must be documented. Applicants must provide documentation of the time spent in supervision from a professional supervisor directly involved in providing this practical training to the applicant. 168.006: continued have at least three years or 6,000 hours of supervised full-time work experience (approved work experience), provided, however that applicants with a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited school may waive 2,000 of the required 6,000 hours of the required work experience if official transcripts and other documentation is provided. This experience must include the provision of direct patient services, and must have been obtained within the past ten years prior to application. Work experience must include all of the following minimum requirements to be approved: (a) practice in diagnostic assessment, intervention, and alcoholism and/or drug counseling in both individual and group setting; (b) practice in alcoholism and/or drug counseling to establish and maintain recovery and prevent relapse; and (c) weekly, on-site and documented clinical supervision; (5) successfully complete a Department prescribed written examination, provided, however, that portions thereof may be conducted orally. (6) accept the standards set forth in the Code of Ethical Principles by signing an affidavit agreeing to abide by the Code. (C) To be eligible to apply for licensure as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor assistant an applicant shall: (1) be at least 18 years of age with a copy of either a birth certificate, driver’s license or passport as documentation, and show proof of a high school diploma or equivalent; (2) have at least one year or 2,000 hours of supervised full-time work experience in the alcoholism and drug abuse field; (3) have a minimum of ten hours of continuing education training in each of the five subject areas covered by the examination (assessment; counseling; case management; client, family and community education; and professional responsibility); (4) have successfully completed a Department prescribed written examination, provided, however, that portions thereof may be conducted orally; (5) accept the standards set forth in the Code of Ethical Principles by signing an affidavit agreeing to abide by the Code. (D) A licensed alcohol and drug counselor I may provide clinical supervision to a licensed alcohol and drug counselor II and/or a licensed alcohol and drug counselor assistant. A licensed alcohol and drug counselor II may provide clinical supervision to a licensed alcohol and drug counselor assistant.