21 NCAC 68 .0205             CERTIFIED Alcohol and Drug COUNSELOR CERTIFICATION

Requirements for certification as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor shall be as follows:

(1)           Completion of 6,000 hours of paid or volunteer supervised experience as set out in G.S. 90-113.40(a). If the work setting is not exclusively substance use disorder focused, the applicant may accumulate experience proportional to the substance use disorder services performed or as determined and verified by the applicant supervisor;

(2)           Board approved education and training of at least 270 clock hours, consisting of:

(a)           Substance Use Disorder Specific education and training in the amount of at least 190 hours of substance use disorder specific core competencies, to include the following:

(i)            basic alcoholism and drug addiction knowledge;

(ii)           screening, intake, orientation, and assessment;

(iii)          individual, group, and family counseling and intervention techniques;

(iv)          case management, treatment planning, reporting, and record keeping;

(v)           crisis intervention skills:

(vi)          prevention and client education;

(vii)         consultation, referral, and networking that utilizes community resources;

(viii)        ethics, legal issues, and confidentiality;

(ix)          special populations that include individuals or groups with ethnic, cultural, sexual orientation, and gender characteristics as well as persons dealing with HIV, co-occurring disabilities, persons with criminal justice related issues, and perinatal issues:

(x)           physiology and pharmacology of alcohol and other drugs that include the licit and illicit drugs, inhalants, and nicotine;

(xi)          psychological, emotional, personality, and developmental issues; and

(xii)         traditions and philosophies of 12-step and other recovery support groups;

(b)           Up to 80 hours may be directed toward general professional skill building to enhance counselor development;

(c)           No more than 67.5 hours may be in-service education received within the applicant's organization by staff of the same organization; and

(d)           Of the 270 clock hours, applicants for certification must document six hours of HIV/AIDS/STDS/TB/Bloodborne pathogens training and education, six hours clinical ethics education, and six hours of education to be selected from the following:

(i)            nicotine use disorder;

(ii)           psychopathology;

(iii)          evidence-based treatment;

(iv)          substance use disorder issues and older adults;

(v)           substance use disorder issues affecting veterans; and

(vi)          substance use disorder and domestic violence;

(3)           A one hundred fifty dollar ($150.00) exam fee and a two hundred dollar ($200.00) non-refundable certification fee, unless previously paid;

(4)           Achieving a passing score on the IC&RC or its successor organization Alcohol and Drug Counselor exam;

(5)           Completed evaluation by the applicant's supervisor documenting 6,000 hours of clinical substance use disorder counseling experience and two references from other substance use disorder professionals;

(6)           An attestation or otherwise signed adherence by the applicant to the Ethical Standards of the Board as found in Section .0500 of this Chapter;

(7)           Documentation of highest level education achieved. Verification of high school graduation or completion of GED may be evidenced by diploma. Applicants presenting baccalaureate or advanced degrees must submit a completed transcript;

(8)           Completed registration application found on the Board's website; and

(9)           Resume.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90-113.30; 90-113.33; 90-113.39; 90-113.40;

Eff. August 1, 1996;

Amended Eff. January 1, 2010; August 1, 2002; August 1, 2000;

Readopted Eff. April 10, 2019;

Amended Eff. July 1, 2022.