Md. Code Regs. 10.58.07.07

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 25, December 13, 2024

Section 10.58.07.07 - Certified Associate Counselor-Alcohol and Drug

A. Scope of Practice. The scope of practice of a certified associate counselor - alcohol and drug consists of the following activities, performed in accordance with §B of this regulation:

(1) Biopsychosocial evaluation, including participating in the development of diagnostic impressions for SUDs or Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT);

(2) Treatment planning for SUDs and CODs, including initial, ongoing, continuity of care, discharge, and planning for relapse prevention;

(3) Referral;

(4) Service coordination and case management for SUDs and CODs;

(5) Counseling, therapy, and trauma informed care, with individuals, couples, families, and groups;

(6) Client, family, and community education;

(7) Documentation; and

(8) Complying with:

(a) Professional and ethical responsibilities; and

(b) Supervisory responsibilities for a certified associate counselor - alcohol and drug, certified supervised counselor - alcohol and drug, or a trainee seeking certification, provided that the certified associate counselor - alcohol and drug has been approved as a supervisor by the Board.

B. A certified associate counselor-alcohol and drug:

(1) Shall provide alcohol and drug counseling:

(a) As an employee of an agency or facility that is certified or licensed by the State; and

(b) Under the moderate supervision of an approved alcohol and drug counselor supervisor as specified in Health Occupations Article, § 17 "403, Annotated Code of Maryland;

(2) May provide supervision with approval by the Board; and

(3) May not practice independently.

C. To qualify for certification as a certified associate counselor-alcohol and drug (CAC-AD) an applicant shall have:

(1) At a minimum:

(a) A bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution in a health and human services counseling field; or

(b) A bachelor's degree and have completed a program of studies determined by the Board to be substantially equivalent in subject matter with a minimum of 45 credit hours in counseling, including the required alcohol and drug course work for the level of certification sought, as specified in §C(2) of this regulation;

(2) Completed a minimum of 33 semester credit hours or 50 quarter credit hours in alcohol and drug counselor training from an accredited educational institution including:

(a) 3 semester credit hours or 5 quarter credit hours of course work in each of the following course content areas:

(i) Pharmacology;

(ii) Group counseling;

(iii) Individual counseling;

(iv) Addictions treatment delivery;

(v) Ethics that includes alcohol and drug counseling issues; and

(vi) Abnormal psychology; and

(b) Any three of the following 3 semester credit hours or 5 quarter credit hours of course work in each of the following course content areas:

(i) Human development;

(ii) Theories of counseling;

(iii) Treatment of co-occurring disorders;

(iv) Topics in substance-related and addictive disorders; and

(v) Family counseling;

(3) Completed one of the following:

(a) An internship in alcohol and drug counseling that totals 6 semester credit hours or 10 quarter credit hours; or

(b) A minimum of 1,000 hours of alcohol and drug counseling work completed as a certified associate counselor-alcohol and drug, a certified supervised counselor-alcohol and drug, or an alcohol and drug trainee under and verified by an approved alcohol and drug counselor supervisor;

(4) Completed not less than 1 year with a minimum of 1,000 hours of clinically supervised experience in alcohol and drug counseling completed as a certified supervised counselor-alcohol and drug or an alcohol and drug trainee under and verified by an approved alcohol and drug counselor supervisor;

(5) Achieved a passing score on:

(a) A national alcohol and drug counselor examination as approved by the Board; and

(b) An examination of:

(i) Health Occupations Article, Title 17, Annotated Code of Maryland and

(ii) This subtitle;

(6) Met all of the requirements set forth under Regulation .03 of this chapter; and

(7) Complied with:

(a) Health Occupations Article, Title 17, Annotated Code of Maryland; and

(b) The code of ethics as set forth in COMAR 10.58.03.

D. Certified associate counselors-alcohol and drug shall have available for inspection a professional disclosure statement, as described in Health Occupations Article, § 17-507, Annotated Code of Maryland, that:

(1) Clearly states that the counseling services are provided under supervision; and

(2) Provides the name, title, and credentials of the supervisor of record, including the supervisor's address and contact information.

E. Reexamination. An applicant who fails an examination for certification:

(1) May retake the exam if:

(a) It is within the time frame set by the applicable testing authority; or

(b) A waiver is approved by the Board to extend the testing deadline upon proof of exceptional circumstances; or

(2) Shall be required to submit a new application and pay the nonrefundable fee set forth in COMAR 10.58.02.

F. The Board shall act upon applications as set forth under Regulation .03B of this chapter.

G. Renewal.

(1) To renew the certification of a certified associate counselor-alcohol and drug, the applicant, before the current certificate expiration, shall:

(a) Complete a Board-approved renewal application;

(b) Pay all applicable fees set forth in COMAR 10.58.02; and

(c) Attest to completion of continuing education activities as specified in COMAR 10.58.05.05 and .06.

(2) The Board may not renew the certification of any certified associate counselor - alcohol and drug who fails to complete all requirements for renewal before the expiration date of the current certification.

(3) An individual who fails to renew certification is not authorized to and may not practice alcohol and drug counseling.

H. Reinstatement.

(1) Within 5 calendar years after the certificate renewal date, the Board may reinstate the certificate of a certified associate counselor-alcohol and drug otherwise entitled to reinstatement under Health Occupations Article, § 17-505(b), Annotated Code of Maryland, whose certificate was not renewed for any reason, if the certificate holder:

(a) Completes the required CEUs as set forth under COMAR 10.58.05;

(b) Meets the current certification requirements; and

(c) Pays the reinstatement fee as set forth under COMAR 10.58.02.

(2) CEUs which are acquired in order to reinstate under COMAR 10.58.05.05 and .06 may be credited only once and may not be credited for any future renewals.

(3) For any certified associate counselor-alcohol and drug whose certificate has expired more than 5 calendar years before the request for reinstatement, a new application for certification shall be completed and the current certification requirements shall be met.

I. Inactive Status.

(1) In accordance with Health Occupations Article, § 17-505, Annotated Code of Maryland, a request to transfer a certificate to inactive status shall be granted upon receipt of the:

(a) Completed Board-approved application; and

(b) Payment of all applicable fees set forth in COMAR 10.58.02.

(2) An individual may apply for inactive status only if the individual's certificate is active at the time application for inactive status is made.

(3) An individual on inactive status is not authorized to practice alcohol and drug counseling.

(4) Within 5 calendar years after being placed on inactive status, an individual on inactive status seeking to be reinstated to active status shall be required, as a condition of reinstatement, to submit proof of having completed the CEU requirements as set forth under COMAR 10.58.05.

(5) If an individual on inactive status seeks to be reinstated beyond the required 5-year period and conditions set forth under §I(4) of this regulation, the individual shall be required to:

(a) Submit a new application;

(b) Meet the current certification requirements; and

(c) Pay the nonrefundable fee set forth in COMAR 10.58.02.

Md. Code Regs. 10.58.07.07

Regulations .07 adopted as an emergency provision effective October 1, 2001 (28:22 Md. R. 1932); amended as an emergency provision effective March 30, 2002 (29:7 Md. R. 617); adopted permanently effective June 24, 2002 (29:12 Md. R. 929)
Regulation .07 amended as an emergency provision effective August 15, 2002 (29:18 Md. R. 1439); amended permanently effective November 25, 2002 (29:23 Md. R. 1811)
Regulation .07 amended effective 42:22 Md. R. 1379, eff.11/9/2015; amended effective 45:26 Md. R. 1247, eff. 12/31/2018; amended and recodified from .06 effective 48:13 Md. R. 508, eff. 6/28/2021