21 NCAC 68 .0205. CERTIFIED SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR CERTIFICATION

Requirements for certification as a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor shall be as follows:

(1)           Successful completion of paid or volunteer supervised experience earned in not less than three years, as set out in G.S. 90-113.40(a).  If the work setting is not exclusively substance abuse focused, the applicant may accumulate experience proportional to the substance abuse services performed;

(2)           Board approved education and training of at least 270 clock hours as follows:

(a)           Substance Abuse Specific (SAS) education and training in the amount of at least 190 hours;

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

(c)           No more than 25% of the 270 hours (67.5) hours may be inservice education received within the applicant's organization by staff of the same organization;

(d)           The 190 Substance Abuse Specific clock hours needed for initial certification must be in the core competencies.  Core competencies are listed as follow:

(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 education;

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

(viii)        Ethics, legal issues, and confidentiality;

(ix)          Special populations which include but are not limited to individuals or groups with specific 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;

(e)           Of the 270 clock hours, applicants for certification as a Substance Abuse Professional must document six hours of HIV/AIDS/STDS/TB/Bloodborne pathogens training and education, six hours professional ethics education, and six hours of education to be selected from the following:

(i)            Nicotine Dependence;

(ii)           Psychopathology;

(iii)          Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches;

(iv)          Substance Abuse Issues In Older Adults; and

(v)           Substance Abuse Issues Affecting Veterans;

(3)           A one hundred twenty-five dollar ($125.00) written exam fee and a one hundred twenty-five dollar ($125.00) non-refundable registration fee, unless previously paid.  The applicant may request a reexamination and pay a non-refundable reexamination fee as set out in G.S. 90-113.38(c) for the written exam if a passing score is not achieved and at least three months have passed from the date of failed test;

(4)           Successful completion of the IC&RC/AODA, Inc. or its successor organization written exam;

(5)           Completed evaluation forms and contracts for supervision.  These forms must be mailed directly to the Board by three references:  a supervisor, co-worker, and colleague;

(6)           A signed form attesting to the applicant's adherence to the Ethical Standards of the Board;

(7)           Documentation of high school graduation, completion of GED, baccalaureate or advanced degree;

(8)           Completed registration forms;

(9)           Resume; and

(10)         Job description that verifies job function.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90-113.30; 90-113.31; 90-113.33; 90-113.36; 90-113.39; 90-113.40;

Eff. August 1, 1996;

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