§ 12-245-806 — Continuing professional competency - rules - definition

Colorado § 12-245-806

• Jurisdiction: Colorado
• Title 12: Professions
• Art.: Mental Health

Text

(1) (a)
In accordance with sections 12-245-803 and 12-245-804, the board issues a license
or certificate to practice addiction counseling based on whether the applicant
satisfies minimum educational and experience requirements that demonstrate
professional competency to practice addiction counseling. After a license or a
certificate is issued to an applicant, the licensed or certified addiction counselor
shall maintain continuing professional competency to practice addiction
counseling.

(b) The board, in consultation with stakeholders, shall adopt rules on or
before March 1, 2022, establishing a continuing professional competency program
that includes, at a minimum, the following elements:

(I) A self-assessment of the knowledge and skills of a licensed or certified
addiction counselor seeking to renew or reinstate a license;

(II) Development, execution, and documentation of a learning plan based on
the assessment; and

(III) Periodic demonstration of knowledge and skills through documentation
of activities necessary to ensure at least minimal ability to safely practice the
profession. Nothing in this subsection (1)(b)(III) requires a licensed or certified
addiction counselor to retake any examination required pursuant to section 12-245-804 in connection with initial licensure or certification.

(c) A licensed or certified addiction counselor satisfies the continuing
competency requirements of this section if the licensed or certified addiction
counselor meets the continued professional competence requirements of one of
the following entities:

(I) A state department, including continued professional competence
requirements imposed through a contractual arrangement with a provider;

(II) An accrediting body recognized by the board; or

(III) An entity approved by the board.

(d) (I) After the program is established, a licensed or certified addiction
counselor shall satisfy the requirements of the program in order to renew or
reinstate a license or certificate to practice addiction counseling in Colorado.

(II) The requirements of this section apply to individual addiction counselors
who are licensed or certified pursuant to this part 8, and nothing in this section
shall be construed to require a person who employs or contracts with a licensed or
certified addiction counselor to comply with the requirements of this section.

(2) (a) Records of assessments or other documentation developed or
submitted in connection with the continuing professional competency program are
confidential and not subject to inspection by the public or discovery in connection
with a civil action against a licensed or certified addiction counselor. The records or
documents shall be used only by the board for purposes of determining whether a
licensed or certified addiction counselor is maintaining continuing professional
competency to engage in the profession.

(b) Subject to the requirements of subsection (2)(a) of this section, nothing in
this section shall be construed to restrict the discovery of information or
documents that are otherwise discoverable under the Colorado rules of civil
procedure in connection with a civil action against a licensed or certified addiction
counselor.

(3) As used in this section, continuing professional competency means the
ongoing ability of a licensed or certified addiction counselor to learn, integrate, and
apply the knowledge, skill, and judgment to practice as an addiction counselor
according to generally accepted industry standards and professional ethical
standards in a designated role and setting.

Legislative History

Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1295, � 1, effective October 1. L. 2020: (1)(a), IP(1)(b), (1)(b)(I), (1)(b)(III), IP(1)(c), (1)(d), (2)(a), and (3) amended, (HB 20-1206), ch. 304, p. 1542, � 40, effective July 14. L. 2021: IP(1)(b) amended, (HB 21-1305), ch. 399, p. 2649, � 5, effective July 1.