§ 37:3387.6 — Certified compulsive gambling counselor

Louisiana § 37:3387.6

• Jurisdiction: Louisiana
• Title 37: Professions and Occupations

Text

§3387.6. Certified compulsive gambling counselor
A. The legislature finds that addiction counseling is an effective and necessary
component in the continuum of addictive disorder treatment and services. In order to better
provide for the health and welfare of the citizens of this state, the legislature desires to
enhance compulsive gambling counseling services by providing for a certification for
compulsive gambling counselors.
B. The board shall adopt and promulgate rules which shall provide for the
certification of compulsive gambling counselors in accordance with this Chapter.
C. Any person seeking to be recognized by the board as a certified compulsive
gambling counselor shall hold the valid and current necessary credential of licensed,
certified, or registered addiction counselor or hold the valid and current necessary credential
of a qualified mental health professional. In addition, the candidate shall complete the
minimum educational hours provided for in this Chapter. Any candidate holding the
necessary credential who has completed the educational hours required may submit an
application on a form and in a manner prescribed by the board. Documentation of the
necessary credential and completion of the required educational hours shall accompany the
application. The application shall also be accompanied by a fee as provided for in this
Chapter.
D. Upon investigation of the application, the board shall, within thirty days, notify
each candidate that the application is satisfactory and accepted or unsatisfactory and rejected.
If the application is rejected, the notice shall state the reason for such rejection.
E. The board shall recognize as a certified compulsive gambling counselor each
candidate who:
(1) Is a licensed, certified, or registered addiction counselor, or who is a qualified
mental health professional.
(2) Is not in violation of any ethical standards subscribed to by the board.
(3) Does not have any pending disciplinary action with the board, or, in the case of
a qualified mental health professional, with the appropriate regulatory board.
(4) Is not a defendant in any pending felony criminal proceedings.
(5) Has successfully completed a minimum of sixty educational hours, approved by
the board, specific to addiction.
(6) Has successfully completed a minimum of thirty educational hours, approved by
the board, specific to gambling addiction.
(7) Has not been convicted of or entered a plea of guilty or a plea of nolo contendere
to a felony.
F. Each compulsive gambling counselor candidate shall sign a form prescribed by
the board authorizing the board to obtain a criminal history or to conduct a criminal
background check.
G.(1) Each applicant shall demonstrate professional competence in compulsive
gambling counseling by passing a written examination.
(2) The board shall determine the scope and administration of the examination.
(3) The board may provide for circumstances under which a candidate who fails the
examination, but who meets all other requirements, may retake the examination.
(4) The board shall make reasonable accommodations for those candidates who
demonstrate a special need or disability.
H. The scope of practice for a certified compulsive gambling counselor shall be
consistent with the scope of practice for the necessary credential supporting the certification.
A certified compulsive gambling counselor may not practice or provide gambling counseling
services to any member of the public or hold himself out as a compulsive gambling counselor
without a valid and current necessary credential as provided for in this Chapter.
I. The board shall revoke the certification for gambling counseling of any person who
does not maintain the valid and current necessary credential of licensed, certified, or
registered addiction counselor or qualified mental health professional.

Legislative History

Acts 2004, No. 803, §3, eff. July 8, 2004; Acts 2018, No. 206, §3; Acts 2020, No. 328, §2.