§ 90-113.40 — Requirements for certification and licensure

North Carolina § 90-113.40

• Jurisdiction: North Carolina
• Ch. 90: Medicine and Allied Occupations
• Art. 5C: North Carolina Substance Use Disorder Professional Practice Act

Text

(a) The Board shall issue a certificate certifying an applicant as a "Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor" or as a "Certified Prevention Specialist" if:
(1) The applicant is of good moral character.
(2) The applicant is not and has not engaged in any practice or conduct that would be grounds for disciplinary action under G.S. 90-113.44.
(3) The applicant is qualified for certification pursuant to the requirements of this Article and any rules adopted pursuant to it.
(4) The applicant has, at a minimum, a high school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate.
(5) The applicant has signed a form attesting to the intention to adhere fully to the ethical standards adopted by the Board.
(5a) The applicant submits to a complete criminal history record check pursuant to G.S. 90-113.46A.
(6) The applicant has completed 270 hours of Board-approved education. The Board may prescribe that a certain number of hours be in a course of study for substance use disorder counseling and that a certain number of hours be in a course of study for substance abuse prevention consulting. Independent study hours shall not compose more than fifty percent (50%) of the total number of hours required for initial credentialing.
(7) The applicant has documented completion of a minimum of 300 hours of Supervised Practical Training, has provided a Board-approved supervision contract between the applicant and an applicant supervisor, and has been deemed recommended by the applicant supervisor to advance in the credentialing process.
(8) The applicant for substance use disorder counselor has completed a total of 6,000 hours of supervised experience in the field, whether paid or volunteer. The applicant for prevention specialist has completed a total of 6,000 hours supervised experience in the field, whether paid or volunteer, or 4,000 hours if the applicant has at least a bachelor's degree in a human services field from a regionally accredited college or university.
(9) The applicant has obtained a passing score on a written examination.
(b) The Board shall issue a certificate certifying an individual as a "Certified Clinical Supervisor" if the applicant:
(1) Submits proof of designation by the Board as a clinical supervisor intern.
(2) Submits proof that the applicant has a minimum of a master's degree in a human services field with a clinical application from a regionally accredited college or university.
(3) Has 4,000 hours experience as a substance use disorder clinical supervisor as documented by his or her certified clinical supervisor.
(4) Has 30 hours of substance use disorder clinical supervision specific education or training. These hours shall be reflective of the Twelve Core Functions in the applicant's clinical application and practice and may also be counted toward the applicant's renewal as an alcohol and drug counselor or a clinical addictions specialist.
(5) Submits a letter of reference from a certified clinical supervisor who can attest to the applicant's supervisory competence and two letters of reference from either counselors who have been supervised by the applicant or professionals who can attest to the applicant's competence.
(6) Obtains a passing score on a written examination administered by the Board.
(b1) The Board shall designate an applicant as a "Clinical Supervisor Intern" if, in addition to meeting the requirements of subdivisions (a)(1) through (5a) of this section, the applicant meets the following qualifications:
(1) Submits an application, resume, and official transcript showing that the applicant has obtained a master's degree in a human services field with a clinical application from a regionally accredited college or university.
(2) Submits verification statements.
(3) Submits proof of credentialing as a licensed clinical addictions specialist.
(4) Submits documentation establishing that the applicant has completed at least fifty percent of the required clinical supervision specific training hours as defined by the Board.
(c) The Board shall issue a license credentialing an applicant as a "Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist" if, in addition to meeting the requirements of subdivisions (a)(1) through (5a) of this section, the applicant meets one of the following criteria:
(1) Criteria A. - The applicant:
a. Has a minimum of a master's degree with a clinical application in a human services field from a regionally accredited college or university.
b. Has two years postgraduate supervised substance use disorder counseling experience.
c. Submits three letters of reference from licensed clinical addictions specialists or certified alcohol and drug counselors who have obtained master's degrees.
d. Has achieved a passing score on a master's level written examination administered by the Board.
e. Has attained 180 hours of substance use disorder specific training from either a regionally accredited college or university, which may include unlimited independent study, or from training events of which no more than fifty percent (50%) shall be in independent study. All hours shall be credited according to the standards set forth in G.S. 90-113.41A.
f. The applicant has documented completion of a minimum of 300 hours of supervised practical training and has provided a Board-approved supervision contract between the applicant and an applicant supervisor.
(2) Criteria B. - The applicant:
a. Has a minimum of a master's degree with a clinical application in a human services field from a regionally accredited college or university.
b. Has been certified as a substance abuse counselor.
c. Repealed by Session Laws 2008-130, s. 4, effective July 28, 2008.
d. Has achieved a passing score on a master's level written examination administered by the Board.
e. Submits three letters of reference from either licensed clinical addictions specialists or certified alcohol and drug counselors who have obtained master's degrees.
(3) Criteria C. - The applicant:
a. Has a minimum of a master's degree in a human services field with both a clinical application and a substance use disorder specialty from a regionally accredited college or university that includes 180 hours of substance use disorder specific education and training pursuant to G.S. 90-113.41A.
b. Has one year of postgraduate supervised substance use disorder counseling experience.
c. Has achieved a passing score on a master's level written examination administered by the Board.
d. Submits three letters of reference from licensed clinical addictions specialists or certified alcohol and drug counselors who have obtained master's degrees.
(4) Criteria D. - The applicant has a substance use disorder certification from a professional discipline that has been granted deemed status by the Board.
(d) Repealed by Session Laws 2019-240, s. 8(i), effective January 1, 2020, and applicable to licenses granted or renewed on or after that date.
(d1) The Board shall issue a certificate certifying an applicant as a "Certified Criminal Justice Addictions Professional", with the acronym "CCJP", if in addition to meeting the requirements of subdivisions (a)(1) through (5a) of this section, the applicant:
(1) Has attained 270 hours of Board-approved education or training, unless the applicant has attained a minimum of a masters degree with a clinical application and a substance use disorder specialty from a regionally accredited college or university whereby the applicant must only obtain 180 hours. The hours of education shall be specifically related to the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the tasks within the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, Incorporated, "IC&RC/AODA, Inc.," criminal justice addictions professional performance domains as they relate to both adults and juveniles. Independent study may compose up to fifty percent (50%) of the total number of hours obtained for initial certification or renewal.
(2) Has documented 300 hours of Board-approved supervised practical training. This supervision shall mean the administrative, clinical, and evaluative process of monitoring, assessing, and enhancing professional performance. A minimum of 10 hours of supervision in each criminal justice domain established by the IC&RC/AODA, Inc., is required.
(3) Has provided documentation of supervised work experience providing direct service to clients or offenders involved in one of the three branches of the criminal justice system, which include law enforcement, the judiciary, and corrections. The applicant must meet one of the following criteria:
a. Criteria A. - In addition to having a high school diploma or an adult high school equivalency diploma, the applicant has a minimum of 6,000 hours of documented work experience in direct services in criminal justice or addictions services or any combination of these services that have been obtained during the past 10 years.
b. Criteria B. - In addition to having an associate degree, the applicant has a minimum of 5,000 hours of documented work experience in direct services in criminal justice or addictions services or any combination of these services obtained during the past 10 years.
c. Criteria C. - In addition to having at least a bachelors degree, the applicant has a minimum of 4,000 hours of documented work experience in direct services in criminal justice or addictions services, or any combination of these services, and this experience has been obtained during the past 10 years.
d. Criteria D. - In addition to having at least a masters degree in a human services field, the applicant has a minimum of 2,000 hours of documented work experience in direct services in criminal justice or addictions services or any combination of these services that has been obtained during the past 10 years.
e. Criteria E. - In addition to having at least a masters degree in a human services field with a specialty from a regionally accredited college or university that includes 180 hours of substance use disorder specific education or training, the applicant has a minimum of 2,000 hours of postgraduate supervised substance use disorder counseling experience.
f. Criteria F. - In addition to having obtained the credential of a certified clinical addictions specialist or other advanced credential in a human services field from an organization that has obtained deemed status with the Board, the applicant has a minimum of 1,000 hours of documented work experience in direct services in criminal justice or addictions services that has been obtained during the past 10 years.
(4) Has passed the IC&RC/AODA, Inc., certified criminal justice addictions professional written examination.
(e) The Board shall publish from time to time information in order to provide specifics for potential applicants of an acceptable educational curriculum and the terms of acceptable supervised fieldwork experience.
(f) Effective January 1, 2003, only a person who is certified as a certified clinical supervisor or a clinical supervisor intern shall be qualified to supervise applicants for certified clinical supervisor and certified alcohol and drug counselor and applicants for licensed clinical addictions specialist who meet the qualifications of their credential other than through deemed status as provided in G.S. 90-113.40(c)(4). (1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 685, s. 1; 1997-492, s. 9; 1998-217, s. 10; 1999-164, s. 10; 2005-431, s. 1; 2008-130, s. 4; 2014-115, s. 28(c); 2019-240, ss. 6(a), (b), 8(i).)
§ 90-113.40A. Requirements for registration.
(a) Upon application and payment of the required fee, the Board shall issue a registration designating an applicant as a registrant if the applicant:
(1) Provides documentation that he or she has received a high school diploma, or the equivalent, and evidence of any baccalaureate or advanced degrees the applicant has received.
(2) Completes a registration application on a form provided by the Board.
(3) Provides documentation of three hours of educational training in ethics.
(4) Signs a form attesting to the applicant's commitment to adhere to the ethical standards adopted by the Board.
(4a) Submits to a complete criminal history record check pursuant to G.S. 90-113.46A.
(5) Signs a supervision contract provided by the Board that documents the proposed supervision process by an applicant supervisor.
(b) Registrant status shall be maintained for a period of up to five years while the registrant is in the process of completing his or her requirements for credentials pursuant to this Article. If at the end of a five-year period a registrant has not obtained a credential under this Article, the Board shall renew the registration for up to an additional five-year period after the registrant pays the required fee and complies with all requirements for registration pursuant to G.S. 90-113.40A. The Board shall terminate the registration of any registrant who fails to renew his or her registration.
(c) The registrant shall notify the Board of any criminal conviction imposed during the period of registration. (2001-370, s. 5; 2005-431, s. 1.)
§ 90-113.40B. Applicant supervision.
The Board shall designate a person as an applicant supervisor of individuals applying for registration, certification, or licensure as a substance use disorder professional as follows:
(1) A certified clinical supervisor shall supervise a clinical supervisor intern.
(2) A certified clinical supervisor or a clinical supervisor intern shall supervise a clinical addictions specialist applicant, or an alcohol and drug counselor applicant.
(3) Repealed by Session Laws 2005-431, s. 1, effective September 22, 2005.
(4) A certified prevention specialist with a minimum of three years of professional experience, a certified clinical supervisor, or a clinical supervisor intern shall supervise a registrant applying for certification as a prevention specialist.
(5) Pursuant to the deemed status procedure under G.S. 90-113.41A, the supervision requirements described in subdivisions (1) through (4) of this section shall not apply to persons applying for licensure as a licensed clinical addictions specialist.
(6) A criminal justice addictions professional applicant shall be supervised by a certified clinical supervisor or clinical supervisor intern. (2001-370, s. 6; 2005-431, s. 1; 2019-240, s. 8(j).)