Section 17-402 - Requirements for certified professional counselor - Alcohol and drug. - Maryland Statutes

§ 17-402. Requirements for certified professional counselor - Alcohol and drug.
 

(a)  In general.- Except as provided in § 17-405 of this subtitle, to qualify as a certified professional counselor-alcohol and drug, an applicant shall meet the requirements of this section. 

(b)  Good moral character.- The applicant shall be of good moral character. 

(c)  Minimum age.- The applicant shall be at least 18 years old. 

(d)  Educational requirements.-  

(1) The applicant shall hold a master's or doctoral degree in a health and human services counseling field from an accredited educational institution that is approved by the Board or have completed a program of studies judged by the Board to be substantially equivalent in subject matter and extent of training as required under this section. 

(2) In the case of an applicant holding a doctoral degree, the applicant shall have completed a minimum of 90 graduate credit hours in counselor training approved by the Board, including instruction in the following areas: 

(i) Counseling theory and ethics; 

(ii) Counseling techniques; 

(iii) Human growth and development and maladaptive behaviors; 

(iv) Group dynamics, processing, and counseling; 

(v) Social and cultural foundations; 

(vi) Lifestyle and career development; 

(vii) Appraisal of individuals; 

(viii) Research and evaluation; 

(ix) Participation in a supervised practicum in professional counseling; 

(x) Marriage and family therapy; and 

(xi) Alcohol and drug counseling. 

(3) In the case of an applicant holding only a master's degree, the applicant shall have completed a minimum of 60 graduate credit hours in counselor training approved by the Board including instruction in the areas set forth in paragraph (2) of this subsection. 

(4) The applicant shall have completed a minimum of 27 credit hours in alcohol and drug counselor training, including instruction in: 

(i) Medical aspects of chemical dependency; 

(ii) Group counseling; 

(iii) Individual counseling; 

(iv) Family counseling; 

(v) Assessment and treatment planning; 

(vi) Ethics for alcohol and drug counselors; 

(vii) Human development; 

(viii) Abnormal psychology; and 

(ix) Courses pertaining to counselor core functions of screening, intake, orientation, case management, crisis intervention, education and prevention, referral, consultation, reports and record keeping, and special alcohol and drug dependency topics. 

(e)  Supervised clinical experience.- The applicant shall have completed not less than 3 years with a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinically supervised experience in alcohol and drug counseling approved by the Board, 2 years of which shall have been completed after the award of the master's or doctoral degree or its substantial equivalent, as determined by the Board. 

(f)  Examination.- Except as otherwise provided in this title, the applicant shall pass an examination approved by the Board under this title. 
 

[2008, ch. 36, § 6; ch. 505, §§ 1, 2; ch. 630; 2010, ch. 708.]