Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
Special Requirements
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
A. An applicant for examination for certification as a substance abuse counselor shall:
1. Have a bachelor’s degree.
2. Have completed 400 clock hours of substance abuse education from one of the following programs:
2. Have completed 400 clock hours of substance abuse education from one of the following programs:
a. An accredited university or college;
b. An integrated program acceptable to the board; or
c. An individualized program of seminars and workshops to be approved by the board at the time of application.
b. An integrated program acceptable to the board; or
c. An individualized program of seminars and workshops to be approved by the board at the time of application.
B. Substance abuse education:
1. The education will include 220 hours spent in receiving didactic training in substance abuse counseling. Each applicant shall have received a minimum of 10 clock hours in each of the following eight areas:
a. Understanding the dynamics of human behavior;
b. Signs and symptoms of substance abuse;
c. Treatment approaches, group dynamics and other adjunctive treatment and recovery support;
d. Continuum of care and case management skills;
e. Recovery process and relapse prevention methods;
f. Ethics;
g. Professional identity in the provision of substance abuse services; and
h. Crisis intervention.
In addition, each applicant shall have at least 20 hours in each of the following two areas:
(i) Substance abuse counseling treatment planning and substance abuse research; and
(ii) Group counseling.
b. Signs and symptoms of substance abuse;
c. Treatment approaches, group dynamics and other adjunctive treatment and recovery support;
d. Continuum of care and case management skills;
e. Recovery process and relapse prevention methods;
f. Ethics;
g. Professional identity in the provision of substance abuse services; and
h. Crisis intervention.
In addition, each applicant shall have at least 20 hours in each of the following two areas:
(i) Substance abuse counseling treatment planning and substance abuse research; and
(ii) Group counseling.
2. The education shall also consist of 180 hours of experience performing the following tasks with substance abuse clients:
a. Screening clients to determine eligibility and appropriateness for admission to a particular program;
b. Intake of clients by performing the administrative and initial assessment tasks necessary for admission to a program;
c. Orientation of new clients to program’s rules, goals, procedures, services, costs and the rights of the client;
d. Assessment of client’s strengths, weaknesses, problems, and needs for the development of a treatment plan;
e. Treatment planning with the client to identify and rank problems to be addressed, establish goals, and agree on treatment processes;
f. Counseling the client utilizing specialized skills in both individual and group approaches to achieve treatment goals and objectives;
g. Case management activities which bring services, agencies, people and resources together in a planned framework of action to achieve established goals;
h. Crisis intervention responses to clients’ needs during acute mental, emotional or physical distress;
i. Education of clients by providing information about drug abuse and available services and resources;
j. Referral of clients in order to meet identified needs unable to be met by the counselor and assisting the client in effectively utilizing those resources;
k. Reporting and charting information about client’s assessment, treatment plan, progress, discharge summaries and other client - related data; and
l. Consultation with other professionals to assure comprehensive quality care for the client.
Each of these tasks shall be performed for at least eight hours under supervision and shall be verified as a part of the application by the supervisor.
C. Groups and classes attended as a part of a therapy or treatment program will not be accepted as any part of the educational experience.
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
C. Groups and classes attended as a part of a therapy or treatment program will not be accepted as any part of the educational experience.
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
A. Registration of Supervision: Individuals who wish to register supervision for board approval prior to obtaining the supervised experience shall submit in one package:
1. A supervisory contract;
2. Verification of the supervisor’s education and experience as required under subsection C of this section;
3. Official transcripts documenting completion of a high school diploma or general education development certificate; and
4. The registration fee.
2. Verification of the supervisor’s education and experience as required under subsection C of this section;
3. Official transcripts documenting completion of a high school diploma or general education development certificate; and
4. The registration fee.
B. Experience requirements:
1. An applicant for certification as a substance abuse counselor shall have had 2,000 hours of supervised experience in the delivery of clinical substance abuse counseling services.
2. The supervised experience shall include an average of two hours per week of face-to-face consultation between the supervisor and the applicant to total 100 hours within the required experience. No more than half of these hours may be satisfied with group supervision. One hour of group supervision will be deemed equivalent to one hour of face-to-face supervision.
3. Applicants must document successful completion of their supervised experience on the Verification of Supervision Form at the time of application. Supervised experience obtained prior to January 19, 2000, may be accepted toward certification if this supervised experience met the board’s requirements which were in effect at the time the supervision was rendered.
2. The supervised experience shall include an average of two hours per week of face-to-face consultation between the supervisor and the applicant to total 100 hours within the required experience. No more than half of these hours may be satisfied with group supervision. One hour of group supervision will be deemed equivalent to one hour of face-to-face supervision.
3. Applicants must document successful completion of their supervised experience on the Verification of Supervision Form at the time of application. Supervised experience obtained prior to January 19, 2000, may be accepted toward certification if this supervised experience met the board’s requirements which were in effect at the time the supervision was rendered.
To apply for certification as a substance abuse counselor, the following must be submitted:
a. A completed application form;
b. Official transcript documenting attainment of a bachelor’s degree;
c. Official transcripts or certificates verifying completion of the didactic training requirements
d. Verification of supervisor’s education and experience
e. Verification of supervision forms documenting fulfillment of the experience requirements
f. Documentation of any other professional license or certificate ever held in another jurisdiction; and
g. The application processing and initial certification fee.
b. Official transcript documenting attainment of a bachelor’s degree;
c. Official transcripts or certificates verifying completion of the didactic training requirements
d. Verification of supervisor’s education and experience
e. Verification of supervision forms documenting fulfillment of the experience requirements
f. Documentation of any other professional license or certificate ever held in another jurisdiction; and
g. The application processing and initial certification fee.
To Apply for Certification by Endorsement submit:
1. A completed application;
2. The application processing fee;
3. Verification of all professional licenses or certificates ever held in any other jurisdiction. In order to qualify for endorsement, the applicant shall have no unresolved action against a license or certificate. The board will consider history of disciplinary action on a case - by - case basis. The board will also determine whether any or all other professional licenses or certificates held in another jurisdiction are substantially equivalent to those sought in Virginia;
4. Affidavit of having read and understood the regulations and laws governing the practice of substance abuse counseling in Virginia; and
5. Further documentation of one of the following:
a. Licensure or certification as a substance abuse counselor in another jurisdiction in good standing obtained by standards substantially equivalent to the education and experience requirements set forth in this chapter as verified by a certified copy of the original application submitted directly from the out-of-state licensing agency, or a copy of the regulations in effect at the time of initial licensure or certification and verification of a passing score on a licensure or certification examination in the jurisdiction in which licensure or certification was obtained, and which is deemed substantially equivalent by the board; or
b. Verification of a current board - recognized national certification in substance abuse counseling in good standing obtained by standards substantially equivalent to those set forth in this chapter.
b. Verification of a current board - recognized national certification in substance abuse counseling in good standing obtained by standards substantially equivalent to those set forth in this chapter.
Required Fees:
The board has established the following fees applicable to the certification of substance abuse counselors and substance abuse counseling assistants:
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Substance abuse counselor annual certification renewal
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$55
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Substance abuse counseling assistant annual certification renewal
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$40
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Substance abuse counselor initial certification by examination: Application processing and initial certification
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$90
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Substance abuse counseling assistant initial certification by examination: Application processing and initial certification
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$90
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Initial certification by endorsement of substance abuse counselors: Application processing and initial certification
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$90
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Registration of supervision
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$50
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Add or change supervisor
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$25
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Duplicate certificate
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$5
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Late renewal
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$20
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Reinstatement of a lapsed certificate
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$100
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Replacement of or additional wall certificate
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$15
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Returned check
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$35
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Reinstatement following revocation or suspension
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$500
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One-time fee reduction for renewal of certification as a substance abuse counselor due on June 30, 2007
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$27
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One-time fee reduction for renewal of certification as a substance abuse counseling assistant due on June 30, 2007
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$20
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For More Information, Contact:
Virginia Board of Counseling
6603 West Broad St., 5th Fl.
Richmond, VA 23230-1712
Phone: 804.662.9912
TTY: 804.662.7197
Fax: 804.662.7250
http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/counseling/
The data sources for the information displayed here include: Virginia Career VIEW Research. (Using onet28)
