Md. Code Regs. 10.58.07.04

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 22, November 1, 2024

Section 10.58.07.04 - Licensed Graduate Alcohol and Drug Counselors

A. Scope of Practice. The scope of practice for a licensed graduate alcohol and drug counselor includes the following activities to be performed under the clinical supervision of an approved alcohol and drug counselor supervisor:

(1) Clinical evaluation, including screening, assessment, and diagnosis for mental health disorders;

(2) Treatment planning for mental health disorders, including initial, ongoing, continuity of care, discharge, and planning for relapse prevention;

(3) Referral;

(4) Service coordination and case management;

(5) Counseling, therapy, and trauma informed care with individuals, couples, families and groups;

(6) Client, family, and community education;

(7) Documentation; and

(8) Professional and ethical responsibilities.

B. Licensure. To qualify for licensure as a graduate alcohol and drug counselor, an applicant shall have:

(1) Completed one of the following from an accredited educational institution:

(a) A master's degree in a health and human services counseling field with:

(i) A minimum of 60 graduate semester credit hours; or

(ii) 90 graduate quarter credit hours;

(b) A doctoral degree in a health and human services counseling field with:

(i) A minimum of 90 graduate semester credit hours; or

(ii) 135 graduate quarter credit hours; or

(c) A master's degree and have completed a program of studies determined by the Board to be substantially equivalent in subject matter with a minimum of 60 credit hours in counseling, including the required alcohol and drug course work for the license, as specified in §B(2) and (4) of this regulation;

(2) Completed a minimum of 39 semester credit hours or 65 quarter credit hours in alcohol and drug counselor training from an accredited educational institution including:

(a) 3 semester credit hours or 5 quarter credit hours of course work in each of the following course content areas:

(i) Pharmacology;

(ii) Group counseling;

(iii) Individual counseling;

(iv) Addictions treatment delivery;

(v) Ethics that include alcohol and drug counseling issues; and

(vi) Abnormal psychology; and

(b) Any three of the following 3 semester credit hours or 5 quarter credit hours of course work in each of the following course content areas:

(i) Human development;

(ii) Theories of counseling;

(iii) Treatment of co-occurring disorders;

(iv) Topics in substance-related and addictive disorders; or

(v) Family counseling;

(3) Completed one of the following:

(a) An internship in alcohol and drug counseling that totals 6 semester credit hours or 10 quarter credit hours; or

(b) A minimum of 1,000 hours of alcohol and drug counseling work completed as a certified associate counselor-alcohol and drug, a certified supervised counselor-alcohol and drug, or an alcohol and drug trainee under and verified by an approved alcohol and drug counselor supervisor;

(4) Completed a minimum of 3 graduate semester credit hours or 5 quarter credit hours in each of the following course content areas:

(a) Diagnosis andpsychopathology; and

(b) Psychotherapy and treatment of mental and emotional disorders;

(5) Achieved a passing score on:

(a) A national alcohol and drug counselor examination approved by the Board;

(b) An examination of;

(i) Health Occupations Article, Title 17, Annotated Code of Maryland; and

(ii) COMAR 10.58;

(6) Met all of the requirements set forth under Regulation .03 of this chapter; and

(7) Complied with:

(a) Health Occupations Article, Title 17, Annotated Code of Maryland; and

(b) The code of ethics as set forth in COMAR 10.58.03.

C. Licensed graduate alcohol and drug counselors shall have available for inspection a professional disclosure statement, as described in Health Occupations Article, §17-507, Annotated Code of Maryland, that:

(1) Clearly states that the counseling services are provided under supervision; and

(2) Provides the name, title, and credentials of the supervisor of record, including the supervisor's address and contact information.

D. Reexamination. An applicant who fails an examination for licensure:

(1) May retake the exam if:

(a) It is within the time frame set by the applicable testing authority; or

(b) A waiver is approved by the Board to extend the testing deadline upon proof of exceptional circumstances; or

(2) Shall be required to:

(a) Submit a new application; and

(b) Pay the nonrefundable fee set forth in COMAR 10.58.02.

E. The Board shall act upon applications as set forth under Regulation .03B of this chapter.

F. A licensed graduate alcohol and drug counselor may not:

(1) Practice independently; or

(2) Provide supervision.

G. Expiration and Extension.

(1) The graduate alcohol and drug counselor license expires 2 years after the date issued.

(2) If the graduate alcohol and drug counselor licensee is unable to accumulate the required clinical hours for licensure as a clinical alcohol and drug counselor in 2 years, the graduate alcohol and drug counselor may apply on a Board-approved form for a 2-year extension before the current license as a graduate alcohol and drug counselor expires, up to a maximum of 6 years, except as provided in §G(4) of this regulation.

(3) For the graduate alcohol and drug counselor who has been granted a 2-year extension, CEUs are not required for the first 2-year extension. Subsequent extensions approved by the Board shall be subject to the continuing education requirements in COMAR 10.58.05.

(4) A graduate alcohol and drug counselor shall submit a written request for an extension beyond the 6-year maximum, which the Board may grant in certain circumstances.

H. Reinstatement.

(1) Within 5 calendar years after the license renewal date, the Board may reinstate the license of a licensed graduate alcohol and drug counselor otherwise entitled to reinstatement under Health Occupations Article, §17-505(b), Annotated Code of Maryland, whose license was not renewed for any reason, if the licensee:

(a) Completes the required CEUs as set forth under COMAR 10.58.05;

(b) Meets the current licensure requirements; and

(c) Pays the reinstatement fee as set forth under COMAR 10.58.02.

(2) CEUs which are acquired in order to reinstate under COMAR 10.58.05.05 and .06 may be credited only once and may not be credited for any future renewals.

(3) For any licensed graduate alcohol and drug counselor whose license has expired more than 5 calendar years before the request for reinstatement, a new application for licensure shall be completed and the current licensure requirements shall be met.

(4) An individual who fails to reinstate licensure is not authorized to and may not practice clinical alcohol and drug counseling.

I. Inactive Status.

(1) In accordance with Health Occupations Article, §17-505, Annotated Code of Maryland, a request to transfer a license to inactive status shall be granted upon receipt of the:

(a) Completed Board-approved application; and

(b) Payment of all applicable fees set forth in COMAR 10.58.02.

(2) An individual may apply for inactive status only if the individual's license is still active at the time application for inactive status is made.

(3) An individual on inactive status is not authorized to practice graduate alcohol and drug counseling.

(4) Within 5 calendar years after being placed on inactive status, an individual on inactive status seeking to be reinstated to active status shall be required, as a condition of reinstatement, to submit proof of having completed the CEU requirements as set forth under COMAR 10.58.05.

(5) If an individual on inactive status seeks to be reinstated beyond the required 5-year period and the conditions set forth under §I(4) of this regulation, the individual shall be required to:

(a) Submit a new application;

(b) Meet the current licensure requirements; and

(c) Pay the nonrefundable fee set forth in COMAR 10.58.02.

Md. Code Regs. 10.58.07.04

Regulations .04 adopted as an emergency provision effective October 1, 2001 (28:22 Md. R. 1932); adopted permanently effective January 21, 2002 (29:1 Md. R. 23)
Regulation .04 amended effective 42:22 Md. R. 1379, eff.11/9/2015; amended effective 45:26 Md. R. 1247, eff. 12/31/2018; amended effective 48:13 Md. R. 508, eff. 6/28/2021