18VAC115-30-30. Fees required by the board.

A. The board has established the following fees applicable to the certification of substance abuse counselors and substance abuse counseling assistants:

B. All fees are nonrefundable.

Part II
Requirements for Certification

18VAC115-30-40. Prerequisites for certification by examination for substance abuse counselors.

A. A candidate for certification as a substance abuse counselor shall meet all the requirements of this section and shall pass the examination prescribed in 18VAC115-30-90.

B. Every applicant for examination for certification by the board shall:

1. Meet the educational and experience requirements prescribed in 18VAC115-30-50 and 18VAC115-30-60;

2. Submit the following to the board:

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 requirement set forth in subsection B of 18VAC115-30-50;

d. Verification of supervisor's education and experience as required under 18VAC115-30-60;

e. Verification of supervision forms documenting fulfillment of the experience requirements of 18VAC115-30-60;

f. Documentation of any other professional health or mental health license or certificate ever held in another jurisdiction;

g. A current report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB); and

g. h. The application processing and initial certification fee.

18VAC115-30-45. Prerequisites for certification by endorsement for substance abuse counselors.

Every applicant for certification by endorsement shall submit:

1. A completed application;

2. The application processing fee;

3. Verification of all professional health or mental health 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. A current report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB);

4. 5. Affidavit of having read and understood the regulations and laws governing the practice of substance abuse counseling in Virginia; and

5. 6. 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 examination in the jurisdiction in which licensure or certification was obtained, and that is deemed substantially equivalent by the board; or

b. Verification of a current certification in good standing issued by NAADAC or other board-recognized national certification in substance abuse counseling obtained by educational and experience standards substantially equivalent to those set forth in this chapter.

18VAC115-30-60. Experience requirements for substance abuse counselors.

A. Registration. Supervision obtained without prior board approval will not be accepted if it does not meet the requirements set forth in subsections B and C of this section. Individuals who wish to To register supervision for board approval prior to obtaining the supervised experience, an applicant 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; and

3. 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 a minimum of one hour and a maximum of four hours per week of supervision 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 individual supervision.

3. Applicants must document successful completion of their supervised experience on the Verification of Supervision Form at the time of application.

C. Supervisor qualifications. A board-approved clinical supervisor shall be:

1. A licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner;

2. A licensed professional counselor, licensed clinical psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist, medical doctor, or registered nurse, and possess either a board-recognized national certification in substance abuse counseling obtained by standards substantially equivalent to those set forth in this chapter, or a minimum of one year experience in substance abuse counseling and at least 100 hours of didactic training covering the areas outlined in 18VAC115-30-50 B 1 a through h; or

3. A substance abuse counselor certified by the Virginia Board of Counseling who has:

a. Board-recognized national certification in substance abuse counseling obtained by standards substantially equivalent to those set forth in this chapter; or

b. Two years experience as a Virginia board-certified substance abuse counselor.

D. Supervisory responsibilities.

1. Supervisors shall assume responsibility for the professional activities of the prospective applicants under their supervision.

2. Supervisors shall not provide supervision for activities for which prospective applicants have not had appropriate education.

3. Supervisors shall provide supervision only for those substance abuse counseling services that they are qualified to render.

4. At the time of formal application for certification, the board-approved supervisor shall document the applicant's total hours of supervision, length of work experience, competence in substance abuse counseling and any needs for additional supervision or training.

5. Supervision by any individual whose relationship to the supervisee compromises the objectivity of the supervisor is prohibited.

18VAC115-40-20. Fees required by the board.

A. The board has established the following fees applicable to the certification of rehabilitation providers:

B. Fees shall be paid to the board or its contractor or both in appropriate amounts as specified in the application instructions. All fees are nonrefundable.

C. Examination fees shall be determined and made payable as determined by the board.

18VAC115-40-25. Application process.

The applicant shall submit to the board:

1. A completed application form;

2. The official transcript or transcripts submitted from the appropriate institutions of higher education;

3. Documentation, on the appropriate forms, of the successful completion of the supervised experience requirement of 18VAC115-40-26. Documentation of supervision obtained outside of Virginia must include verification of the supervisor's out-of-state license or certificate;

4. A current report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB); and

4. 5. Documentation of the applicant's national or out-of-state license or certificate in good standing where applicable.

Part III
Examinations

18VAC115-40-28. General examination requirements.

A. Every applicant for certification as a rehabilitation provider shall take a written examination approved by the board and achieve a passing score as determined by the board.

B. The written examination will be given at least once each year. The board may schedule such additional examinations as it deems necessary.