                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

SCOPE OF PRACTICE, SUPERVISION, AND QUALIFICATIONS OF CERTIFIED SUBSTANCE ABUSE
COUNSELORS (§ 54.1-3507.1)

A. A certified substance abuse counselor shall be (i) qualified to perform,
under appropriate supervision or direction, the substance abuse treatment
functions of screening, intake, orientation, the administration of substance
abuse assessment instruments, recovery and relapse prevention planning,
substance abuse treatment, case management, substance abuse or dependence crisis
intervention, client education, referral activities, record keeping, and
consultation with other professionals; (ii) qualified to be responsible for
client care of persons with a primary diagnosis of substance abuse or
dependence; and (iii) qualified to supervise, direct and instruct certified
substance abuse counseling assistants. Certified substance abuse counselors
shall not engage in independent or autonomous practice.

B. Such counselor shall also be clinically supervised or directed by a licensed
substance abuse treatment practitioner, or any other mental health professional
licensed by the Department, or, in an exempt setting as described in &#xA7;
54.1-3501, another person with substantially equivalent education, training, and
experience, or such counselor shall be in compliance with the supervision
requirements of a licensed facility.

C. Pursuant to regulations adopted by the Board, an applicant for certification
as a substance abuse counselor shall submit evidence satisfactory to the Board
that the applicant has (i) completed a specified number of hours of didactic
substance abuse education courses in a program or programs recognized or
approved by the Board and received a bachelor&#8217;s degree from an institution
of higher education accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Board;
and (ii) accumulated a specified number of hours of experience involving the
practice of substance abuse treatment while supervised by a licensed substance
abuse treatment practitioner, or by any other mental health professional
licensed by the Department, or by a certified substance abuse counselor who
shall submit evidence satisfactory to the Board of clinical supervision
qualifications pursuant to regulations adopted by the Board, such number of
hours being greater than the number of hours required of a certified substance
abuse counseling assistant. The applicant shall also pass an examination as
required by the Board.

HISTORY: 2001, c. 460.