R03-302 Supplemental Requirements for Individual Credentialing

A. Individuals seeking the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services Alcohol and other Drug Abuse Counselor Credentialing shall:

1. Be registered by the Behavioral Science Regulatory Board as an Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor according to KSA 65-6601(b), or

2. Have an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university, and

3. Complete a minimum of 27 academic credit hours at a Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services approved educational institution, such as a college or university or other designated educational institution, in the following course content areas:

a. Addictions – 3 credit hours,

b. Individual counseling – 3 credit hours,

c. Group counseling – 3 credit hours,

d. Screening, assessment, treatment planning, and client records management – 3 credit hours,

e. Multi cultural aspects and special populations – 3 credit hours,

f. Ethics and confidentiality – 3 credit hours,

g. Pharmacology – 1 credit hour,

h. High risk medical issues – 1 credit hour,

i. Family and addictions – 2 credit hours,

j. Abnormal psychology, co-occurring mental, cognitive, or developmental disorders – 3 credit hours, and

k. Field experience utilizing the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services approved supervision guidelines – 2 credit hours or 200 actual clock hours,

4. Have a GPA of 2.5 or higher for the course work identified in subsection (A) (3).

Refer to Credentialing Agent.

 

B. An applicant may be credentialed according to the Licensing Standards, Chapter 13, number 2, adopted in 1993 if the applicant:

1. Demonstrates the completion of at least 1 credit hour of a Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services approved course content identified in subsection (A)(3) prior to January 1, 2004, and

2. Completes all required coursework by January 1, 2007.

C. An individual who is currently practicing or has practiced as an alcohol and other drug abuse counselor and is licensed, certified, or credentialed by another state, territory, or country may qualify for Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services Credentialed Alcohol and other Drug Abuse Counselor if the applicant submits documentation to include:

1. A signed and dated letter from a previous employer on professional letterhead detailing the dates of employment, volunteer work, or internship and a description of the nature of employment,

2. Copies of transcripts from educational institution, if applicable,

3. Copies of degrees earned, if applicable, or

4. Is qualified in accordance with subsection (A) (2-4) of the standards, as determined by the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.

D. An individual with professional credentials that are not listed in subsection (A) may qualify as a Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services Credentialed Alcohol and other Drug Abuse Counselor if such person submits documentation verifying:

1. Current certification to diagnose using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), or

2. Current licensure at the Master’s degree level with the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board, or

3. A Master’s or Doctorate degree in Theology or Divinity, and

4. A passing score on a drug and alcohol counselor competency test conducted by a nationally recognized organization such as the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors or the International Consortium of Reciprocity Counselors.

E. An individual who meets the criteria in subsections (D)(1-3) and is currently employed in a licensed program may make application and be credentialed as a Counselor Assistant effective for a period of one year to comply with subsection (D)(4).

F. An individual seeking a Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services Alcohol and other Drug Abuse Counselor Assistant Credential shall provide documentation verifying:

1. Completion of a minimum of 6 academic credit hours in the addiction specific courses listed in subsection (A) (3),

2. Completion of 6 CEU contact hours according to subsection R03-301 (A) (2),

3. Enrollment in a Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services approved college or university to comply with the 27 credit hour course requirements specified in subsection (A)(3),

4. A written supervisory plan and agreement with a Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services Credentialed Alcohol and other Drug Abuse Counselor that consists of:

a. The goals and objectives of the supervision,

b. The means to determine and evaluate progress toward the goals,

c. The date the supervisory plan and agreement was entered,

d. The anticipated term of the agreement and schedule for an annual update,

e. The process of termination of the agreement by either party, and

f. The process for the supervisory plan to be integrated into the applicant’s academic course work to include the completion of a minimum of 6 credit hours per year within 4 years,

5. A letter from the Department of Social and Rehabilitation or its designee confirming the individual’s status as a Counselor Assistant.

6. An individual failing to maintain his or her Counselor Assistant credential by meeting the above requirements listed in subsection (F) may not continue to provide alcohol and other drug services as stipulated in R03-301 subsection (C).

G. An individual completing the required 27 credit hours as identified in subsection (A)(3) may retain the Counselor Assistant credential by: 1. Submitting the required CEUs referenced in R03-301 subsections (A) (2) and (A) (4)* every 2 year cycle, and 2. Continuing to receive ongoing, documented supervision as stipulated in subsection (F) (4).

* Delete and (A) (4)

 

H. A Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services Credentialed Alcohol and other Drug Abuse Counselor shall document the concurrent review of services, reports, and client records such as evaluations, assessments, treatment plans, and discharge summaries prepared by a counselor assistant.

Verify in client record that Counselor Assistant items identified in R03-302 H were reviewed and signed by an AAPS Credentialed Counselor.