Okla. Stat. tit. 59, § 59-1876

counselor - Application - Requirements - Scope of practice.

A. Unless exempt pursuant to Section 1872 of this title, any

person wishing to practice alcohol and drug counseling in this state

shall obtain a certificate or license to practice pursuant to the

provisions of the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors Act.

B. An application for a certificate or license to practice as a

certified or licensed alcohol and drug counselor shall be made to

the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors in

writing. Such application shall be on a form and in a manner

prescribed by the Board. The application shall be accompanied by

the fee required by the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors Act,

which shall be retained by the Board and not returned to the

applicant.

C. Each applicant for a certificate or license to practice as a

certified or licensed alcohol and drug counselor shall:

1. Pass an examination based on standards established by the

International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium, any

successor organization to the International Certification and

Reciprocity Consortium or another national or international

organization recognized by the Board to have similar standards equal

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations Page 1326

to or higher than the International Certification and Reciprocity

Consortium;

2. Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age;

3. Not have engaged in, nor be engaged in, any practice or

conduct which would be grounds for denying, revoking or suspending a

license pursuant to the provisions of the Licensed Alcohol and Drug

Counselors Act; and

4. Otherwise comply with the rules promulgated by the Board

pursuant to the provisions of the Licensed Alcohol and Drug

Counselors Act.

D. In addition to the qualifications specified by the

provisions of subsection C of this section, an applicant for a

license to practice as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor shall:

1. Have at least a master's degree in alcohol and substance

abuse counseling or other clinical counseling field recognized by

the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors that

includes, at a minimum, the following knowledge areas and graduate

credit hours from a college or university accredited by an agency

recognized by the United States Department of Education:

a. three courses in foundational knowledge, including one

course in alcohol and drug addiction, one course in

drug and alcohol counseling theory, and one course in

the pharmacology of drugs and abuse,

b. three courses in assessment and treatment of

behavioral health problems, which may include group

dynamics, individual and family counseling skills,

specific counseling approaches, assessment methods,

community resources and referral, or other courses

primarily related to the assessment and treatment of

behavioral health problems,

c. one course in human development,

d. one course in psychopathology,

e. one course in multicultural and cultural competency

issues,

f. one course in family systems theory,

g. one course in addiction in the family theory,

h. one course in addiction in the family counseling,

i. one course in ethics, which includes established

ethical conduct for alcohol and drug counselors,

j. one course in research methods, and

k. one three-hour practicum/internship in the field of

drug and alcohol counseling of at least three hundred

(300) clock hours.

All courses shall be graduate level courses and shall be three
theory,

h. one course in addiction in the family counseling,

i. one course in ethics, which includes established

ethical conduct for alcohol and drug counselors,

j. one course in research methods, and

k. one three-hour practicum/internship in the field of

drug and alcohol counseling of at least three hundred

(300) clock hours.

All courses shall be graduate level courses and shall be three

(3) semester hours or four (4) quarter credit hours which shall

include a minimum of forty-five (45) class hours for each course;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations Page 1327

2. Have successfully completed at least one (1) year of full-

time supervised work experience providing behavioral health

services. For the purpose of the Licensed Alcohol and Drug

Counselors Act, one (1) year of full-time work experience shall mean

two thousand (2,000) hours of work experience, of which at least one

thousand (1,000) hours shall consist of direct client contact; or

3. Be a licensed mental health professional as defined in

Section 1-103 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes and have

completed a minimum of fifteen (15) hours in master's level

substance abuse specific coursework, including, but not limited to,

chemical addiction, counseling, alcohol/drug counseling theory,

pharmacology of drugs and abuse, assessment and treatment of alcohol

and drug problems, theories in family addiction, and/or family

addiction counseling.

E. The scope of practice of a licensed alcohol and drug

counselor who meets the educational requirements set forth in

paragraph 1 of subsection D of this section may include the

assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health disorders.

Licensees who have been determined by the Board to meet these

requirements shall have the designation "licensed alcohol and drug

counselor/mental health" or "LADC/MH" noted on their license and

wallet card.

F. The scope of practice of a licensed alcohol and drug

counselor who made application for license or who was licensed prior

to the effective date of the educational requirements set forth in

paragraph 1 of subsection D of this section shall not include the

assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health disorders

unless:

1. The licensed alcohol and drug counselor holds a master's

degree that meets the educational requirements for licensure in the

following behavioral health professions:

a. licensed professional counselor as defined in Section

1902 of this title,

b. licensed clinical social worker as defined in Section

1250.1 of this title,

c. licensed marital and family therapist as defined in

Section 1925.2 of this title, or

d. licensed behavioral practitioner as defined in Section

1931 of this title; or

2. The licensed alcohol and drug counselor holds a valid Co-

Occurring Disorders Certification based on standards established by

the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium, any

successor organization to the International Certification and

Reciprocity Consortium, or any other national or international

organization recognized by the Board to have similar standards equal

to or higher than the International Certification and Reciprocity

Consortium.

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G. In addition to the qualifications specified in subsection C

of this section, each applicant for a certificate to practice as a

certified alcohol and drug counselor shall have:

1. At a minimum, a bachelor's degree in a behavioral science

field that is recognized by the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol

and Drug Counselors as appropriate to practice as a certified drug

and alcohol counselor in this state;

2. Successfully completed at least two (2) years of full-time

supervised work experience. For the purpose of the Licensed Alcohol

and Drug Counselors Act, "two years of full-time work experience"

shall be defined as four thousand (4,000) hours of work experience
a Board of Licensed Alcohol

and Drug Counselors as appropriate to practice as a certified drug

and alcohol counselor in this state;

2. Successfully completed at least two (2) years of full-time

supervised work experience. For the purpose of the Licensed Alcohol

and Drug Counselors Act, "two years of full-time work experience"

shall be defined as four thousand (4,000) hours of work experience

of which at least two thousand (2,000) hours shall consist of

providing alcohol and drug counseling services to an individual

and/or the individual's family;

3. Successfully completed at least two hundred seventy (270)

clock hours of education related to alcohol and drug counseling

subjects, theory, practice or research;

4. Successfully completed, as part of or in addition to the

education requirements established in paragraph 3 of this

subsection, a minimum of forty-five (45) clock hours of specialized

training approved by the Board in identifying co-occurring disorders

and making appropriate referrals for treatment of co-occurring

disorders; and

5. Successfully completed at least three hundred (300) hours of

supervised practicum experience in the field of drug and alcohol

counseling.

H. Any licensed or certified alcohol and drug counselor wishing

to be certified for co-occurring disorders in this state may obtain

such certification pursuant to the provisions of the Licensed

Alcohol and Drug Counselors Act.

I. An application by a licensed or certified alcohol and drug

counselor for certification for co-occurring disorders shall be made

to the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors in

writing. Such application shall be on a form and in a manner

prescribed by the Board. The application shall be accompanied by

the fee required by Section 1884 of this title, which shall be

retained by the Board and not returned to the applicant.

J. Each applicant for certification for co-occurring disorders

shall:

1. Be a licensed or certified alcohol and drug counselor in

good standing with the Board;

2. Meet the requirements promulgated by the Board to establish

the applicant's competency to include treatment of co-occurring

disorders within his or her scope of practice;

3. Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age;

4. Not have engaged in, nor be engaged in, any practice or

conduct which would be grounds for denying, revoking or suspending a

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations Page 1329

license pursuant to the provisions of the Licensed Alcohol and Drug

Counselors Act; and

5. Otherwise comply with the rules promulgated by the Board

pursuant to the provisions of the Licensed Alcohol and Drug

Counselors Act.

K. Applicants with degrees from schools outside the United

States may qualify with Board approval by providing the Board with

an acceptable comprehensive evaluation of the degree performed by a

foreign credential evaluation service that is acceptable to the

Board, and any other requirement the Board deems necessary.