TITLE 16             OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING

CHAPTER 27     COUNSELORS AND THERAPISTS

PART 11              REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE WITH EXAMINATION AS AN ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE COUNSELOR (LADAC)

 

16.27.11.1             ISSUING AGENCY:  Regulation and Licensing Department Counseling and Therapy Practice Board

[16.27.11.1 NMAC – Rp, 16.27.11.1 NMAC, 11/30/2021]

 

16.27.11.2             SCOPE:  All individuals applying for licensure by examination as an alcohol and drug abuse counselor.

[16.27.11.2 NMAC - Rp, 16.27.11.2 NMAC, 11/30/2021]

 

16.27.11.3             STATUTORY AUTHORITY:  These parts are promulgated pursuant to the Counselor and Therapist Practice Act, Sections 61-9A-1, 61-9A-3, 61-9A-5, 61-9A-9, 61-9A-14.2, 61-9A-15, 61-9A-23, and 61-9A-24 NMSA 1978 and the Uniform Licensing Act, Section 61-1-34 NMSA 1978.

[16.27.11.3 NMAC - Rp, 16.27.11.3 NMAC, 11/30/2021]

 

16.27.11.4             DURATION:  Permanent.

[16.27.11.4 NMAC - Rp, 16.27.11.4 NMAC, 11/30/2021]

 

16.27.11.5             EFFECTIVE DATE:  November 30, 2021, unless a later date is cited at the end of a section.

[16.27.11.5 NMAC - Rp, 16.27.11.5 NMAC, 11/30/2021]

 

16.27.11.6             OBJECTIVE:  The objective of Part 11 is to state the minimum requirements for licensure with examination as an alcohol and drug abuse counselor and list the documentation required for application effective July 1, 2003.

[16.27.11.6 NMAC - Rp, 16.27.11.6 NMAC, 11/30/2021]

 

16.27.11.7             DEFINITIONS:  [RESERVED]

 

16.27.11.8             SUPERVISION:

                A.            No supervision is required to practice with a LADAC independent license. The board strongly recommends that all independently licensed counselors and therapists have an ongoing consultation or peer review process in place.  Effective July 1, 2007, the independent alcohol and drug counselor may provide therapeutic services that may include treatment of clients with co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis in an integrated behavioral health setting in which a multidisciplinary team has developed a multidisciplinary treatment plan that is co-authorized by an independently licensed counselor or therapist.  The treatment of a mental health disorder must be supervised by an independently licensed counselor or therapist.

                B.            It is the responsibility of the individual seeking supervision to assure the supervision is acceptable for the level of licensure that will be requested at the completion of the required supervision.  The relationship between the supervisor and the applicant must promote the development of skill and responsibility in the delivery of counseling or therapy services.

                C.            Client contact and supervision hours acquired prior to being licensed will not be acceptable for licensure.

[16.27.11.8 NMAC - Rp, 16.27.11.8 NMAC, 11/30/2021]

 

16.27.11.9             APPLICANTS FOR LICENSURE:  An alcohol and drug abuse counselor (LADAC) must possess the following qualifications and provide the required documentation with the application.

                A.            Age requirement:  Be at least 21 years of age.

                B.            Applicant must sign a statement provided in the application indicating the applicant has read the code of ethics and agrees to be bound and governed by the code of ethics.

                C.            Applicant must demonstrate professional competency by passing the national certification examination for addiction counselors (NCAC level 1).

                D.            Education requirements

                                (1)           Holds an associate degree in counseling, counseling related field or a substance abuse related field from an accredited institution.  The board may approve, on a case-by-case basis, applicants whose education is not in a counseling or substance abuse related field. One semester credit hour is equal to 15 clock hours of education. Qualifying education shall include 276 clock hours in the following areas:

                                                (a)           90 hours in the field of alcohol abuse

                                                (b)           90 hours in the field of drug abuse

                                                (c)           90 hours in the field of counseling

                                                (d)           six hours that pertain specifically to alcohol and drug counseling ethics training.

                                (2)           Holds a baccalaureate degree in counseling, a counseling related field or a substance abuse related field from an accredited institution.  The board may approve, on a case-by-case basis, applicants whose education is not in a counseling or substance abuse related field. One semester credit hour is equal to 15 clock hours of education. Qualifying education shall include 276 clock hours in the following areas:

                                                (a)           90 hours in the field of alcohol abuse

                                                (b)           90 hours in the field of drug abuse

                                                (c)           90 hours in the field of counseling

                                                (d)           six hours that pertain specifically to alcohol and drug counseling ethics training, (must be acquired two years prior to submission of an application).

                                (3)           Holds a masters or doctoral degree in counseling, a counseling related field or a substance abuse related field from an accredited institution. The board may approve, on a case-by-case basis, applicants whose education is not in a counseling or substance abuse related field. One semester credit hour is equal to 15 clock hours of education. Qualifying education shall include 276 clock hours in the following areas:

                                                (a)           90 hours in the field of alcohol abuse

                                                (b)           90 hours in the field of drug abuse

                                                (c)           90 hours in the field of counseling

                                                (d)           six hours that pertain specifically to alcohol and drug counseling ethics training, (must be acquired two years prior to submission of an application).

                E.            Experience requirements.

                                (1)           associate degree requires a minimum of three years and 3,000 client contact hours under appropriate supervision of experience in the practice of alcohol and drug abuse counseling and 200 hours of appropriate supervision; or

                                (2)           a baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of two years and 2,000 client contact hours under appropriate supervision of experience in the practice of alcohol and drug abuse counseling and 100 hours of appropriate supervision; or

                                (3)           a masters or doctoral degree requires a minimum of one year and 1,000 client contact hours under appropriate supervision of experience in the practice of alcohol and drug abuse counseling and 50 hours of appropriate supervision.

                F.            Documentation required for licensure:

                                (1)           a completed application as specified in 16.27.3.8 NMAC, and

                                (2)           proof of completed education and experience requirements:

                                                (a)           the applicant is required to submit an official transcript in a sealed envelope from each institution contributing to the applicant's associate, baccalaureate, or masters degree; the official transcript must be submitted with the application; applicants educated in foreign institutions who are unable to submit certified official transcripts shall submit a statement explaining why such transcripts are not available and shall submit certified copies of the degree certificates granted, information on the curricula offered, and any other documentation requested by the board, and

                                                (b)           documentation of required drug, alcohol, counseling and ethics training (attachment D) shall include:

                                                                (i)            transcripts from the college or university, and

                                                                (ii)           the date, course title, course description, number of hours attended and certificate of attendance, and

                                                (c)           a statement from each supervisor in a sealed envelope on a form provided by the board (attachment B) verifying the applicant’s supervised experience and setting forth the nature and extend of  such supervision must be submitted with the application; the statement shall verify that the applicant’s performance was in accordance with adequate counseling standards of alcohol and drug practice; if a supervisor’ statement is not available, the applicant may submit documentation explaining why the supervisor’s statement is not available and sworn affidavits from other individuals verifying that supervision took place and describing the nature and the extent of supervision, and

                                (3)           applicant must sign a statement provided in the application indicating the applicant has read the code of ethics and agrees to be bound and governed by the code of ethics, and

                                (4)           verification of the applicant’s licensure, registration, or certification status must be submitted on attachment form A, which must be sent directly to the board by the jurisdiction in which the applicant is licensed, certified or registered.

[16.27.11.9 NMAC - Rp, 16.27.11.9 NMAC, 11/30/2021]

 

16.27.11.10          LICENSURE BY RECIPROCITY:

                A.            A completed application as specified in 16.27.3.8 NMAC.

                B.            Verification (attachment A) that the applicant holds a license or certification that is current and in good standing, issued by another jurisdiction, including a branch of the armed forces of the United States, that meets the minimal licensing requirements and is substantially equivalent to the licensing requirements for the LADAC license.

                C.            Verification directly from the national certification examination board (NCAC) that the applicant has taken and passed the national certification examination for addiction counselors (NCAC level 1) or the international certification and reciprocity consortium (ICRC).

[16.27.11.10 NMAC - Rp, 16.27.11.10 NMAC, 11/30/2021]

 

16.27.11.11          [RESERVED]

[16.27.11.11 NMAC – Repealed, 11/30/2021]

 

HISTORY OF 16.27.11 NMAC:

Pre-NMAC History:  The material in this part was derived from that previously filed with the State Records Center and Archives under:

Rule 2, Definitions, 3/24/1994

Rule2, Definitions, 3/20/1995

Rule 9, Licensure without Examination, 3/24/1994

Rule 9, Licensure by Credentials, 3/20/1995

 

History of Repealed Material:

16 NMAC 27.26, Requirements for Licensure with Examination as an Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor Effective July 1, 2003 - Repealed 6/15/2001

16 NMAC 27.9, Licensure by Credentials - Repealed 6/15/2001

 

Other History: 16.27.11 NMAC - Requirements for Licensure with Examination as an Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAC) Effective July 1, 2005, filed 6/15/2021 was repealed and replaced by 16.27.11 NMAC - Requirements for Licensure with Examination as an Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAC) Effective July 1, 2005, effective 11/30/2021.