2016 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 12 - Professions and Occupations
Health Care
Article 43 - Mental Health
Part 8 - Addiction Counselors
§ 12-43-804. Requirements for licensure and certification - rules

(1) The board shall issue a license as an addiction counselor to an applicant who files an application in the form and manner required by the board, submits the fee required by the board pursuant to section 12-43-204, and submits evidence satisfactory to the board that he or she:

(a) Is at least twenty-one years of age;

(b) Is not in violation of any provision of this article or any rules promulgated by the board;

(c) Holds a master's or doctorate degree in the behavioral health sciences from an accredited school, college, or university or an equivalent program as determined by the board;

(c) Has completed a master's or doctorate degree in the behavioral health sciences from an accredited school, college, or university or an equivalent program as determined by the board;

(d) Demonstrates professional competence by:

(I) Passing a national examination demonstrating special knowledge and skills in behavioral health disorders counseling as determined by the division of behavioral health in the department of human services and approved by the board; and

(II) Passing a jurisprudence examination administered by the division;

(e) Has met the requirements for a certificate of addiction counseling, level III;

(f) Has completed the number of clock hours of addiction-specific training, as specified by the board by rule, including training in evidence-based treatment approaches, clinical supervision, ethics, and co-occurring disorders; and

(g) Has completed at least five thousand hours of clinically supervised work experience.

(2) The board shall issue a certification as an addiction counselor to an applicant who files an application in the form and manner required by the board, submits the fee required by the board pursuant to section 12-43-204, and submits evidence satisfactory to the board that he or she:

(a) Is at least eighteen years of age;

(b) Is not in violation of any provision of this article or any rules promulgated by the board or by the state board of human services in the department of human services pursuant to section 27-80-108 (1) (e), C.R.S.;

(c) Has met the requirements for certification at a particular certification level as specified in rules adopted pursuant to subsection (3) of this section by the state board of human services in the department of human services.

(3) The state board of human services in the department of human services shall promulgate rules, with approval of the board, for certification of addiction counselors in accordance with section 27-80-108 (1) (e), C.R.S.

(4) Nothing in this part 8 prevents members of other professions licensed under the laws of this state from rendering services within their scope of practice as set forth in the statutes regulating their professional practices so long as they do not represent themselves to be certified or licensed addiction counselors.