2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 37:3387.5 — Certified clinical supervisor

§3387.5.  Certified clinical supervisor

A.  The legislature finds that addiction counseling is an effective and necessary component in the continuum of addictive disorder treatment and services.  In order to better provide for the health and welfare of the citizens of this state, the legislature desires to enhance the profession of addiction counseling by providing for a qualified workforce in sufficient numbers to meet the needs of those individuals within the state who suffer from treatable addictive disorders or are affected by addictive disorders.  The legislature finds clinical supervision to be essential for the ongoing development of a qualified workforce sufficient to meet the present and anticipated public health needs of the state.

B.  The department shall adopt and promulgate rules which shall provide for the certification of clinical supervisors in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.

C.  Any person seeking to be recognized by the department as a certified clinical supervisor shall first complete clinical supervision training approved by the department.  The candidate may then submit an application on a form and in a manner prescribed by the department.  Documentation of the clinical supervision training shall accompany the application.

D.  Upon investigation of the application, the department shall, within thirty days notify each candidate that the application is satisfactory and accepted or unsatisfactory and unaccepted.  If an application is rejected, the notice shall state the reason for such rejection.

E.  The department shall recognize as a certified clinical supervisor each candidate who:

(1)  Is a licensed, certified or registered addiction counselor.

(2)  Is not in violation of any ethical standards subscribed to by the department.

(3)  Does not have any pending disciplinary action with the department.

(4)  Is not a defendant in any pending felony criminal proceedings.

(5)  Has not been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or a plea of nolo contendere to, a felony.

(6)  Each candidate must sign a form prescribed by the department authorizing the department to obtain a criminal history or to conduct a criminal background check.

(7)  Each applicant shall demonstrate professional competence in clinical supervision by passing a written examination:

(a)  The department shall determine the scope and administration of the examination.

(b)  The department may provide for circumstances under which a candidate who fails the examination, but who meets all other requirements, may retake the examination.

(c)  The department shall make reasonable accommodations for those candidates who demonstrate a special need or disability.

F.  The scope of clinical supervision for a certified clinical supervisor shall be as follows:

(1)  A licensed addiction counselor certified in clinical supervision may provide clinical supervision for any other licensed addiction counselor, for any certified addiction counselor, for any registered addiction counselor, for any counselor-in-training, or for any addiction treatment assistant.

(2)  A certified addiction counselor who is also certified in clinical supervision may provide clinical supervision for any certified addiction counselor, for any registered addiction counselor, for any counselor-in-training, or for any addiction treatment assistant.

(3)  A registered addiction counselor who is also certified in clinical supervision may provide clinical supervision for any registered addiction counselor, for any counselor-in-training, or for any addiction treatment assistant.

Acts 2004, No. 803, §3, eff. July 8, 2004.