2005 West Virginia Code - §30-31-7a. — Restricted practice license for addictions counselors.

§30-31-7a. Restricted practice license for addictions counselors.
(a) On or before the first day of July, two thousand, the board shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, authorizing restricted practice licensure for addictions counselors who meet all of the requirements for licensure set forth in section seven of this article, other than the requirement that the applicant hold a master's or doctorate degree, and who make application to the board within two years of the date of passage of the rule. The rule shall set forth requirements related to the practice of substance abuse counseling procedures or addictions counseling procedures under supervision in a supervised setting.
(b) Rules pursuant to this section shall require that applicants for restricted practice licensure:
(1) Hold current certification as a certified addictions counselor (CAC) by the international certification reciprocity consortium/alcohol and other drugs of abuse (ICRC/AODA) or its successor organization and be in good standing with the West Virginia certification board for addictions professionals or its successor organization;
(2) Hold a baccalaureate degree which would meet the qualifications for admission to an accredited graduate degree program in counseling;
(3) Document acceptance to and enrollment in an educational program that would, within seven years of the date of application, lead to:
(A) The award of a master's degree in an accredited counseling program or in a field closely related to an accredited counseling program as determined by the board, or training equivalent to an accredited counseling program or in a field closely related to a master's degree in an accredited counseling program as determined by the board, and at least two years of supervised professional experience, at least one year of which must be attained after earning the master's degree, all as approved by the board; or
(B) The award of a doctorate degree in an accredited counseling program or in a field closely related to an accredited counseling program as approved by the board, or training equivalent to a doctorate degree in an accredited counseling program or in a field closely related to an accredited counseling program as approved by the board, and at least one year of supervised professional experience which must be attained after earning the doctorate degree, all as approved by the board;
(4) Submit a written job description or summary outlining the duties of the applicant's current or proposed employment working with addicted persons or their families;
(5) Submit a description of the institution, clinic or other setting where services to addicted persons or their families are being or will be provided;
(6) Submit the curriculum vitae of an approved professional supervisor as defined by the board by rule, together with a letter signed by that individual agreeing to supervise the applicant's practice under the restricted practice license; and
(7) Submit other information that the board may reasonably require.
(c) The rules related to supervision of counselors holding a restricted practice license under this section shall require a minimum of one (1) hour of direct individual supervision by the approved professional supervisor for every twenty (20) hours of counseling services provided by the counselor holding a restricted practice license. The direct individual supervision shall include examination of selected patient or client records of sufficient number to assure adequate review of the scope of practice of the counselor holding a restricted practice license, and periodic, at least monthly, education and review sessions discussing specific problems, therapeutic approaches, procedures and specific patients or clients.
(d) The board shall review, at least annually, the educational progress of each person holding a restricted practice license under this article, to verify that his or her progress is sufficient to meet the requirements of the board and of this article. Annual renewal of the restricted practice license is conditioned upon continued approved supervision, continued educational progress which must include at a minimum the successful completion of six (6) hours of approved graduate coursework per year, and compliance with the requirements of rules promulgated pursuant to this section.