(a) The State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors shall issue a license as a licensed associate alcoholism and drug abuse counselor to an applicant who meets the following requirements:
(1) Is at least twenty-one (21) years of age;
(2)
(A) Has successfully completed a minimum of three (3) years or six thousand (6,000) hours of supervised experience.
(B) Supervised experience shall be approved and documented by a registered clinical supervisor in good standing with the board;
(3)
(A) Has successfully completed a minimum of two hundred seventy (270) clock hours of approved education.
(B) Approved education shall be directly related to alcoholism or drug abuse counseling subjects, theory, practice, or research;
(4) Has submitted an application on a form provided by the board and paid an application fee fixed by the board;
(5) Has certified under penalty of perjury as evidenced by a notarized signature on the application for licensure that all education and experience requirements have been met;
(6) Has submitted three (3) letters of reference;
(7) Has paid to the board an examination fee fixed by the board;
(8) Has passed a national qualifying written examination prescribed by the board, sufficient to ensure professional competence in keeping with the highest standards of the alcoholism and drug abuse counseling profession;
(9) Has signed a written agreement to abide by the code of ethics adopted by the board;
(10) Holds a baccalaureate degree in the health or behavioral sciences field or other appropriate field from an accredited college or university; and
(11)
(A) Has successfully completed a minimum of three (3) years or six thousand (6,000) hours of supervised direct counseling experience in the alcoholism or drug abuse counseling field, either paid or voluntary.
(B) Supervised experience shall be approved and documented by a registered clinical supervisor in good standing with the board.
(b) The certification shall be displayed in the associate's principal place of practice and shall entitle the individual to hold himself or herself forth to the public as providing services as authorized by this subchapter.
(c) Associates licensed by the board may engage in the practice of alcoholism and drug abuse counseling after successfully completing a schedule of supervision prescribed by the board and performed under the direct supervision of a registered clinical supervisor in good standing with the board.