(1) (a) In accordance with sections 12-245-803 and 12-245-804, the board issues a license or certificate to practice addiction counseling based on whether the applicant satisfies minimum educational and experience requirements that demonstrate professional competency to practice addiction counseling. After a license or a certificate is issued to an applicant, the licensed or certified addiction counselor shall maintain continuing professional competency to practice addiction counseling.
(b) The office of behavioral health in the department of human services, in consultation with other stakeholders, shall adopt rules establishing a continuing professional competency program that includes, at a minimum, the following elements:
A self-assessment of the knowledge and skills of a licensed or certified addictioncounselor seeking to renew or reinstate a license;
Development, execution, and documentation of a learning plan based on the assessment; and
Periodic demonstration of knowledge and skills through documentation of activitiesnecessary to ensure at least minimal ability to safely practice the profession. Nothing in this subsection (1)(b)(III) requires a licensed or certified addiction counselor to retake any examination required pursuant to section 12-245-804 in connection with initial licensure or certification.
(c) A licensed or certified addiction counselor satisfies the continuing competency requirements of this section if the licensed or certified addiction counselor meets the continued professional competence requirements of one of the following entities:
(I) A state department, including continued professional competence requirements imposed through a contractual arrangement with a provider; (II) An accrediting body recognized by the board; or (III) An entity approved by the board.
(d) (I) After the program is established, a licensed or certified addiction counselor shall satisfy the requirements of the program in order to renew or reinstate a license or certificate to practice addiction counseling in Colorado.
(II) The requirements of this section apply to individual addiction counselors who are licensed or certified pursuant to this part 8, and nothing in this section shall be construed to require a person who employs or contracts with a licensed or certified addiction counselor to comply with the requirements of this section.
(2) (a) Records of assessments or other documentation developed or submitted in connection with the continuing professional competency program are confidential and not subject to inspection by the public or discovery in connection with a civil action against a licensed or certified addiction counselor. The records or documents shall be used only by the board for purposes of determining whether a licensed or certified addiction counselor is maintaining continuing professional competency to engage in the profession.
(b) Subject to the requirements of subsection (2)(a) of this section, nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict the discovery of information or documents that are otherwise discoverable under the Colorado rules of civil procedure in connection with a civil action against a licensed or certified addiction counselor.
(3) As used in this section, "continuing professional competency" means the ongoing ability of a licensed or certified addiction counselor to learn, integrate, and apply the knowledge, skill, and judgment to practice as an addiction counselor according to generally accepted industry standards and professional ethical standards in a designated role and setting.
Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1295, § 1, effective October 1. L. 2020: (1)(a), IP(1)(b), (1)(b)(I), (1)(b)(III), IP(1)(c), (1)(d), (2)(a), and (3) amended, (HB 20-1206), ch. 304, p. 1542, § 40, effective July 14.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 12-43-805 as it existed prior to 2019.