(a) Applicants for chemical dependency professional license by certification under this chapter shall complete an application form, pay the required fee and provide evidence, verified by oath and satisfactory to the Board, that the applicant meets the following requirements:
(1) Received a master's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a minimum of 30 graduate semester hours in counseling or subjects closely related to counseling.
(2) Subsequent to receiving the master's degree has acquired 3,200 hours of counseling experience, 1,600 hours of which must be under the supervision of a licensed chemical dependency professional. Where supervision by a licensed chemical dependency professional is not available, a licensed clinical social worker, licensed psychologist, licensed professional counselor of mental health or a licensed physician specializing in chemical dependency may supervise the applicant. Of the 1,600 hours of supervised counseling experience, at least 100 hours must be face-to-face consultation between the supervisor and supervisee, which may take place in individual and/or in group settings, as follows:
a. Individual supervision, which consists of 1-to-1, face-to-face meetings between supervisor and supervisee, provided, the entire 100 hour requirement may be fulfilled by individual supervision.
b. Group supervision, which consists of face-to-face meetings between supervisor and no more than 6 supervisees; provided, no more than 40 hours of group supervision shall be acceptable toward the 100 hour requirement.
(3) Is certified by the National Association for Addictions Professionals, (NAADAC) as a national certified addictions counselor (NCAC or MAC), by the Delaware Certification Board (DCB Inc.) as a certified alcohol and drug counselor, or by a certifying organization acceptable to the Board.
(4) Has not received any administrative penalties regarding the applicant's actions as a Licensed Chemical Dependency Professional, including but not limited to fines, formal reprimands, license suspensions or revocation (except for license revocations for nonpayment of license renewal fees), probationary limitations, and and/or has not entered into any “consent agreement” which contains conditions placed by a Board on the applicant's professional conduct, including any voluntary surrender of a license. The Board, after a hearing, may determine whether such administrative penalty is grounds to deny licensure.
(5) Does not have any impairment related to drugs or alcohol or a finding of mental incompetence by a physician that would limit the applicant's ability to act as a chemical dependency professional in a manner consistent with the safety of the public.
(6) Does not have a criminal conviction nor pending criminal charge relating to an offense, the circumstances of which substantially relate to actions as a licensed chemical dependency professional. Applicants who have a criminal conviction or pending criminal charge shall request appropriate authorities to provide information about the conviction or charge directly to the Board in sufficient specificity to enable the Board to make a determination whether the conviction or charge is substantially related to actions as a licensed chemical dependency professional. However, after a hearing or review of documentation demonstrating that the applicant meets the specified criteria for a waiver, the Board, by an affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum, may waive this paragraph (a)(6), if it finds all of the following:
a. For waiver of a felony conviction, more than 5 years have elapsed since the date of the conviction. At the time of the application the applicant may not be incarcerated, on work release, on probation, on parole or serving any part of a suspended sentence and must be in substantial compliance with all court orders pertaining to fines, restitution and community service.
b. For waiver of a misdemeanor conviction or violation, at the time of the application the applicant may not be incarcerated, on work release, on probation, on parole or serving any part of a suspended sentence and must be in substantial compliance with all court orders pertaining to fines, restitution and community service.
c. The applicant is capable of practicing licensed chemical dependency services in a competent and professional manner.
d. The granting of the waiver will not endanger the public health, safety or welfare.
e. The applicant has not been convicted of a felony sexual offense.
(7) Has not been penalized for any wilful violation of the code of ethics adopted by the Board or the code of ethics of a professional organization of chemical dependency professionals.
(8) Has not been convicted of a felony sexual offense.
(9) Has submitted, at the applicant's expense, fingerprints and other necessary information in order to obtain the following:
a. A report of the applicant's entire criminal history record from the State Bureau of Identification or a statement from the State Bureau of Identification that the State Central Repository contains no such information relating to that person.
b. A report of the applicant's entire federal criminal history record pursuant to the Federal Bureau of Investigation appropriation of Title II of Public Law 92-544 (28 U.S.C. § 534). The State Bureau of Identification shall be the intermediary for purposes of this section and the Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals shall be the screening point for the receipt of said federal criminal history records.
An applicant may not be licensed as a chemical dependency professional until the applicant's criminal history reports have been produced. An applicant whose record shows a prior criminal conviction may not be certified by the Board unless a waiver is granted pursuant to paragraph (a)(6) of this section. The State Bureau of Identification may release any subsequent criminal history to the Board.
(b) If the Board finds that an applicant has been intentionally fraudulent or has intentionally supplied false information, the Board shall report its findings to the Attorney General for further action.
(c) Where an application is refused or rejected and the applicant feels the Board has acted without justification, has imposed higher or different standards for the applicant than for other applicants or licensees or has in some other manner contributed to or caused the failure of such application, the applicant may appeal to the Superior Court.
(d) [Repealed.]