# Health Occupations (GHO)

## Title 17. Professional Counselors and Therapists

### Subtitle 4. Certification

#### Section 17-403

(a) Except as provided in Sec. 17-405 of this subtitle, to qualify as a certified associate counselor-alcohol and drug, an applicant shall:

  (1) Be of good moral character;

  (2) At a minimum:

    (i) Hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited educational institution approved by the Board in a health and human services counseling field; or

    (ii) Hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited educational institution and have completed a program of studies judged by the Board to be substantially equivalent in subject matter as may be required by the Board in regulation;

  (3) Have completed not less than 1 year with a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinically supervised experience in alcohol and drug counseling approved by the Board; and

  (4) Have completed any additional educational requirements established by the Board in regulation.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this title, the applicant shall pass:

  (1) An examination approved by the Board under this title; and

  (2) The law examination on this title administered by the Board.

(c) A certified associate counselor-alcohol and drug shall practice alcohol and drug counseling under the supervision of a Board-approved alcohol and drug supervisor who is:

  (1) A licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor;

  (2) A certified professional counselor-alcohol and drug;

  (3) A licensed clinical professional counselor;

  (4) A licensed clinical marriage and family therapist;

  (5) A licensed clinical professional art therapist; or

  (6) A health care provider licensed under this article with documented expertise in alcohol and drug counseling.

(d) A certified associate counselor-alcohol and drug:

  (1) May provide only:

    (i) Alcohol and drug counseling as an employee of an agency or a facility that is certified or licensed by the State;

    (ii) Alcohol and drug counseling under the supervision of a Board-approved supervisor as specified in subsection (c) of this section; and

    (iii) Supervision with approval by the Board; and

  (2) May not practice independently.

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Md. Code Ann., Health Occ. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)