<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" citation="COMAR 10.58.07.04" title_num="10" subtitle_num="58" chapter_num="07" heading="Licensed Graduate Alcohol and Drug Counselors.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Scope of Practice. The scope of practice for a licensed graduate alcohol and drug counselor includes the following activities to be performed under the clinical supervision of an approved alcohol and drug counselor supervisor:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Clinical evaluation, including screening, assessment, and diagnosis for mental health disorders;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Treatment planning for mental health disorders, including initial, ongoing, continuity of care, discharge, and planning for relapse prevention;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Referral;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Service coordination and case management;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Counseling, therapy, and trauma informed care with individuals, couples, families and groups;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Client, family, and community education;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Documentation; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Professional and ethical responsibilities.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Licensure. To qualify for licensure as a graduate alcohol and drug counselor, an applicant shall have:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Completed one of the following from an accredited educational institution:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A master’s degree in a health and human services counseling field with:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>A minimum of 60 graduate semester credit hours; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>90 graduate quarter credit hours;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A doctoral degree in a health and human services counseling field with:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>A minimum of 90 graduate semester credit hours; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>135 graduate quarter credit hours; or</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>A master’s degree and have completed a program of studies determined by the Board to be substantially equivalent in subject matter with a minimum of 60 credit hours in counseling, including the required alcohol and drug course work for the license, as specified in §B(2) and (4) of this regulation;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Completed a minimum of 39 semester credit hours or 65 quarter credit hours in alcohol and drug counselor training from an accredited educational institution including:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>3 semester credit hours or 5 quarter credit hours of course work in each of the following course content areas:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Pharmacology;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Group counseling;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Individual counseling;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Addictions treatment delivery;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Ethics that include alcohol and drug counseling issues; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vi)">
          <text>Abnormal psychology; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Any three of the following 3 semester credit hours or 5 quarter credit hours of course work in each of the following course content areas:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Human development;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Theories of counseling;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Treatment of co-occurring disorders;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Topics in substance-related and addictive disorders; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Family counseling;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Completed one of the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>An internship in alcohol and drug counseling that totals 6 semester credit hours or 10 quarter credit hours; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A minimum of 1,000 hours of alcohol and drug counseling work completed as a certified associate counselor-alcohol and drug, a certified supervised counselor-alcohol and drug, or an alcohol and drug trainee under and verified by an approved alcohol and drug counselor supervisor;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Completed a minimum of 3 graduate semester credit hours or 5 quarter credit hours in each of the following course content areas:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Diagnosis and psychopathology; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Psychotherapy and treatment of mental and emotional disorders;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Achieved a passing score on:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A national alcohol and drug counselor examination approved by the Board;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>An examination of:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Health Occupations Article, Title 17, Annotated Code of Maryland; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>COMAR 10.58;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Met all of the requirements set forth under Regulation .03 of this chapter; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Complied with:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Health Occupations Article, Title 17, Annotated Code of Maryland; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The code of ethics as set forth in COMAR 10.58.03.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Licensed graduate alcohol and drug counselors shall have available for inspection a professional disclosure statement, as described in Health Occupations Article, §17-507, Annotated Code of Maryland, that:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Clearly states that the counseling services are provided under supervision; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Provides the name, title, and credentials of the supervisor of record, including the supervisor’s address and contact information.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Reexamination. An applicant who fails an examination for licensure:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>May retake the exam if:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>It is within the time frame set by the applicable testing authority; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A waiver is approved by the Board to extend the testing deadline upon proof of exceptional circumstances; or</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Shall be required to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Submit a new application; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Pay the nonrefundable fee set forth in COMAR 10.58.02.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>The Board shall act upon applications as set forth under Regulation .03B of this chapter.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>A licensed graduate alcohol and drug counselor may not:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Practice independently; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Provide supervision.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Expiration and Extension.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The graduate alcohol and drug counselor license expires 2 years after the date issued.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If the graduate alcohol and drug counselor licensee is unable to accumulate the required clinical hours for licensure as a clinical alcohol and drug counselor in 2 years, the graduate alcohol and drug counselor may apply on a Board-approved form for a 2-year extension before the current license as a graduate alcohol and drug counselor expires, up to a maximum of 6 years, except as provided in §G(4) of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>For the graduate alcohol and drug counselor who has been granted a 2-year extension, CEUs are not required for the first 2-year extension. Subsequent extensions approved by the Board shall be subject to the continuing education requirements in COMAR 10.58.05.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>A graduate alcohol and drug counselor shall submit a written request for an extension beyond the 6-year maximum, which the Board may grant in certain circumstances.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>Reinstatement.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Within 5 calendar years after the license renewal date, the Board may reinstate the license of a licensed graduate alcohol and drug counselor otherwise entitled to reinstatement under Health Occupations Article, §17-505(b), Annotated Code of Maryland, whose license was not renewed for any reason, if the licensee:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Completes the required CEUs as set forth under COMAR 10.58.05;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Meets the current licensure requirements; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Pays the reinstatement fee as set forth under COMAR 10.58.02.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>CEUs which are acquired in order to reinstate under COMAR 10.58.05.05 and .06 may be credited only once and may not be credited for any future renewals.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>For any licensed graduate alcohol and drug counselor whose license has expired more than 5 calendar years before the request for reinstatement, a new application for licensure shall be completed and the current licensure requirements shall be met.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>An individual who fails to reinstate licensure is not authorized to and may not practice clinical alcohol and drug counseling.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="I.">
    <text>Inactive Status.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>In accordance with Health Occupations Article, §17-505, Annotated Code of Maryland, a request to transfer a license to inactive status shall be granted upon receipt of the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Completed Board-approved application; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Payment of all applicable fees set forth in COMAR 10.58.02.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>An individual may apply for inactive status only if the individual’s license is still active at the time application for inactive status is made.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>An individual on inactive status is not authorized to practice graduate alcohol and drug counseling.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Within 5 calendar years after being placed on inactive status, an individual on inactive status seeking to be reinstated to active status shall be required, as a condition of reinstatement, to submit proof of having completed the CEU requirements as set forth under COMAR 10.58.05.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>If an individual on inactive status seeks to be reinstated beyond the required 5-year period and the conditions set forth under §I(4) of this regulation, the individual shall be required to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Submit a new application;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Meet the current licensure requirements; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Pay the nonrefundable fee set forth in COMAR 10.58.02.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>