(1) For the purposes of this part 8, addiction counseling means the application of general counseling theories and treatment methods adapted specifically for working with addictive and other behavioral health disorders. Addiction counselors work in a broad variety of disciplines but share an understanding of the addictive process. An addiction counselor identifies a variety of helping strategies that can be tailored to meet the needs of the client. Addiction counseling relies on the use of evidence-based practices that have been shown to be effective in treating addictive disorders.
(2) The scope of practice of addiction counseling focuses on the following four transdisciplinary foundations that underlie the work of all addiction counselors:
(a) Understanding addiction: Includes knowledge of models and theories of addiction, including alcohol and substance use disorders; recognition of social, political, economic, and cultural contexts within which addiction exists; understanding the behavioral, psychological, physical health, and social effects of using addictive substances or engaging in addictive behaviors; and recognizing and understanding co-occurring disorders.
(b) Treatment knowledge: Includes the philosophies, practices, policies, and outcomes of the most generally accepted and scientifically supported models, along with research and outcome data, of treatment, recovery, relapse prevention, and continuing care for addictive disorders, including alcohol and substance use disorders. Treatment knowledge includes the ability to work effectively with families, significant others, social networks, and community systems in the treatment process and understanding the value of a multidisciplinary approach to treatment of addictive disorders, including alcohol and substance use disorders.
(c) Application to practice: Includes the ability to properly diagnose behavioral health disorders using appropriate assessment and testing instruments and placement criteria; stabilization to reduce negative effects of problematic behaviors; developing helping strategies and treatment levels of care based on the client's stage of readiness for change; cultural competency; and familiarity with medical and pharmacological resources for treatment.
(d) Professional readiness: Includes an understanding of diverse cultures; cultivation of a high level of self-awareness; ability to use critical thinking skills; adherence to ethical standards of conduct; ongoing use of clinical supervision and consultation; crisis management; and knowledge of the importance of prevention and recovery management.
(3) The primary practice dimensions of addiction counseling include the following competencies, as appropriate based on the level of certification or licensure and scope of practice:
(a) Clinical evaluation, including screening and assessment;
(b) Clinical intake, discharge, discharge planning, and referral;
(c) Treatment planning;
(d) Service coordination, including client advocacy, continuing care planning, and collaboration with other behavioral health professionals;
(e) Counseling of individuals, groups, families, couples, and significant others;
(f) Recovery management;
(g) Case management;
(h) Client, family, and community education;
(i) Documentation required for a clinical record;
(j) Professional and ethical practices;
(k) Clinical supervision; and
(l) Intervention.
(4) Scope of practice - licensed addiction counselors. Based on education, training, knowledge, and experience, the scope of practice of a licensed addiction counselor includes behavioral health counseling and may include the treatment of substance use disorders, addictive behavioral disorders, and co-occurring mental health disorders, including clinical evaluation and diagnosis, treatment planning, service coordination, case management, clinical documentation, professional and ethical responsibilities, education and psychotherapy with clients, family, and community, clinical supervisory responsibilities, and intervention.
(5) The practice of addiction counseling includes clinical supervision by a licensed addiction counselor of a person working toward licensure as a marriage and family therapist, pursuant to section 12-245-504 (1), or a licensed professional counselor, pursuant to section 12-245-604 (1), if the licensed addiction counselor has met the education requirements for a licensed marriage and family therapist or licensed professional counselor, or the equivalent, as specified in rules promulgated by the state board of marriage and family therapist examiners created in section 12-245-502 or the state board of licensed professional counselor examiners created in section 12-245-602, as applicable.
Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1292, � 1, effective October 1. L. 2021: (4) amended, (HB 21-1305), ch. 399, p. 2648, � 2, effective July 1. L. 2024: (5) added, (HB 24-1045), ch. 470, p. 3279, � 8, effective August 7.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former � 12-43-803 as it existed prior to 2019.
12-245-804. Requirements for licensure, certification, and registration - rules. (1) The board shall issue a license as an addiction counselor to an applicant who files an application in the form and manner required by the board, submits the fee required by the board pursuant to section 12-245-205, and submits evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant:
(a) Is at least twenty-one years of age;
(b) Is not in violation of any provision of this article 245 or any rules promulgated by the board;
(c) Has completed a master's or doctoral degree in the behavioral health sciences from an accredited school, college, or university or an equivalent program as determined by the board;
(d) Demonstrates professional competence by:
(I) Passing the master addiction counselor examination administered by the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, or an equivalent examination administered by a successor organization; and
(II) Passing a jurisprudence examination administered by the division;
(e) Has met the education requirements specified in the rules promulgated by the state board of human services in the department of human services pursuant to section 27-80-108 (1)(e.5);
(f) Has completed the number of clock hours of addiction-specific training, as specified by the board by rule, including training in evidence-based treatment approaches, clinical supervision, ethics, and co-occurring disorders; and
(g) Has completed at least two thousand direct clinical hours of clinically supervised work experience in the addiction field. The clinical supervision may be in person or telesupervision.
(1.5) Repealed.
(2) The board shall issue a certification as an addiction counselor to an applicant who files an application in the form and manner required by the board, submits the fee required by the board pursuant to section 12-245-205, and submits evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant:
(a) Is at least eighteen years of age;
(b) Is not in violation of any provision of this article 245 or any rules promulgated by the board or by the state board of human services in the department of human services pursuant to section 27-80-108 (1)(e);
(c) Has met the requirements for certification as a certified addiction technician or a certified addiction specialist as specified in rules adopted pursuant to subsection (3) of this section and as specified in subsection (3.5) of this section.
(3) The state board of addiction counselor examiners shall promulgate rules for certification of addiction counselors; except that the state board of human services in the department of human services shall establish by rule education requirements for licensure and certification in accordance with section 27-80-108 (1)(e) and (1)(e.5).
(3.5) In the rules promulgated pursuant to subsection (3) of this section, the board shall require that:
(a) A certified addiction technician have:
(I) A high school diploma or its equivalent;
(II) Accrued a minimum of one thousand hours of supervised clinical experience hours over a minimum of six months, which includes hours accrued prior to the application for certification so long as the supervised clinical experience hours meet any additional criteria as defined by the board;
(III) Passed a jurisprudence examination as determined by the board; and
(IV) Passed the national certification addiction counselor level I examination administered by the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, or an equivalent examination administered by a successor organization;
(b) A certified addiction specialist have:
(I) A bachelor's degree in a behavioral health concentration or human services equivalent;
(II) Accrued a minimum of three thousand hours of supervised clinic work hours over a minimum of eighteen months, which may include the one thousand hours required to be accrued for certification as a certified addiction technician;
(III) Passed a jurisprudence examination as determined by the board; and
(IV) Passed the national certification addiction counselor level II examination administered by the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, or an equivalent examination administered by a successor organization.
(3.7) (a) The board shall register as an addiction counselor candidate a person who files an application for registration, accompanied by the fee required by section 12-245-205, who is not in violation of any provision of this article 245 or any rules promulgated by the board, and who:
(I) Submits evidence satisfactory to the board that the person has met the requirements of subsections (1)(a), (1)(b), and (1)(c) of this section.
(II) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2024.)
(b) An addiction counselor candidate registered pursuant to this subsection (3.7) is under the jurisdiction of the board. If the requirements of subsections (1)(d) to (1)(g) of this section are not met within three years after the date of registration as a candidate or within one year if the candidate holds an equivalent credential from another state, the registration of the addiction counselor candidate is subject to the renewal, reinstatement, and delinquency fee provisions specified in section 12-20-202. Prior to a second or subsequent renewal of an addiction counselor candidate registration, the registered addiction counselor candidate shall complete continuing professional competency hours to maintain the registered addiction counselor's registration as a registered addiction counselor candidate.
(c) On or before December 31, 2024, the board shall begin the rule-making process to promulgate rules that bring the rules pertaining to addiction counselors into alignment with this part 8, including:
(I) A requirement to take and pass the Colorado jurisprudence examination to obtain an addiction counselor candidate registration;
(II) The renewal, reinstatement, and delinquency fee provisions specified in section 12-20-202; and
(III) The continuing professional competency requirements specified in subsection (3.7)(b) of this section.
(4) Nothing in this part 8 prevents members of other professions licensed under the laws of this state from rendering services within their scope of practice as set forth in the statutes regulating their professional practices so long as they do not represent themselves to be certified or licensed addiction counselors.
Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1294, � 1, effective October 1. L. 2020: (1)(d)(I), (1)(e), (1)(g), (2)(c), and (3) amended and (3.5) and (3.7) added, (HB 20-1206), ch. 304, p. 1539, �� 38, 37, effective July 14. L. 2021: (1)(e), (1)(g), (3), IP(3.5)(a), (3.5)(a)(I), IP(3.5)(b), (3.5)(b)(I), and (3.5)(b)(II) amended and (1.5) added, (HB 21-1305), ch. 399, p. 2648, � 3, effective July 1. L. 2024: (3.7) amended, (SB 24-115), ch. 217, p. 1351, � 8, effective August 7.
Editor's note: (1) This section is similar to former � 12-43-804 as it existed prior to 2019.
(2) Subsection (1.5) provided for the repeal of subsection (1.5), effective March 1, 2022. (See L. 2021, p. 2648.)
12-245-805. Rights and privileges of certification and licensure - titles - clinical supervision. (1) Any person who possesses a valid, unsuspended, and unrevoked certificate as a certified addiction technician or certified addiction specialist has the right to practice addiction counseling under supervision or consultation as required by the rules of the state board of human services in the department of human services; a certified addiction specialist may supervise addiction counseling practice and may use the title certified addiction counselor and the abbreviations CAC or CAS; and a certified addiction technician may use the title certified addiction counselor and the abbreviations CAC or CAT. No other person shall assume these titles or use these abbreviations on any work or media to indicate that the person using the title or abbreviation is a certified addiction counselor.
(2) Any person who possesses a valid, unsuspended, and unrevoked license as an addiction counselor has the right to practice addiction counseling and to use the title licensed addiction counselor or the abbreviation LAC. No other person shall assume these titles or use these abbreviations on any work or media to indicate that the person using the title or abbreviation is a licensed addiction counselor.
(2.5) (a) Any person who possesses a valid, unsuspended, and unrevoked certificate as a certified addiction specialist may provide clinical supervision for certification purposes to a person working toward certification as a certified addiction technician or a certified addiction specialist.
(b) Any person who possesses a valid, unsuspended, and unrevoked license as an addiction counselor may provide clinical supervision for licensure or certification purposes to persons working toward licensure as a licensed addiction counselor, certification as an addiction specialist or technician, or other credential as authorized by this article 245 or by rule of the board.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of this title 12 to the contrary, a licensed clinical social worker, pursuant to section 12-245-403 (5); a licensed marriage and family therapist, pursuant to section 12-245-503 (5); or a licensed professional counselor, pursuant to section 12-245-603 (3), who possesses a valid, unsuspended, and unrevoked license may provide clinical supervision of an individual working toward certification as a certified addiction technician or certified addiction specialist if the licensed clinical social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist, or licensed professional counselor has met the education requirements for a licensed addiction counselor, or the equivalent, as specified in rules promulgated by the state board of human services pursuant to section 27-80-108 (1)(e.5) or 27-50-107 (3)(e)(II), as applicable.
(3) (a) The practice of a certified addiction technician may include:
(I) Collection of biopsychosocial screening data;
(II) Service coordination and case management;
(III) Monitoring compliance with case management plans;
(IV) Skill-based education;
(V) Facilitating psychoeducation and therapy groups with appropriate training and clinical supervision and within a treatment or health facility licensed pursuant to section 25-1.5-103;
(VI) Client, family, and community addiction education; and
(VII) Referral and discharge resourcing and planning.
(b) The practice of a certified addiction specialist may include:
(I) Treating substance use and co-occurring disorders;
(II) Clinical assessments including diagnostic impression;
(III) Treatment planning;
(IV) Referral and discharge planning;
(V) Service coordination and case management;
(VI) Addiction counseling for individuals, families, and groups; and
(VII) Client, family, and community education and psychoeducation.
Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1295, � 1, effective October 1. L. 2020: (1) amended and (3) added, (HB 20-1206), ch. 304, p. 1541, � 39, effective July 14. L. 2021: (2.5) added and (3)(a)(V) amended, (HB 21-1305), ch. 399, p. 2649, � 4, effective July 1. L. 2024: (2.5)(c) added, (HB 24-1045), ch. 470, p. 3279, � 9, effective August 7.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former � 12-43-804.5 as it existed prior to 2019.