1. (1) It is within the Board’s discretion to recognize evaluation and treatment providers for mental and physical conditions and substance use disorders.

2. (2) The Board-recognized evaluation provider shall meet the following criteria:

   (a)Conduct or provide for, by a qualified provider, assessment, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health, physical condition or substance use disorder, utilizing  the most current version of the DSM as indicated by the diagnosis, by a qualified provider that includes mental disorder diagnoses; factors including physical, psychosocial, contextual and environmental factors:; level of functioning; cognitive status; and disability.

3. (b) Possess the capability to evaluate health care professionals working in safety-sensitive employment.
4. (c) For substance use disorder evaluations, conduct a comprehensive substance use disorder evaluation. If treatment is recommended, the treatment recommendations shall be based on ASAM Criteria. Treatment recommendations shall identify a minimum of three treatment providers at which the recommended treatment may be obtained, at least two of which shall not be owned, operated, or otherwise financially affiliated with the evaluation provider. If three treatment providers cannot be identified, the evaluation provider shall state in writing the reason.
5. (d) For mental and physical condition evaluations, issue treatment recommendations, if treatment is recommended. The evaluation provider for mental or physical condition evaluations may not have a pre-existing treatment relationship with the nurse or applicant without prior approval of the board.
6. (e) Following completion of recommended treatment, issue recommendations regarding fitness to return to the practice of nursing and advanced practice nursing and recommendations regarding monitoring requirements for nurses who are recommended to return to practice. If board recognized evaluation provider is not the treatment provider selected by the nurse, the board recognized evaluation provider shall provide all necessary coordination to facilitate treatment at the selected treatment provider and, once the treatment is completed, shall make determination regarding the nurse’s ability to resume safety sensitive employment in the field of nursing without danger to self or the public.
7. (f) Provide all written records requested by the Board in a timely manner. Failure to respond to requests for written records may result in removal of the Board-recognized evaluation provider from the list of Board’s resources.
8. (g) Inform patients of the cost of the evaluation prior to commencing the evaluation.
9. (h) Inform the Board in writing of any changes in the evaluation provider’s ownership, location, director, or membership of any required multidisciplinary team; interruption of operations for more than twenty-four (24) hours; or inability to comply with the requirements of this chapter.
10. (3) The Board-recognized treatment provider shall meet the following criteria:
11. (a) Conduct, during the initial phase of treatment for a mental condition, physical condition or substance use disorder, if indicated: biological testing and screening for drugs, chemicals, and alcohol that are analyzed by qualified medical and laboratory personnel. A drug screen that is positive during treatment requires confirmation, at the applicant or licensed nurse’s expense, from a laboratory approved by the Board. The treatment provider shall notify the Board’s designee(s) of any drug screen deemed positive.
12. (b) Communicate, in a timely manner, with authorized Board designee(s), through electronic communications and written reports:

13. 1. Compliance or noncompliance with treatment requirements.

14. Data necessary to determine applicability of terms and conditions of and compliance with the VDAP Agreement, including, but not limited to, all information required in this section, as well as reports regarding attendance at treatment and aftercare/continuing care and results of any biological testing or screening for drugs, chemicals, and alcohol.
15. Changes in treatment plan based on the progress of the licensed nurse or applicant.
16. Provide individualized written plan(s) of care including assessment and diagnosis, treatment goals, discharge criteria, guidelines for continuing recovery, and recommendations for return to nursing practice.
17. Certification by the State Department of Mental Health or approved by a Board-recognized approving body, if applicable.
18. (c) For substance use disorder treatment providers:
19. 1. Conduct or provide for Continuing Care/Aftercare for a minimum one day per week for twelve months or longer if required by the treatment provider following completion of treatment.
20. 2. Incorporate an abstinence philosophy into treatment and require, at a minimum, the applicant or licensee’s attendance at a minimum of three (3) abstinence-oriented support group meetings per week during treatment.
21. 3. For programs offering only intensive outpatient treatment, provide at a minimum 100 hours of treatment per episode, excluding continuing care, at least three (3) days per week in the initial phase of treatment.
22. (d) For mental condition treatment at the inpatient or partial hospitalization level, conduct or provide for further outpatient care services for a minimum one day per week for twelve months or longer if recommended by the mental condition evaluation provider or by the treatment provider following completion of treatment.
23. (e) Provide all written records requested by the Board in a timely manner. Failure to respond to requests for written records may result in removal of the Board-recognized treatment provider from the list of Board’s resources.
24. (f) Inform the Board in writing of any changes in the treatment provider’s ownership, location, or director; interruption of operations for more than twenty-four (24) hours; or inability to comply with the requirements of this chapter.

Author: Alabama Board of Nursing

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-21-25.

History: New Rule: Filed July 28, 1994; Effective August 29, 1994. Repealed and New Rule: Filed May 20, 2002; effective June 24, 2002. Amended: Filed November 22, 2005; effective December 27, 2005. Amended: Filed August 20, 2010; effective September 24, 2010. Amended: Filed July 24, 2014; effective August 28, 2014. Amended: Published September 30, 2025; effective November 14, 2025.