(b)

1. (1) No license shall be renewed unless the renewal application is accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors of completion during the previous twenty-four (24) months of relevant professional or continuing education experience.
2. (2) Of the forty (40) hours required, a minimum of twenty (20) hours must be specific to addiction counseling or co-occurring disorders.
3. (3) No more than fifty percent (50%) of the total requisite hours may be obtained through online courses.
4. (4) In addition, licensees may fulfill one (1) hour of continuing education credit with the performance of eight (8) hours of volunteer services performed pursuant to Arkansas Code § 20-8-804.
5. (5) However, licensees shall not obtain more than thirty-two (32) hours of credits in this manner.

(c) The following is a list of approved sponsors for continuing education that will be accepted by the State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors:

1. (1) Arkansas Substance Abuse Certification Board;
2. (2) Arkansas Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors;
3. (3) The University of Arkansas at Little Rock MidSOUTH Summer School and MidSOUTH Addiction Training Network;
4. (4) Arkansas Mental Health Counselors Association;
5. (5) Veterans Administration;
6. (6) NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals;
7. (7) National Board for Certified Counselors;
8. (8) National Association of Social Workers; and
9. (9) American Psychological Association.

(d)

1. (1) All other continuing education courses not sponsored by the above would require prior approval by the State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors.
2. (2) The burden of proof for validating the quality/quantity of education hours would be shared by the counselor and the education services provider.