1. A. An applicant licensed as a clinical alcohol and drug counselor or its equivalent, as established by the Board, in another state, territory, or jurisdiction is eligible for licensure if the applicant:

   1. (1) Provides:

      1. (a) A completed Board-approved application;

      2. (b) Documentation or transcripts confirming completion of one of the following from an accredited educational institution:

         1. (i) A master’s or doctoral degree in a health and human services counseling field; or
         2. (ii) A master’s degree and confirmation of the completion of 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 Regulation .04B of this chapter;
      3. (c) A copy of a current license from each state, territory, or jurisdiction in which the applicant has been licensed, registered, or otherwise authorized to practice alcohol and drug counseling;
      4. (d) Documentation, satisfactory to the Board, that the applicant is currently licensed in good standing to practice alcohol and drug counseling in another state, territory, or jurisdiction; and

      5. (e) Verification that the applicant has:

         1. (i) No history of disciplinary action, past or pending, in a state, territory, or jurisdiction in which the applicant holds a license to practice clinical alcohol and drug counseling; and
         2. (ii) Not committed any act or omission that would be grounds for discipline or denial of licensure under Health Occupations Article, §17-509, Annotated Code of Maryland;
   2. (2) Pays the application fee set forth in the COMAR 10.58.02;

   3. (3) Has achieved a passing score on:

      1. (a) A national alcohol and drug counselor examination approved by the Board; and

      2. (b) An examination of:

         1. (i) Health Occupations Article, Title 17, Annotated Code of Maryland; and
         2. (ii) This subtitle;
   4. (4) Meets all of the requirements set forth under Regulation .03 of this chapter; and

   5. (5) Complies with:

      1. (a) Health Occupations Article, Title 17, Annotated Code of Maryland; and
      2. (b) The code of ethics as set forth in COMAR 10.58.03.

2. B. Waiver of Examination. The Board may waive any examination requirements for an applicant who satisfies the Board that the applicant:

   1. (1) Obtained licensure in a state or country that grants a similar endorsement to license holders of this State;
   2. (2) Became licensed in another state or country after passing an examination approved by the Board; and
   3. (3) Meets the qualifications otherwise required by Health Occupations Article, Title 17, Annotated Code of Maryland, and this chapter.

3. C. Educational Requirements. The educational requirements for licensure in this State as a clinical alcohol and drug counselor shall be met:

   1. (1) As established in Regulation .05 of this chapter; or
   2. (2) By providing documentation of the substitute educational and experience requirements outlined in §§D and E of this regulation.

4. D. Waiver of Course Requirements. The Board may waive one or more course requirements specified in Regulation .04B of this chapter, except for documentation or transcripts showing completion of:

   1. (1) 3 graduate semester credit hours or 5 graduate quarter credit hours covering the following primary topics or content areas:

      1. (a) Psychotherapy and treatment of mental and emotional disorders, as described in Regulation .02B of this chapter;
      2. (b) Diagnosis and psychopathology; and
      3. (c) Professional, legal, and ethical responsibilities; and

   2. (2) 3 undergraduate semester credit hours or 5 undergraduate quarter credit hours in:

      1. (a) The ethics of alcohol and drug counseling; and
      2. (b) Pharmacology.

5. E. Equivalent Experience Requirements.

   1. (1) The applicant shall provide documentation, satisfactory to the Board, of one of the following for an applicant with:

      1. (a) A master’s degree consisting of:

         1. (i) A minimum of 60 graduate credit hours; and
         2. (ii) Not less than 3 years, with a minimum of 2,000 hours, of supervised clinical experience in alcohol and drug counseling, 2 years of which shall be completed after the award of the master’s degree;

      2. (b) A master’s degree consisting of:

         1. (i) Less than 60 graduate credit hours; and
         2. (ii) Not less than 3 years of experience practicing as a clinical alcohol and drug counselor, with a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical alcohol and drug counseling experience; or

      3. (c) A doctoral degree consisting of:

         1. (i) Not less than 2 years practicing as a clinical alcohol and drug counselor; or
         2. (ii) A minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical alcohol and drug counseling experience.
   2. (2) The applicant shall provide verification, on a Board-approved form, from employers, supervisors, or colleagues that the applicant has practiced clinical alcohol and drug counseling for the length of time stated in §E(1) of this regulation.

Authority: Health Occupations Article, §§17-101, 17-102, 17-205, 17-301, 17-302, 17-305, 17-308, 17-309, 17-401(b), 17-403—17-407, and 17-501—17-509, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01—.06 adopted as an emergency provision effective October 1, 2001 (28:22 Md. R. 1932); adopted permanently effective January 21, 2002 (29:1 Md. R. 23)

Regulation .02B amended as an emergency provision effective October 1, 2002 (29:25 Md. R. 1979); amended permanently effective March 3, 2003 (30:4 Md. R. 317)

Regulation .02B amended effective November 23, 2006 (33:23 Md. R. 1796)

Regulations .07 and .08 adopted as an emergency provision effective October 1, 2001 (28:22 Md. R. 1932); amended as an emergency provision effective March 30, 2002 (29:7 Md. R. 617); adopted permanently effective June 24, 2002 (29:12 Md. R. 929)

Regulation .07 amended as an emergency provision effective August 15, 2002 (29:18 Md. R. 1439); amended permanently effective November 25, 2002 (29:23 Md. R. 1811)

Regulations .09—.12 adopted as an emergency provision effective October 1, 2001 (28:22 Md. R. 1932); adopted permanently effective January 21, 2002 (29:1 Md. R. 23)

Regulation .12 amended effective November 23, 2006 (33:23 Md. R. 1796)

Regulation .13 adopted as an emergency provision effective October 1, 2002 (29:25 Md. R. 1979); adopted permanently effective March 3, 2003 (30:4 Md. R. 317)

Regulation .14 adopted effective May 17, 2010 (37:10 Md. R. 723)

Regulation .15 adopted effective May 17, 2010 (37:10 Md. R. 723)

Regulation .16 adopted effective May 17, 2010 (37:10 Md. R. 723)

Regulation .17 adopted effective May 17, 2010 (37:10 Md. R. 723)

Chapter revised effective July 22, 2013 (40:14 Md. R. 1176)

Regulation .03A, D amended effective November 9, 2015 (42:22 Md. R. 1379)

Regulation .04 amended effective November 9, 2015 (42:22 Md. R. 1379)

Regulation .05 amended effective November 9, 2015 (42:22 Md. R. 1379)

Regulation .06 amended effective November 9, 2015 (42:22 Md. R. 1379)

Regulation .07 amended effective November 9, 2015 (42:22 Md. R. 1379)

Chapter revised effective December 31, 2018 (45:26 Md. R. 1247)

Chapter revised effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 508)