Academic requirements related to the registration of clinical trainees and interns, and the licensing of addiction counselors must be completed at a college or university accredited by one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. The board may accept continuing education hours to supplement the required content in academic requirements. The continuing education hours may not replace an academic course.

1. 1. Trainee. An individual meets the academic requirements for registration as a trainee if the individual:

1. a. Has been accepted into or completed an academic program that meets the academic requirements for licensure as an addiction counselor or a master addiction counselor; and

2. b. If the individual has not completed the academic program, is no more than six credits short of meeting all academic requirements for licensure as either an addiction counselor or a master addiction counselor.

2. 2. Licensed addiction counselor and licensed clinical addiction counselor. An individual meets the academic requirements for licensure as an addiction counselor or as a licensed clinical addiction counselor, if the individual possesses:

1. a. A bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree in addiction studies from a program accredited by the national addiction studies accreditation committee, the international coalition for addiction studies and education accreditation, or counsel for accreditation of counseling and related educational programs for addiction counseling; or

2. b. A bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree in addiction studies or a closely related mental health care field, including a minimum of twenty-seven credits meeting the following content and credit requirements: 1. (1) A minimum of three credits in theories and techniques of counseling that must include content in theories specific to addiction counseling, counseling techniques specific to addiction counseling, and American society of addiction medicine criteria. 2. (2) A minimum of three credits in group counseling. 3. (3) A minimum of three credits in psychopharmacology that must include content in all of the following areas: 1. (a) Drugs of abuse; 2. (b) Medication-assisted treatment for addictive disorders; and 3. (c) Medications used to treat mental health disorders. 4. (4) A minimum of three credits in dynamics of addiction or introduction to addiction studies. 5. (5) A minimum of three credits in professional ethics that must include content specific to addiction counseling, the national association for alcoholism and drug abuse counselors code of ethics, and 42 CFR part 2.

1. (6) A minimum of three credits in family systems.
2. (7) A minimum of three credits in lifespan development.
3. (8) A minimum of three credits in multicultural diversity.
4. (9) A minimum of three credits in co-occurring disorders that must include content in the assessment and diagnosis of substance abuse disorders and an overview of a broad range of mental health disorders.3. Licensed master addiction counselor. An individual meets the academic requirements for licensure as a master addiction counselor if the individual possesses:- a. A master's or doctorate degree in addiction studies from a program accredited by the national addiction studies accreditation committee, the international coalition for addiction studies and education accreditation, or counsel for accreditation of counseling and related educational programs for addiction counseling; or
5. b. A master's or doctorate degree in addiction counseling or a closely related mental health care field, including a minimum of twenty-eight graduate-level credits meeting the following content and credit requirements:
6. (1) A minimum of three credits in theories and techniques of counseling that must include content in theories specific to addiction counseling, counseling techniques specific to addiction counseling, and American society of addiction medicine criteria.
7. (2) A minimum of three credits in group counseling.
8. (3) A minimum of three credits in psychopharmacology that must include content in all of the following areas: drugs of abuse, medication-assisted treatment for addictive disorders, and medications used to treat mental health disorders.
9. (4) A minimum of three credits in research methods or program evaluation.
10. (5) A minimum of three credits in professional ethics that must include content specific to addiction counseling, the national association for alcoholism and drug abuse counselors code of ethics, and 42 CFR part 2.
11. (6) A minimum of three credits in family systems.
12. (7) A minimum of three credits in lifespan development.
13. (8) A minimum of three credits in multicultural diversity.
14. (9) A minimum of three credits in treatment of co-occurring disorders that must include content in the assessment diagnosis and treatment of substance abuse disorders and other mental health disorders.
15. (10) A minimum of one credit in clinical supervision.4. Licensee of other North Dakota mental health boards.- a. An individual licensed in North Dakota as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or physician who possesses a doctorate degree in that field of licensure meets the academic requirements for licensure as a master in addiction counseling.
16. b. An individual licensed in North Dakota as a licensed associate marriage and family therapist, licensed associate professional counselor, licensed professional counselor,

licensed master social worker, or advanced clinical practice nurse is eligible to apply for licensure as a licensed addiction counselor if that individual also meets the academic standards set forth by this board.

c. An individual who holds licensure in North Dakota as a licensed marriage and family therapist, professional clinical counselor, licensed clinical social worker, or advanced clinical practice nurse is eligible to apply for licensure as a licensed addiction counselor or licensed master addiction counselor if the individual also meets the academic standards set forth by this board.

d. A licensed addiction counselor designated as a registered clinical supervisor that subsequently receives clinical licensure from a North Dakota mental health licensing board is eligible to apply for licensure as a licensed master addiction counselor.

e. As set forth in North Dakota Century Code section 43-45-06, this rule may not be construed as preventing an individual from doing work within the standards and ethics of that individual's profession or within the scope of a license issued in this state.

History: Effective January 1, 2002; amended effective January 1, 2008; July 1, 2014; July 1, 2018; October 1, 2025.

General Authority: NDCC 43-45-04

Law Implemented: NDCC 43-45-04, 43-45-05.1