1. A. Effective July 1, 2005, the board shall license as a substance abuse associate any person who files a completed application accompanied by the required fees and who submits satisfactory evidence that the applicant as defined by rule:

   1. (1) observes the code of ethics;
   2. (2) has reached the age of twenty-one;
   3. (3) holds an associate degree in a counseling, counseling-related field or substance abuse-related field from an accredited institution and has a total of ninety clock hours of education and training in the fields of alcohol and drug abuse counseling; and
   4. (4) has arranged for an appropriate supervision plan, as defined by rule, to meet the requirements for licensure as a substance abuse associate.
2. B. The applicant shall also provide two letters of recommendation.

History: Laws 1996, ch. 61, § 8; 1999, ch. 161, § 14; 2003, ch. 422, § 15; 2005, ch. 210, § 14; 2021, ch. 93, § 13.

ANNOTATIONS

Delayed repeals. — For delayed repeal of this section, see 61-9A-30 NMSA 1978.

The 2021 amendment, effective June 18, 2021, revised the qualifications for an applicant for licensure as a substance abuse associate; and in Subsection A, Paragraph A(1), deleted "is of good moral character, with conduct consistent with" and added "observes".

The 2005 amendment, effective June 17, 2005, deleted former Subsection A which provided for the licensure of substance abuse trainees; changed "trainee" to "associate" in Subsections A and A(4); added a degree in counseling or substance abuse-related field and deleted the former requirement that the degree must be from a regionally accredited institution in Subsection A(3); and deleted the former requirement in Subsection B that one letter be from a current supervisor and one letter from a current employer or one letter from a professional substance abuse colleague.

The 2003 amendment, effective June 20, 2003, rewrote the section.

The 1999 amendment, effective July 1, 1999, substituted "has reached the age of twenty-one" for "is at least eighteen years of age" in Subsection A(2), substituted "has a total of ninety clock hours of education and training in the fields of alcohol and drug abuse" for "demonstrates knowlege of a working definition of substance abuse treatment and recovery" in Subsection A(5), deleted former Subsections B, C, and D, relating to the licensing of alcohol and drug abuse counselors, alcohol abuse counselors and drug abuse counselors, and added present Subsection B.