Wyo. Code R. 078-0001-4
Effective Date: 12/17/2021 to Current
Rule Type: Current Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 078.0001.4.12172021
Section 1. The Practice of a Certified Addictions Practitioner Assistant. The practice of a Certified Addictions Practitioner Assistant (CAPA) consists of assisting in the practice of addictions treatment, prevention, intervention, referral and follow-up within the range of the professional's preparation under the supervision of a DQCS licensed in the state of Wyoming as well as the administrative supervision of an employer. The practice of a CAPA does not include assigning diagnosis, making treatment recommendations, or acting as a primary treatment provider. Therapeutic interventions are limited to education and skill development activities.
(a) The practice of a CAPA may be either face-to-face that involves the synchronous interaction between an individual or groups of individuals using what is seen and heard in person to communicate, or
(b) Via methods of electronic delivery that involves the use of electronic or other means (e.g. telephone, computers, etc.) to provide the service.
(i) When using electronic delivery means, all use must be in compliance with all professional ethical standards and all other requirements in these rules;
(ii) Special care should be taken to ensure the confidentiality and security of the provision of services; and
(iii) The CAPA shall provide only those services that are legal within the state that the recipient of services lives.
Section 2. General Requirements for Certification. Applicants shall have six (6) months from the date of employment to complete all of the requirements for certification. If the applicant fails to complete the requirements in that six (6) month time frame, the applicant shall immediately stop working as a CAPA. Providing the services regulated by this Act prior to submitting an application to the Board may result in the denial of the application. The Board may, for good cause shown, grant an extension of this grace period. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the Board receives all documentation necessary to prove to the Board's satisfaction that the applicant meets all the requirements for certification herein. The applicant shall provide satisfactory evidence to the Board that they:
(a) are of majority age;
(b) have no felony convictions, and no misdemeanor convictions that relate adversely to the practice of addictions therapy or to the ability to practice addictions therapy, although exceptions to this requirement may be granted by the Board if consistent with the public interest;
(c) are legal inhabitants of the United States; and (d) satisfy the requirements established in these rules.
Section 3. Education Requirement for Certification. The educational requirement for certification as an addictions practitioner assistant may be met by:
(a) Holding a current National Certified Addictions Counselor Level I (NCAC I) certification in good standing from the Association for Addictions Professionals (NAADAC), or a current Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (AODA) from the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC), or
(b) Completion of an associate’s degree program in addictionology, chemical dependency, substance use disorder counseling, or an equivalently termed degree program, from an educational institution accredited by the National Addictions Studies Accreditation Commission (NASAC) or accredited by one of the regional or national institutional accrediting bodies recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or
(c) Completion of two hundred seventy (270) hours of addictions specific course work and/or training as follows:
(i) A maximum of seventy (70) contact hours may be completed in general mental health discipline subjects which must include thirty (30) contact hours in counseling ethics.
(ii) A minimum of two hundred (200) contact hours shall be related specifically to addictions therapy. This shall include training/education in Addictions Assessment and six (6) contact hours of specialty training in communicable diseases. These categories may be satisfied by completing college course work or workshops.
(a) The Board shall accept a passing score as established by the examination provider on one of the following examinations:
(i) The Association for Addictions Professionals (NAADAC), NCAC Level I exam; or
(ii) Other examination as may be approved by the Board.
(b) Applicants are allowed only three (3) attempts to pass the exam requirement. The Board may allow an applicant to make one (1) more attempt to pass the requirement upon approval of a remediation plan submitted by the applicant.
(c) The examination shall have been passed within the immediate five (5) years prior to submission of the application or after receiving board approval to sit for the examination. This requirement does not apply to those applying under Section 5 of this chapter.
Section 5. Certification by Reciprocity. An individual who holds an associate's degree in a human behavioral discipline, has passed the examination as required in Section 4 of this Chapter and holds a certification that is free from discipline and in good standing to engage in the practice of addictions therapy under the laws of another state may, upon approval of the Board, be issued a certification as a CAPA in this state. If the individual has held a certification to practice addictions therapy in more than one state, the individual shall be required to provide verification that all certifications held within the last five (5) years have not had any discipline against the certification
(a) The term 'Certified Addictions Practitioner Assistant' shall be used only after the applicant is granted certification by the Board, and only in conjunction with activities and services that are part of the supervised employment.
(b) In the required professional disclosure statement, the CAPA shall also provide full disclosure to every client of the supervised nature of their work, which shall include the name, address and telephone number of their DQCS.
(c) The supervisory relationship shall be indicated, and the DQCS's name, address and telephone number shall appear on all documents relating to advertisement by the CAPA.
(d) The CAPA shall comply with the Association for Addictions Professionals (NAADAC) 'Code of Ethics' incorporated into these rules in Chapter 15.