Wyo. Code R. 078-0001-8
Effective Date: 09/29/2010 to 06/03/2015
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 078.0001.8.09292010
Section 1. The Practice of a Licensed Addictions Therapist. The practice of a Licensed Addictions Therapist consists of providing services based on theory and methods of counseling, psychotherapy, and addictionology to persons who are experiencing cognitive, affective or behavioral psychosocial dysfunction as a direct or indirect result of addiction, chemical dependency, abuse of chemical substances or related disorders. The practice of addictions therapy includes, but is not limited to, performing mental health procedures, addiction prevention, crisis intervention, assessment, diagnosis, referral, direct treatment, and follow-up treatment which is rendered to individuals, families, groups, organizations, schools, and communities who are adversely affected by addictions or related disorders.
Section 2. General Requirements for Licensure. 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 licensure herein. The applicant shall provide satisfactory evidence to the Board that they:
(a) are of majority age; and
(b) have no felony convictions, and no misdemeanor convictions involving moral turpitude, although exceptions to this requirement may be granted by the Board if consistent with the public interest; and
(c) are legal inhabitants of the United States, and
(d) satisfy the requirements established in these rules.
(a) All educational requirements for licensure shall be met through the completion of a graduate degree program with a concentration in addictionology, chemical dependency, or substance abuse from an educational institution accredited by one of the regional or national institutional accrediting bodies recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Applicants with graduate degrees in other mental health disciplines from a regionally accredited college or university shall generally be accepted with the listed twenty one (21) semester hours of course work (either graduate or undergraduate) as follows:
(i) Course work shall be completed in each of the following four (4) subject areas for a minimum of eleven (11) combined semester hours:
(A) Counseling Theories- Three (3) semester credits. Theories and principles of counseling and psychotherapy.
(B) Counseling Skills- Three (3) semester credits. Methods and techniques of individual and group counseling.
(C) Practicum in Addictions/Chemical Dependency Counseling- Three (3) semester credits.
(D) Counseling Ethics- Three (3) semester credits.
(ii) Course work shall be completed in a combination of the following seven (7) subject areas for a minimum of ten (10) combined semester credits. This shall include education in Addictions Assessment.
(A) Alcoholism: To include biochemical, socio-cultural, and psychological factors.
(B) Drugs and Behavior: A survey of drugs with abuse potential other than alcohol that affect behavior including psychopharmacological information.
(C) Addictions/Chemical Dependency and Special Populations: (i.e., adolescents, women, ethnic groups, elderly, adult children of alcoholics, the impaired family, impaired professional, etc.).
(D) Addictions/Chemical Dependency Education & Prevention.
(E) Addictive Behaviors: Gambling, eating disorders, sexual addictions, cults, compulsive behaviors of non-ingestive nature, etc.
(F) Addictions/Chemical Dependency Assessment: Appraisal, assessment, testing, diagnosis/dual diagnosis. This category may also be satisfied by completing specialty training.
(G) Organization and Administration of Addictions/ Chemical Dependency Services: Treatment planning, client management, intervention, relapse prevention, chemical dependency agency management, etc.
(iii) Six (6) contact hours of specialty training shall be completed in communicable diseases. This category may be satisfied by completing college course work or workshops.
(iv) Three (3) semester credits is equivalent to four (4) quarter credits.
(a) A minimum of three thousand (3,000) hours of supervised clinical training/work experience in addictions therapy under the direct supervision of a designated qualified clinical supervisor is required for all applicants. This experience shall meet the requirements set forth in these rules.
(i) All three thousand (3,000) hours of supervised clinical training/work experience required shall be completed after the award of the master's degree. Of the three thousand (3,000) hours required, at least one thousand two hundred (1,200) hours shall be direct client contact hours. This paragraph shall not apply to persons holding a provisional license on January 1, 2011. These persons will be evaluated under the rules in effect at the time they were granted the provisional license.
(b) A minimum of one hundred (100) post master's hours of direct, verifiable, individual and/or triadic face-to-face clinical supervision with a designated qualified clinical supervisor is required. Group supervision is not acceptable towards completion of the face-to-face clinical supervision requirement.
Section 5. Professional Recommendation Requirement for Licensure. Applicants shall demonstrate their integrity, professionalism and character in addictions therapy through three (3) professional recommendations which attest to applicants' abilities and professional performance.
(a) Examinations shall be scheduled by the examination provider. (b) Applicants are allowed three (3) attempts to pass the exam. The Board may allow an applicant to make one (1) more attempt to pass the examination upon approval of a remediation plan submitted by the applicant. (c) The Board shall accept the passing score as established by the examination provider approved by the Board. (d) The Board shall accept a passing score on the following examinations:
(i) The Association for Addictions Professionals (NAADAC), NCAC Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) exam.
(ii) National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) exam.
(iii) Other examinations as may be approved by the Board.
Section 7. LAT as a Second License. Professionals who currently hold a license as an LPC, LMFT or LCSW in good standing in the State of Wyoming may obtain a license as an Addictions Therapist as follows:
(a) Education. The applicant shall satisfy the educational criteria in the following manner.
(i) Complete one hundred and fifty (150) contact hours of diverse addictions specific training within five (5) years of applying for the LAT, including Addictions Assessment, from four (4) of the six (6) following areas:
(A) Alcoholism: To include biochemical, socio-cultural, and psychological factors.
(B) Drugs and Behavior: A survey of drugs with abuse potential other than alcohol that affect behavior including psychopharmacological information.
(C) Addictions/Chemical Dependency and Special Populations (i.e., adolescents, women, ethnic groups, elderly, adult children of alcoholics, the impaired family, impaired professional, etc.).
(D) Addictions/Chemical Dependency Education & Prevention.
(E) Addictive Behaviors: Gambling, eating disorders, sexual addictions, cults, compulsive behaviors of non-ingestive nature, etc.
(F) Organization and Administration of Addictions/ Chemical Dependency Services: Treatment planning, client management, intervention, relapse prevention, chemical dependency agency management, etc.
(ii) These contact hours may also be reported as continuing education for license renewal.
(iii) Instructors shall be experts in the discipline and of at least master's degree level in education.
(b) Practicum.
(i) The applicant shall satisfy the practicum criteria by completing a practicum, to include addictions specific clients, in a master's program, or by
(ii) Completing one hundred and fifty (150) face-to-face clinical contact hours with addictions specific clients within five (5) years of applying for licensure, which is supervised by an LAT. These hours shall be completed after the award of the initial license as an LPC, LCSW, or an LMFT, or by
(iii) Providing written proof, in a manner approved by the Board, of a minimum of five (5) years of full-time experience in the addictions field, gained within the ten (10) years immediately preceding the date of application, and after completion of the master's degree by which they received their LPC, LCSW, or LMFT.
(c) Examination. The examination requirements are the same as defined in Section 6.
Section 8. License by Reciprocity. An individual holding a license in good standing to engage in the practice of addictions therapy under the laws of another state having licensure requirements substantially similar to those required by the Act and these rules may, upon approval of the board, be issued a license as an Addictions Therapist in this state.
(a) Applicants may be issued a provisional license to practice under supervision while completing deficiencies identified and required by the Board provided they possess a graduate degree comparable to those required by the Act and these rules.
(a) The terms “Licensed Addictions Therapist” or “Addictions Therapist” shall be used only after the applicant is granted licensure by the Board.
(b) The Licensed Addictions Therapist shall adhere to the Association for Addictions Professionals (NAADAC) “Code of Ethics” incorporated as Appendix A.