AN ACT to modify the supervision requirements for certified alcohol and drug counselors and certified criminal justice addictions professionals.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  G.S. 90‑113.31A(5) reads as rewritten:

(5)      Certified criminal justice addictions professional. – A person certified by the Board to practice as a criminal justice addictions professional who, under supervision, who provides direct services to clients or offenders exhibiting substance use disorders and works in a program determined by the Board to be involved in a criminal justice setting.

SECTION 1.(b)  G.S. 90‑113.37A reads as rewritten:

§ 90‑113.37A.  Renewal of credential; lapse.

(a)        Every person credentialed pursuant to this Article who desires to maintain his or her credentials shall apply to the Board for a renewal of certification or licensure every other year and pay to the treasurer the prescribed fee.

(b)        Renewal of licensure is subject to completion of at least 40 hours of the continuing education requirements established by the Board. Renewal of alcohol and drug counselor or prevention specialist certification is subject to completion of at least 60 hours of the continuing education requirements established by the Board. A certified alcohol and drug counselor shall submit a Board‑approved supervision contract signed by the applicant certified alcohol and drug counselor and a practice supervisor documenting ongoing supervision at a ratio of one hour of supervision to every 40 hours of practice after the certification is granted by the Board on a form provided by the Board. Any person certified by the Board After two years of practice as a certified alcoholism counselor or certified alcohol and drug counselor counselor, the ratio of supervision shall become be one hour of supervision to every 80 hours of practice. After four years of practice as a certified alcohol and drug counselor.counselor, the ratio of supervision shall be one hour of supervision to every 160 hours of practice.

A clinical supervisor shall complete at least 15 hours of substance use disorder clinical supervision training prior to the certificate being renewed. A certified criminal justice addictions professional shall complete at least 40 hours of continuing education that must be earned in the certified criminal justice addictions professional performance domains. A certified criminal justice addictions professional shall submit a Board‑approved supervision contract signed by the criminal justice addictions professional and a practice supervisor documenting ongoing supervision at a ratio of one hour of supervision to every 40 hours of practice after certification is granted by the Board on a form provided by the Board. After two years of practice as a certified criminal justice addictions professional, the ratio of supervision shall be one hour of supervision to every 80 hours of practice. After four years of practice as a certified criminal justice addictions professional, the ratio of supervision shall be one hour of supervision to every 160 hours of practice.

….

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2021.