Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 46 - PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS › Part LXXX - Substance Abuse Counselors › Chapter 7 - Credentials for License/Certification/Registration › Section LXXX-703 - Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC)

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024
A. The ADRA shall recognize as a CAC each
				candidate who:
1. possesses a bachelor's
				degree from an accredited institution of higher education. The degree shall be
				in human service or a behavioral science discipline or such other discipline(s)
				as the department may deem appropriate. The applicant shall provide the ADRA
				with an official (certified) copy of any and all academic transcripts. Any
				person seeking to be recognized as a CAC who possesses a bachelor's degree in a
				discipline other than human services or behavioral science may apply to the
				ADRA for a waiver. In considering the application for wavier, the ADRA may
				consult with representatives of national credentialing organizations and/or
				institutions of higher education for advice and guidance and may grant or deny
				the wavier. The ADRA may grant the waiver on such terms and conditions as are
				deemed appropriate and in the best interest of the public;
2. is at least 21 years of age (from the date
				the application is received);
3. is
				a legal resident of the United States;
4. is not in violation of any ethical
				standards subscribed to by the ADRA;
5. is not now, and has not been, a substance
				abuser or compulsive gambler for a period of two years from the date the
				application is received;
6. has not
				been convicted of, pleaded guilty, or entered a plea of nolo contendere to a
				felony. The ADRA may waive this requirement for good cause upon request of the
				applicant. The applicant shall provide the ADRA with a certified copy of his
				criminal history;
7. sign the ADRA
				form of professional and ethical accountability and responsibility;
8. provides evidence of having satisfied the
				following requirements in education, supervised practical training and
				experience:
a. education-has successfully
				completed a minimum of 270 clock hours of education with a minimum of 180 hours
				specific to substance abuse and up to 90 hours in related courses or areas of
				study. Education is defined as formal, structured instruction in the form of
				work shops, seminars, institutes, in-services, college/university credit
				courses and distance education. Of the substance abuse specific hours required
				by this provision, at least 6 hours must be in professional ethics. The
				professional ethics hours may not be obtained through "in service"
				training;
b. supervised practical
				training-has successfully completed a minimum 300 performance hours in the
				KSA's/12 core functions (with a minimum of 20 hours in each core function or
				KSA equivalent). The candidate shall document and verify the performance hours
				on a form required by the ADRA. Training is defined as a formal systematic
				process that focuses on skill development and integration of knowledge. The
				training must take place in a setting where addictive disorder counseling is
				provided. The training may occur as part of eligible work experience (see
				Subparagraph c below) and may be competed under more than one supervisor or
				agency. All training hours must be documented and verified;
c experience-documents and verifies evidence of having
				  successfully completed 4,000 hours (two years) of supervised work experience
				  providing addictive disorder counseling services. Supervised work experience
				  must be paid or voluntary experience as a counselor who provides direct
				  counseling services to individuals diagnosed as having one or more addictive
				  disorders, at least one of which is alcohol or substance abuse related.
				  Supervised work experience must be in the KSA's and 12 core functions with
				  substance abuse clients. Unsupervised work experience will not be considered.
				  The supervision required herein must be provided by a certified clinical
				  supervisor with a minimum of one contact hour per week. In the event a
				  certified clinical supervisor is unavailable, the individual may apply to the
				  ADRA for a waiver;
9. demonstrates professional competency in
				addictive disorder counseling by satisfying written and oral examination
				requirements established by the ADRA and providing documentation of such. The
				ADRA shall indicate the examination requirements that govern each testing
				cycle;
10. it is the candidate's
				responsibility to assure himself that his educational preparation has provided
				comprehensive coverage of the subjects and topics necessary to allow him to
				develop a sufficient knowledge base and to adequately prepare him to be able to
				demonstrate professional competency in addictive disorder counseling;
11. it is the candidate's responsibility to
				assure himself that his clinical experience has provided comprehensive training
				sufficient to adequately prepare him to be able to demonstrate professional
				competency in addictive disorder counseling;
12. provide three letters of recommendation
				attesting to the individual's fitness to be an addictive disorder
				counselor;