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BOPC : alcoholdrug

Board of Professional Counselors

Alcohol & Drug Counselor Licensure Requirements

 

Applicant must have a master's degree in a health and human services counseling field with a minimum of 60 graduate semester credit hours or 90 graduate quarter credits from an accredited college.  A minimum of 27 credit hours from the topic areas listed in A through I below.  Each course must be 3 credits.  Also required, 3 credits in ethics with a focus on alcohol and drug counseling.  Ethics course may be undergraduate.

 

A-I may be undergraduate level

 

A.

PHARMACOLOGY OF PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS - 3 credits

 

Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:

 

1.

Brain structure and function as it relates to psychoactive drugs.

 

2.

Classes of psychoactive drugs, including their addition potential, withdrawal symptoms, and associated medical problems.

 

Examples of courses in this area:

 

1.

Introduction of Psychopharmacology

 

2.

Pharmacological Aspects of Additions

B.

INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING TECHNIQUES - 3 credits

 

Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:

 

1.

The formation of therapeutic relationship

 

2.

Therapeutic communication skills

 

Examples of courses in this area:

 

1.

Counseling Methods

 

2.

Techniques of Counseling

C.

GROUP COUNSELING TECHNIQUES - 3 credits

 

Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:

 

1.

Therapeutic factors in groups

 

2.

Stages of development

 

3.

Types of therapy group

 

Example of courses in this area:

 

1.

Group Counseling (or Therapy)

 

2.

Group Therapy and Practice

D.

ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY - 3 credits

 

Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:

 

1.

Major categories of mental disorders

 

2.

Theoretical models of mental disorders

 

Examples of courses in this area:

 

1.

Abnormal Psychology

 

2.

Psychopathology

E.

ADDICTIONS TREATMENT DELIVERY - 3 credits

 

Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:

 

1.

Screening

 

2.

Intake

 

3.

Orientation

 

4.

Case Management

 

5.

Crisis intervention

 

6.

Education and Prevention

 

7.

Referral

 

8.

Consultation

 

9.

Reports and record keeping

 

10.

Assessment and diagnosis based on standard criteria

 

11.

Treatment planning

 

Examples of courses in this area:

 

1.

Substance Abuse Counseling

 

2.

Addictions Counseling Theories and Approaches

F.

TOPICS IN ALCOHOL AND DRUG DEPENDENCY - 3 credits

 

Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:

 

1.

Various theories of addictive disorders

 

2.

Models of treatment

 

3.

Other topics related to alcohol and drug dependency

 

Examples of courses in this area:

 

1.

Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependency

 

2.

Issues in Theories and Treatment of Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependence

G.

FAMILY COUNSELING - 3 credits

 

Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:

 

 

1.

Family systems theory and dynamics

 

2.

Family processes in addiction

 

3.

Family recovery models

 

Examples of courses in this area:

 

1.

Marriage and Family Counseling (or Therapy)

 

2.

Family Systems and Intervention

H.

THEORIES OF COUNSELING AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY - 3 credits

 

Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:

 

 

Examples of courses in this area:

 

1.

Theories of Counseling (or Psychotherapy)

 

2.

Introduction of Psychotherapy Theories

I.

HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT - 3 credits

 

Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:

 

 

1.

Developmental stages

 

2.

Expected milestones

 

Examples of courses in this area:

 

1.

Human Growth and Development

 

2.

Personality Development

 

3.

Personality Development

Courses Below must be Graduate Courses

 

J.

DIAGNOSIS AND PSYCHOPATHOLGY - 3 credits

 

Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:

 

1.

Diagnosis based on standard criteria;

 

2.

Major categories of mental disorder;

 

4.

An understanding of the impact of abnormal behavior not only to individuals, but to society as a whole.

 

4.

An examination of various theories relative to the etiology of abnormal behavior

 

K.

PSYCHOTHERAPY AND TREATMENT OF MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL DISORDERS - 3 credits

 

Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:

 

 

Examples of courses in this area:

 

1.

Treatment Techniques

 

2.

Behavioral Therapy

 

3.

Cognitive Therapy

 

4.

Psycho-dynamic Therapy

 

5.

Advanced Techniques of Counseling

L.

PSYCHOTHERAPY IN ALCOHOL AND DRUG DISORDERS - 3 credits

 

Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:

 

 

1.

Diagnosis of substance use disorders based on standard criteria;

 

2.

Applications of one or more treatment models to substance use disorders.

 

3.

Treatment of mental disorders co-occurring with substance use disorders.

 

Examples of courses in this area:

 

1.

Diagnosis and Treatment of substance use disorders.

 

2.

Psychotherapy of alcohol and drug disorders.

 

SUPERVISED CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

 

3 years of supervised clinical experience in alcohol and drug counseling.  Of the 3 years, 2 years and 2,000 hours shall be completed after the awarding of the master’s or doctoral degree.

 

EXAMINATION REQUIREMENT

 

Achieve a passing score on the Examination for Master's Addictions Counselors (EMAC) of the National Board for Certified Counselors and State Law Test.