A. Certified substance abuse counselors shall be required to have completed a minimum of 10 contact hours of continuing education in substance abuse and certified substance abuse counseling assistants shall be required to have completed a minimum of five contact hours of continuing education in substance abuse prior to renewal each year.

1. Continuing education hours shall be offered by an approved provider listed in 18VAC115-30-50 A or 18VAC115-30-62 A, and the course content shall be consistent with 18VAC115-30-50 B or 18VAC115-30-62 B.

2. Attestation of completion of continuing education is not required for the first renewal following initial certification in Virginia.

B. The board may grant an extension for good cause of up to one year for the completion of continuing education requirements upon written request from the certificate holder prior to the renewal date. Such extension shall not relieve the certificate holder of the continuing education requirement.

C. The board may grant an exemption for all or part of the continuing education requirements due to circumstances beyond the control of the certificate holder such as temporary disability, mandatory military service, or officially declared disasters upon written request from the certificate holder prior to the renewal date.

D. All certificate holders are required to maintain original documentation, including official transcripts showing credit hours earned or certificates of participation, for a period of three years following renewal.

E. The board may conduct an audit of certificate holders to verify compliance with the requirement for a renewal period. Upon request, a certificate holder shall provide documentation of credit hours or participation.

F. Continuing education hours required by disciplinary order shall not be used to satisfy renewal requirements.

A. An applicant for examination for certification as a substance abuse counselor shall:

1. Have a bachelor's or post-baccalaureate degree; and

2. Have completed 240 clock hours of didactic training in substance abuse education from one of the following programs:

a. A regionally accredited university or college; or

b. Seminars and workshops that meet the requirements of subsection B of this section and are offered or approved by one of the following:

(1) Federal, state, or local governmental agencies; public school systems; or licensed health facilities.

(2) The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and its state affiliates.

(3) The American Association of State Counseling Boards.

(4) The American Counseling Association and its state and local affiliates.

(5) The American Psychological Association and its state affiliates.

(6) The Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.

(7) NAADAC and its state and local affiliates.

(8) National Association of Social Workers.

(9) National Board for Certified Counselors.

(10) A national behavioral health organization or certification body recognized by the board.

(11) Individuals or organizations that have been approved as continuing competency sponsors by the American Association of State Counseling Boards or a counseling board in another state.

B. Substance abuse education.

1. Of the 240 hours of didactic training in substance abuse counseling, a minimum of 120 hours shall be completed prior to registration of supervision.

2. Each applicant shall have received a minimum of 16 clock hours in each of the following 13 areas:

a. Dynamics of human behavior;

b. Signs and symptoms of substance abuse;

c. Counseling theories and techniques;

d. Continuum of care and case management skills;

e. Recovery process and relapse prevention methods;

f. Professional orientation and ethics;

g. Pharmacology of abused substances;

h. Trauma and crisis intervention;

i. Co-occurring disorders;

j. Cultural competency; 

k. Substance abuse counseling approaches and treatment planning;

l. Group counseling; and

m. Prevention, screening, and assessment of substance use and abuse. 

C. Groups and classes attended as a part of a therapy or treatment program will not be accepted as any part of the educational experience.

A. An applicant for certification as a substance abuse counseling assistant shall:

1. Have obtained a high school diploma, a general educational development (GED) certificate, or a post-secondary degree; and

2. Have completed substance abuse education from one of the following programs:

a. A regionally accredited university or college; or

b. Seminars and workshops that meet the educational requirements specified in subsection B of this section and are offered or approved by one of the following:

(1) Federal, state, or local governmental agencies; public school systems; or licensed health facilities.

(2) The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and its state affiliates.

(3) The American Association of State Counseling Boards.

(4) The American Counseling Association and its state and local affiliates.

(5) The American Psychological Association and its state affiliates.

(6) The Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.

(7) NAADAC and its state and local affiliates.

(8) National Association of Social Workers.

(9) National Board for Certified Counselors.

(10) A national behavioral health organization or certification body recognized by the board.

(11) Individuals or organizations that have been approved as continuing competency sponsors by the American Association of State Counseling Boards or a counseling board in another state.

B. Substance abuse education. The education will include 120 hours spent in receiving didactic training in substance abuse counseling. Each applicant shall have received a minimum of eight clock hours in each of the following 13 areas:

a. Understanding the dynamics of human behavior;

b. Signs and symptoms of substance abuse;

c. Counseling theories and techniques;

d. Case management skills and continuum of care;

e. Recovery process and relapse prevention methods;

f. Professional orientation and ethics;

g. Cultural competency;

h. Trauma and crisis intervention;

i. Pharmacology of abused substances;

j. Co-occurring disorders;

k. Substance abuse counseling approaches and treatment planning;

l. Group counseling; and

m. Prevention, screening, and assessment of substance use and abuse.