Minnesota:
All individuals who use the title alcohol and drug counselor and all individuals who provide alcohol and drug counseling services to clients who reside in Minnesota must be licensed as an alcohol and drug counselor by the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy. Education requirements for licensure include: a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school or educational program, 18 semester credits or 270 clock hours of academic course work, and 80 clock hours of supervised alcohol and drug counseling practicum from an accredited school or education program. The course work and practicum do not have to be part of the bachelor’s degree. The statutes further specify the specific topic areas of the course work. Examination requirements for licensure include passing the IC&RC AODA written examination (or an equivalent exam as determined by the Board) or passing a written exam as determined by the board and one of the following: (1) Completing a written case presentation and passing an oral examination, or (2) Completing 2,000 hours of post-degree supervised professional practice. (Minnesota Statutes 148F.025)
An accredited school or educational program is defined as “a school of alcohol and drug counseling, university, college, or other postsecondary education program that, at the time the student completes the program, is accredited by a regional accrediting association whose standards are substantially equivalent to those of the North Central Association of Colleges and Postsecondary Education Institutions or an accrediting association that evaluates schools of alcohol and drug counseling for inclusion of the education, practicum, and core function standards in this chapter.” (Minnesota Statutes 148F.01 subd. 3.)
Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies:
The data and methodology for developing these rule revisions consisted primarily of comparing current requirements for the approval of substance abuse counselor comprehensive programs with the structure of competency-based, flexible option programs. The Substance Abuse Counselor Certification Review Committee met on September 30, 2014. The Committee reviewed the proposed rule and passed a motion to recommend the approval of the preliminary rule draft. Adjacent states’ rules were also reviewed.
Analysis and supporting documents used to determine effect on small business or in preparation of economic impact analysis:
The rule was posted for public comment on the economic impact of the proposed rule, including how this proposed rule may affect businesses, local government units, and individuals, for a period of 14 days. No comments were received relating to the economic impact of the rule.
Fiscal Estimate and Economic Impact Analysis:
The Fiscal Estimate and Economic Impact Analysis are attached.
Effect on small business:
These proposed rules do not have an economic impact on small businesses, as defined in s. 227.114 (1), Stats. The Department’s Regulatory Review Coordinator may be contacted by email at Eric.Esser@wisconsin.gov, or by calling (608) 267-2435. Agency contact person:
Katie Paff, Program and Policy Analyst, Department of Safety and Professional Services, Division of Policy Development, 1400 East Washington Avenue, Room 151, P.O. Box 8935, Madison, Wisconsin 53708; telephone 608-261-4472; email at Kathleen.Paff@wisconsin.gov. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEXT OF RULE
Section 1. SPS 160.01 is amended to read:
Section 2. SPS 166.03 (1) (intro.) and (2) are amended to read:
SPS 166.03 (1) The following content areas and related hours are required as a portion of the educational requirements in s. SPS 161.04 constitute the educational requirements of SPS 161.04 (2) (a) 4. and (3) (c): (2) The training shall be in a comprehensive program approved by the department under s. SPS 166.09 166.07. Section 3. SPS 166.03 (4) is repealed.
Section 4. SPS 166.07 (1) (intro.) is amended to read:
SPS 166.07 (1) A provider of education programs shall submit an application for approval of a 360 hour comprehensive program equivalent to 360 hours that meets the requirements of s. SPS 166.03 on a form provided by the department. The application shall include all of the following: Section 5. SPS 166.07 (1) (a) is renumbered SPS 166.07 (1) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:
SPS 166.07 (1) (a) A detailed outline of each course and one of the following: with specific 1. Specific allocations of classroom hours on toward each required topic, content area for each course.
(d) an An explanation of the integrated and identified program outcomes and how the program outcomes will be measured.
(e) and an An explanation of how the comprehensive program meets all of the required content in s. SPS 166.03. Section 6. SPS 166.07 (1) (a) 2. is created to read:
SPS 166.07 (1) (a) 2. For comprehensive programs based on core competencies, a detailed outline of each core competency, how each core competency will be measured, and classroom hour equivalencies toward each content area for each competency.
Section 7. EFFECTIVE DATE. The rules adopted in this order shall take effect on the first day of the month following publication in the Wisconsin administrative register, pursuant to s. 227.22 (2) (intro.), Stats. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(END OF TEXT OF RULE)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
