PDFWAC 246-811-030
Educational requirements.
Except as provided for in WAC 246-811-077 and 246-811-078, to be eligible for certification as a substance use disorder professional an applicant shall meet the education requirements in this section.
(1) The minimum education requirements for a substance use disorder professional credential are:
(a) An associate's degree or higher in human services, addiction studies, substance use disorder counseling, or related field from an approved school;
(b) Successful completion of 90 quarter or 60 semester college credits in courses from an approved school that meets the course work requirements of subsection (3) of this section; or
(c) Successful completion of an approved and registered apprenticeship program.
(2) The minimum amount of instruction required in topics related to the substance use disorder profession is at least:
(a) Forty-five quarter college credits;
(b) Thirty semester college credits; or
(c) Four hundred fifty hours of related/supplemental instruction provided by a competent instructor in an approved and registered apprenticeship program.
(3) Education and apprenticeship program course work that does not result in an addiction studies or substance use disorder counseling degree must include the following topics specific to individuals with substance use disorder in their recovery:
(a) Understanding addiction;
(b) Pharmacological actions of alcohol and other drugs;
(c) Substance abuse and addiction treatment methods;
(d) Understanding addiction placement, continuing care, and discharge criteria, including American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria;
(e) Cultural diversity including people with disabilities and its implication for treatment;
(f) Substance use disorder clinical evaluation (screening and referral to include comorbidity);
(g) Pathogen risk training;
(h) Substance use disorder treatment planning;
(i) Referral and use of community resources;
(j) Service coordination (implementing the treatment plan, consulting, continuing assessment and treatment planning);
(k) Individual counseling;
(l) Group counseling;
(m) Substance use disorder counseling for families, couples and significant others;
(n) Client, family and community education;
(o) Developmental psychology;
(p) Psychopathology/abnormal psychology;
(q) Documentation, to include, screening, intake, assessment, treatment plan, clinical reports, clinical progress notes, discharge summaries, and other client related data;
(r) Substance use disorder confidentiality;
(s) Professional and ethical responsibilities;
(t) Relapse prevention;
(u) Adolescent substance use disorder assessment and treatment;
(v) Substance use disorder case management; and
(w) Substance use disorder rules and regulations.
(4) The department considers an associate degree or higher in addiction studies or substance use disorder counseling to meet the course work requirements in subsection (3) of this section.
(5) An applicant who has been credentialed as a substance use or addiction counselor in another state with substantially equivalent standards under WAC 246-811-310 is considered to meet the education requirements of this section.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.205.060, 43.70.250, chapter 18.205 RCW, 2023 c 425, 2024 c 371, and 2024 c 366. WSR 25-07-024, s 246-811-030, filed 3/10/25, effective 5/30/25. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.205.060 and 2021 c 165. WSR 22-17-097, § 246-811-030, filed 8/18/22, effective 9/18/22. Statutory Authority: 2019 c 444, 2019 c 446, 2019 c 351, and RCW 18.19.050, 18.205.060, 18.225.040, 43.70.110, and 43.70.250. WSR 20-12-074, § 246-811-030, filed 6/1/20, effective 7/2/20. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.205.100 and 18.205.060. WSR 16-14-052, § 246-811-030, filed 6/29/16, effective 7/30/16. Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.205 RCW. WSR 09-14-111, § 246-811-030, filed 6/30/09, effective 7/1/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.205.060(1). WSR 99-13-084, § 246-811-030, filed 6/14/99, effective 7/15/99.]