for licensure

1.__Eligibility.__To be eligible to practice as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, an applicant must:

A.__Be at least 18 years of age;

B.__Have taken and passed an examination as prescribed by board rule;

C.__Have paid an application and license fee under section 6215; and

D.__Meet one of the following educational requirements:

(1)__A high school diploma or its equivalent, course work as defined by board rule and a minimum of 6,000 hours of documented supervised practice in alcohol and drug counseling or 2,000 hours if the applicant holds a valid certified alcohol and drug counselor certification;

(2)__An associate or bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in clinically based behavioral sciences or addiction counseling or a related field as defined by board rule, course work as defined by board rule and a minimum of 4,000 hours of documented supervised practice in alcohol and drug counseling; or

(3)__A master's degree from an accredited college or university in clinically based behavioral sciences or addiction counseling or a related field as defined by board rule, course work as defined by board rule and a minimum of 2,000 hours of documented supervised practice in alcohol and drug counseling.

Sec. 17. 32 MRSA §6215, as amended by PL 1999, c. 685, §18, is further amended to read:

§6215. Application; fees

Application for registration as a registered alcohol and drug counselor, certification or licensure as a licensed to practice alcohol and drug counselor counseling must be on forms prescribed and furnished by the board. The Director of the Office of Licensing and Registration may establish by rule fees for purposes authorized under this subchapter in amounts that are reasonable and necessary for their respective purposes, except