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 in human services or related field from an approved school;
(b) Successful completion of 90 quarter or 60 semester college credits in courses from an approved school; 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 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) HIV/AIDS brief risk intervention for individuals with a substance use disorder;
(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.
[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.]