Utah Substance Abuse Counselor Certification
Those seeking to become certified as substance abuse counselors in Utah must meet several requirements. In addition to a certain number of hours of education at an accredited university, applicants must also have experience and take the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors National Certification Exam.
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Education
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The education requirement is 300 hours. The State of Utah expects 300 hours of addiction counseling education from an accredited university or college. Coursework required will consist of alcohol and other drug addictions as they pertain to the practice of substance abuse counseling. Eighteen hours of coursework in ethical behaviors and standards are required.
Experience
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Counseling experience is necessary. Experience will be supervised and at an approved agency. Experience will consist of 40 hours of substance abuse counseling monitored by a licensed substance abuse counselor or a licensed mental health therapist with at least one year of experience. One hour of direct supervision for every 40 hours of counseling work is needed.
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Exam
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A certification exam must be taken. Taking the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) National Certification Exam Levels I, II, or MAC is necessary. A minimum score determined by NAADAC must be obtained.
Continuing Education
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Continuing education is needed every two years. Utah required 40 hours of continuing education for every two years of practice. At least six of the 40 hours must pertain to professional ethics. Utah accepts classroom courses, seminars, conferences, and workshops to fulfill the continuing education requirement.
Documentation
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Utah requires records of continuing education. The licensee is responsible for maintaining records for professional education completed or hours taught in an accredited university setting. Records are also necessary for a licensee to prove that they are unable to meet the professional continuing education requirements.
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Resources
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