Ch. 399 Professions and Occupations 2647
CHAPTER 399
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PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS
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HOUSE BILL 21-1305
BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Michaelson Jenet and Pelton, Amabile, Bacon, Bernett, Bird, Caraveo, Cutter, Esgar, Exum, Froelich,
Gonzales-Gutierrez, Gray, Herod, Hooton, Jackson, Jodeh, Lontine, McCormick, McLachlan, Ortiz, Ricks, Sandridge, Snyder,
Titone, Valdez A., Young, Garnett, Duran;
also SENATOR(S) Winter, Danielson, Ginal, Kolker, Lee, Moreno, Pettersen, Priola, Simpson, Sonnenberg, Story.
AN ACT
CONCERNING THE PRACTICE OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND, IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH, CLARIFYING EDUCATION AND HOURS OF PRACTICE REQUIRED FOR LICENSURE OR
CERTIFICATION AS AN ADDICTION COUNSELOR; AND ESTABLISHING SUPERVISION PRIVILEGES FOR
CERTIFIED AND LICENSED ADDICTION COUNSELORS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-245-218, amend (1)(a) as
follows:
12-245-218. Title use restrictions. (1) A psychologist, social worker, marriage
and family therapist, professional counselor, psychotherapist, or addiction counselor
may only use the title for which the person is licensed, certified, or registered under
this article 245. Except as provided in section 12-245-306 (3), no other person shall:
(a) Hold himself or herself out to the public by any title or description of services
incorporating the terms "licensed clinical social worker", "clinical social worker",
"LCSW", "licensed social worker", "LSW", "clinical social worker candidate",
"provisional social worker", "SWP", "marriage and family therapist", "LMFT",
"MFT", "marriage and family therapist candidate", "MFT candidate", "MFTC",
"professional counselor", "licensed professional counselor", "LPC", "licensed
professional counselor candidate", "LPCC", "provisional licensed professional
counselor", "psychologist", "provisional psychologist", "psychologist candidate",
"psychology", "psychological", "unlicensed psychotherapist", "addiction counselor",
"licensed addiction counselor", "LAC", "certified addiction counselor", or "CAC"
"CERTIFIED ADDICTION SPECIALIST", "CAS", "CERTIFIED ADDICTION TECHNICIAN",
"CAT", OR "ADDICTION COUNSELOR CANDIDATE"; or
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Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material added to existing law; dashes through
words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law and such material is not part of the act.
2648 Professions and Occupations Ch. 399
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-245-803, amend (4) as follows:
12-245-803. Practice of addiction counseling defined - scope of practice.
(4) Scope of practice - licensed addiction counselors. Based on education,
training, knowledge, and experience, the scope of practice of a licensed addiction
counselor includes behavioral health counseling and may include the treatment of
substance use disorders, addictive behavioral disorders, and co-occurring MENTAL
HEALTH disorders, including clinical evaluation and diagnosis, treatment planning,
service coordination, case management, clinical documentation, professional and
ethical responsibilities, education and psychotherapy with clients, family, and
community, clinical supervisory responsibilities, and intervention.
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-245-804, amend (1)(e), (1)(g),
(3), (3.5)(a) introductory portion, (3.5)(a)(I), (3.5)(b) introductory portion,
(3.5)(b)(I), and (3.5)(b)(II); and add (1.5) as follows:
12-245-804. Requirements for licensure, certification, and registration -
rules. (1) The board shall issue a license as an addiction counselor to an applicant
who files an application in the form and manner required by the board, submits the
fee required by the board pursuant to section 12-245-205, and submits evidence
satisfactory to the board that the applicant:
(e) Has met the EDUCATION requirements for a certificate of addiction specialist
SPECIFIED IN THE RULES PROMULGATED BY THE STATE BOARD OF HUMAN SERVICES
IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES PURSUANT TO SECTION 27-80-108 (1)(e.5);
(g) Has completed at least three TWO thousand DIRECT CLINICAL hours of
clinically supervised work experience in the addiction field. with a minimum of two
thousand direct clinical hours. The clinical supervision may be in-person or
telesupervision.
(1.5) THE BOARD MAY WAIVE ANY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS IN SUBSECTION
(1)(e) OF THIS SECTION UNTIL THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES ESTABLISHES
THE EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE PURSUANT TO SECTION 27-80-108
(1)(e.5). THIS SUBSECTION (1.5) IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE MARCH 1, 2022.
(3) The state board of addiction counselor examiners shall promulgate rules for
certification of addiction counselors; except that the state board of human services
in the department of human services shall establish by rule education requirements
for LICENSURE AND certification in accordance with section 27-80-108 (1)(e) AND
(1)(e.5).
(3.5) In the rules promulgated pursuant to subsection (3) of this section, the board
shall require that:
(a) A certified addiction technician HAVE:
(I) Have A high school diploma or its equivalent;
(b) A certified addiction specialist HAVE:
Ch. 399 Professions and Occupations 2649
(I) Have A bachelor's degree in a clinical behavioral health concentration OR
HUMAN SERVICES EQUIVALENT;
(II) Accrued a minimum of two THREE thousand hours of supervised clinic work
hours over a minimum of twelve EIGHTEEN months, which may include the ONE
THOUSAND hours required ACCRUED for certification as a certified addiction
specialist TECHNICIAN;
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-245-805, amend (3)(a)(V); and
add (2.5) as follows:
12-245-805. Rights and privileges of certification and licensure - titles.
(2.5) (a) ANY PERSON WHO POSSESSES A VALID, UNSUSPENDED, AND UNREVOKED
CERTIFICATE AS A CERTIFIED ADDICTION SPECIALIST MAY PROVIDE CLINICAL
SUPERVISION FOR CERTIFICATION PURPOSES TO A PERSON WORKING TOWARD
CERTIFICATION AS A CERTIFIED ADDICTION TECHNICIAN OR A CERTIFIED ADDICTION
SPECIALIST.
(b) ANY PERSON WHO POSSESSES A VALID, UNSUSPENDED, AND UNREVOKED
LICENSE AS AN ADDICTION COUNSELOR MAY PROVIDE CLINICAL SUPERVISION FOR
LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION PURPOSES TO PERSONS WORKING TOWARD LICENSURE
AS A LICENSED ADDICTION COUNSELOR, CERTIFICATION AS AN ADDICTION SPECIALIST
OR TECHNICIAN, OR OTHER CREDENTIAL AS AUTHORIZED BY THIS ARTICLE 245 OR BY
RULE OF THE BOARD.
(3) (a) The practice of a certified addiction technician may include:
(V) Co-facilitating FACILITATING PSYCHOEDUCATION AND therapy groups with
certified addiction specialists or licensed addiction counselors APPROPRIATE
TRAINING AND CLINICAL SUPERVISION AND WITHIN A TREATMENT OR HEALTH
FACILITY LICENSED PURSUANT TO SECTION 25-1.5-103;
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-245-806, amend (1)(b)
introductory portion as follows:
12-245-806. Continuing professional competency - rules - definition.
(1) (b) The office of behavioral health in the department of human services BOARD,
in consultation with other stakeholders, shall adopt rules ON OR BEFORE MARCH 1,
2022, establishing a continuing professional competency program that includes, at
a minimum, the following elements:
SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 27-80-108, amend (2); and add
(1)(e.5) as follows:
27-80-108. Rules. (1) The state board of human services, created in section
26-1-107, has the power to promulgate rules governing the provisions of this article
80. The rules may include, but are not limited to:
(e.5) ON OR BEFORE MARCH 1, 2022, STANDARDS THAT ADDICTION COUNSELORS
MUST MEET TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC PROGRAMS OR TO PROVIDE PURCHASED
SERVICES AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY TO BE LICENSED BY THE
2650 Professions and Occupations Ch. 399
DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS, PURSUANT TO PART
8 OF ARTICLE 245 OF TITLE 12;
(2) In the rules promulgated pursuant to subsection (1)(e) of this section, the state
board of human services shall require the following INCLUDE education
requirements FOR CERTIFIED ADDICTION TECHNICIANS, CERTIFIED ADDICTION
SPECIALISTS, AND LICENSED ADDICTION COUNSELORS.
(a) For certified addiction technicians:
(I) Completion of course work and training in addiction counseling, client records
management, principles of addiction, professional ethics, culturally informed
treatment, pharmacology, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, and
group counseling skills; and
(II) Other courses and training as determined by the state board of human
services.
(b) For certified addiction specialists:
(I) Completion of course work and training in clinical assessment and treatment
planning, cognitive behavioral therapy, co-occurring disorders, advanced
pharmacology, advanced professional ethics, advanced motivational interviewing,
advanced models, specialized addiction treatment, and infectious diseases; and
(II) Other courses and training as determined by the state board of human
services.
SECTION 7. Effective date. This act takes effect July 1, 2021.
SECTION 8. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and
declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health, or safety.
Approved: June 30, 2021
