§3387.4. Addiction treatment assistant

A. An addiction treatment assistant is a paraprofessional who serves in a supportive role within the therapeutic process. The addiction treatment assistant shall work under the direct supervision of a licensed, certified, or registered counselor in a manner prescribed by the department.

B. The department shall adopt and promulgate rules which govern addiction treatment assistants in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.

C. Any person seeking to be recognized by the department as an addiction treatment assistant shall submit an application to the department on a form and in a manner as the department shall prescribe. The initial application form shall be accompanied by an initial application fee as provided for in this Chapter.

D. Upon investigation of the application, the department shall, within thirty days notify each candidate that the application is satisfactory and accepted or unsatisfactory and rejected. If an application is rejected, the notice shall state the reason for such rejection.

E. The department shall recognize as an addiction treatment assistant each candidate who:

(1) Is a legal resident of the United States and at least sixteen years of age on the date the application is received.

(2) Is not in violation of any ethical standards subscribed to by the department.

(3) Is not and has not been a substance abuser or compulsive gambler during the previous six months from the date the application is received.

(4) Has not been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or a plea of nolo contendere to, a felony. However, the department may, in its discretion, waive this requirement upon review of the individual‛s circumstances. Each candidate, or at least one parent or legal guardian of a candidate in the case of an unemancipated minor, shall sign a form prescribed by the department authorizing the department to obtain a criminal history or to conduct a criminal background check.

(5) Signs a form of professional and ethical accountability and responsibility as prescribed by the department.

(6) Provides three letters of recommendation as prescribed by the department.

Acts 2004, No. 803, §3, eff. July 8, 2004; Acts 2018, No. 206, §3.