(a)    Except as provided in § 17–405 of this subtitle, to qualify as a certified associate counselor–alcohol and drug, an applicant shall:

(1)    Be of good moral character;

(2)    At a minimum:

(i)    Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited educational institution approved by the Board in a health and human services counseling field; or

(ii)    Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited educational institution and have completed a program of studies judged by the Board to be substantially equivalent in subject matter as may be required by the Board in regulation;

(3)    Have completed not less than 1 year with a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinically supervised experience in alcohol and drug counseling approved by the Board; and

(4)    Have completed any additional educational requirements established by the Board in regulation.

(b)    Except as otherwise provided in this title, the applicant shall pass:

(1)    An examination approved by the Board under this title; and

(2)    The law examination on this title administered by the Board.

(c)    A certified associate counselor–alcohol and drug shall practice alcohol and drug counseling under the supervision of a Board–approved alcohol and drug supervisor who is:

(1)    A licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor;

(2)    A certified professional counselor–alcohol and drug;

(3)    A licensed clinical professional counselor;

(4)    A licensed clinical marriage and family therapist;

(5)    A licensed clinical professional art therapist; or

(6)    A health care provider licensed under this article with documented expertise in alcohol and drug counseling.

(d)    A certified associate counselor–alcohol and drug:

(1)    May provide only:

(i)    Alcohol and drug counseling as an employee of an agency or a facility that is certified or licensed by the State;

(ii)    Alcohol and drug counseling under the supervision of a Board–approved supervisor as specified in subsection (c) of this section; and

(iii)    Supervision with approval by the Board; and

(2)    May not practice independently.