1. The Board shall issue a certificate as an alcohol and drug counselor to a person who:

(a) Is not less than 21 years of age;

(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, has received a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field of social science approved by the Board;

(c) Has completed 4,000 hours of supervised counseling of persons with alcohol and other substance use disorders;

(d) Passes the written and oral examinations prescribed by the Board pursuant to NRS 641C.290;

(e) Pays the fees required pursuant to NRS 641C.470; and

(f) Submits all information required to complete an application for a certificate.

2. The Board may waive the educational requirement set forth in paragraph (b) of subsection 1 if an applicant for a certificate has contracted with or receives a grant from the Federal Government to provide services as an alcohol and drug counselor to persons who are authorized to receive those services pursuant to 25 U.S.C. §§ 5301 et seq. or 25 U.S.C. §§ 1601 et seq. An alcohol and drug counselor certified pursuant to this section for whom the educational requirement set forth in paragraph (b) of subsection 1 is waived may provide services as an alcohol and drug counselor only to those persons who are authorized to receive those services pursuant to 25 U.S.C. §§ 5301 et seq. or 25 U.S.C. §§ 1601 et seq.

3. A certificate as an alcohol and drug counselor is valid for 2 years and may be renewed.

4. A certified alcohol and drug counselor may:

(a) Engage in the practice of counseling persons with alcohol and other substance use disorders;

(b) Diagnose or classify a person as having an alcohol or other substance use disorder; and

(c) If the certified alcohol and drug counselor has been certified for at least 3 years and meets any other requirements prescribed by regulation of the Board for the supervision of interns, supervise certified alcohol and drug counselor interns.

(Added to NRS by 1999, 3053; A 2003, 1165; 2005, 2763; 2017, 643; 2019, 4317)