§ 3235. Director; duties

(a) In addition to the authority granted under 3 V.S.A. chapter 5, the Director shall:

(1) provide general information to applicants for licensure or certification under this chapter;

(2) administer fees collected under this chapter;

(3) refer complaints and disciplinary matters to an administrative law officer established under 3 V.S.A. § 129(j);

(4) explain appeal procedures to licensees, certified individuals, and applicants for licensure or certification under this chapter; and

(5) receive applications for licensure or certification under this chapter; issue and renew licenses or certifications; and revoke, suspend, reinstate, or condition licenses or certifications as ordered by an administrative law officer.

(b) The Director may adopt rules necessary to perform the Director's duties under this section, including rules:

(1) Specifying acceptable master's degree requirements.

(2) Setting standards for certifying apprentice addiction professionals and alcohol and drug abuse counselors.

(3) Requiring completion and documentation of not more than 40 hours of acceptable continuing education every two years as a condition for license or certification renewal.

(4) Requiring licensed alcohol and drug abuse counselors to disclose to each client the licensee's professional qualifications and experience, those actions that constitute unprofessional conduct, the method for filing a complaint or making a consumer inquiry, and provisions relating to the manner in which the information shall be displayed and signed by both the licensee and the client. The rules may include provisions for applying or modifying these requirements in cases involving clients of preferred providers, institutionalized clients, minors, and adults under the supervision of a guardian.

(5) Regarding ethical standards for individuals licensed or certified under this chapter.

(6) Regarding display of license or certification.

(7) Regarding reinstatement of a license or certification that has lapsed for more than five years.

(8) Regarding supervised practice toward licensure or certification. (Added 2013, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 129, eff. May 20, 2014; amended 2015, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § 4, eff. Sept. 1, 2016.)