This regulation establishes the minimum qualifications required for counselors employed at drug and alcohol treatment projects in Pennsylvania. Counselors must meet one of six qualification pathways, including licensure as a physician or registered nurse, relevant academic degrees (Associate through Master's or above) combined with specified hours of clinical experience, or full certification as an addictions counselor by a recognized certification body. Facilities must ensure counselor staffing is proportionate to the client/staff and client/counselor ratios set forth in 28 Pa. Code § 704.12.
View official source28 Pa. Code § 704.7 - Qualifications for the position of counselor State Regulations Compare (a) Drug and alcohol treatment projects shall be staffed by counselors proportionate to the staff/client and counselor/client ratios listed in § 704.12 (relating to full-time equivalent (FTE) maximum client/staff and client/counselor ratios). (b) Each counselor shall meet at least one of the following groups of qualifications: (1) Current licensure in this Commonwealth as a physician. (2) A Master's Degree or above from an accredited college with a major in chemical dependency, psychology, social work, counseling, nursing (with a clinical specialty in the human services) or other related field which includes a practicum in a health or human service agency, preferably in a drug and alcohol setting. If the practicum did not take place in a drug and alcohol setting, the individual's written training plan shall specifically address a plan to achieve counseling competency in chemical dependency issues. (3) A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college with a major in chemical dependency, psychology, social work, counseling, nursing (with a clinical specialty in the human services) or other related field and 1 year of clinical experience (a minimum of 1,820 hours) in a health or human service agency, preferably in a drug and alcohol setting. If a person's experience did not take place in a drug and alcohol setting, the individual's written training plan shall specifically address a plan to achieve counseling competency in chemical dependency issues. (4) An Associate Degree from an accredited college with a major in chemical dependency, psychology, social work, counseling, nursing (with a clinical specialty in the human services) or other related field and 2 years of clinical experience (a minimum of 3,640 hours) in a health or human service agency, preferably in a drug and alcohol setting. If a person's experience was not in a drug and alcohol setting, the individual's written training plan shall specifically address a plan to achieve counseling competency in chemical dependency issues. (5) Current licensure in this Commonwealth as a registered nurse and a degree from an accredited school of nursing and 1 year of counseling experience (a minimum of 1,820 hours) in a health or human service agency, preferably in a drug and alcohol setting. If a person's experience was not in a drug and alcohol setting, the individual's written training plan shall specifically address a plan to achieve counseling competency in chemical dependency issues. (6) Full certification as an addictions counselor by a statewide certification body which is a member of a National certification body or certification by another state government's substance abuse counseling certification board. Notes 28 Pa. Code § 704.7 This section cited in 28 Pa. Code § 704.5 (relating to qualifications for the positions of project director and facility director); 28 Pa. Code § 704.9 (relating to supervision of counselor assistant); and 28 Pa. Code § 704.10 (relating to promotion of counselor assistant). State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare. No prior version found. State Regulations Toolbox