§3387.6. Certified compulsive gambling counselor

A. The legislature finds that addiction counseling is an effective and necessary component in the continuum of addictive disorder treatment and services. In order to better provide for the health and welfare of the citizens of this state, the legislature desires to enhance compulsive gambling counseling services by providing for a certification for compulsive gambling counselors.

B. The department shall adopt and promulgate rules which shall provide for the certification of compulsive gambling counselors in accordance with this Chapter.

C. Any person seeking to be recognized by the department as a certified compulsive gambling counselor shall hold the valid and current necessary credential of licensed, certified, or registered addiction counselor or hold the valid and current necessary credential of a qualified mental health professional. In addition, the candidate shall complete the minimum educational hours provided for in this Chapter. Any candidate holding the necessary credential who has completed the educational hours required may submit an application on a form and in a manner prescribed by the department. Documentation of the necessary credential and completion of the required educational hours shall accompany the application. The application shall also be accompanied by a 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 the application is rejected, the notice shall state the reason for such rejection.

E. The department shall recognize as a certified compulsive gambling counselor each candidate who:

(1) Is a licensed, certified, or registered addiction counselor, or who is a qualified mental health professional.

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

(3) Does not have any pending disciplinary action with the department, or, in the case of a qualified mental health professional, with the appropriate regulatory board.

(4) Is not a defendant in any pending felony criminal proceedings.

(5) Has successfully completed a minimum of sixty educational hours, approved by the department, specific to addiction.

(6) Has successfully completed a minimum of thirty educational hours, approved by the department, specific to gambling addiction.

(7) Has not been convicted of or entered a plea of guilty or a plea of nolo contendere to a felony.

F. Each compulsive gambling counselor candidate shall sign a form prescribed by the department authorizing the department to obtain a criminal history or to conduct a criminal background check.

G.(1) Each applicant shall demonstrate professional competence in compulsive gambling counseling by passing a written examination.

(2) The department shall determine the scope and administration of the examination.

(3) The department may provide for circumstances under which a candidate who fails the examination, but who meets all other requirements, may retake the examination.

(4) The department shall make reasonable accommodations for those candidates who demonstrate a special need or disability.

H. The scope of practice for a certified compulsive gambling counselor shall be consistent with the scope of practice for the necessary credential supporting the certification. A certified compulsive gambling counselor may not practice or provide gambling counseling services to any member of the public or hold himself out as a compulsive gambling counselor without a valid and current necessary credential as provided for in this Chapter.

I. The department shall revoke the certification for gambling counseling of any person who does not maintain the valid and current necessary credential of licensed, certified, or registered addiction counselor or qualified mental health professional.            Acts 2004, No. 803, §3, eff. July 8, 2004; Acts 2018, No. 206, §3.