(1) Supervised work experience hours are determined according to the academic achievement of the applicant as follows:

(a) 500 hours within six months of receipt of the temporary practice permit for masters or higher degree applicants;

(b) 1000 hours within 12 months of receipt of the temporary practice permit for baccalaureate degree applicants; or

(c) 2000 hours within 24 months of receipt of the temporary practice permit for associate degree applicants.

(2) Applicants for LAC temporary practice permits must maintain weekly timesheets.

(a) The weekly timesheets must document the following 11 skill areas:

(i) screening;

(ii) assessment/patient placement;

(iii) treatment planning;

(iv) referrals;

(v) case management;

(vi) individual counseling;

(vii) group counseling;

(viii) client education;

(ix) documentation;

(x) professional and ethical responsibilities; and

(xi) multicultural competency.

(b) The weekly timesheets must be signed by the supervisor and submitted to the department at the completion of the required minimum hours.

(c) The supervisor must observe the work of applicants for LAC temporary practice permits in each of the 11 skill areas. Observation of the work of applicants by supervisors may occur via Skype or other similar technological means.

(d) A summary sheet for each supervisor named must also be attached to the weekly timesheets to verify the applicants meet the required minimum hours in the 11 skill areas. This summary sheet shall summarize the weekly timesheets maintained by the applicants.

(e) Applicants must complete the required minimum hours in the 11 skill areas according to their academic achievement as follows:

 

Skill Areas	Masters or Higher Degree (hours)	Baccalaureate Degree (hours)	Associate Degree (hours)
screening	15	30	60
assessment/patient placement	50	100	200
treatment planning	25	50	100
referrals	10	20	40
case management	20	50	100
individual counseling	30	60	120
group counseling	50	100	200
client education	20	40	80
documentation	20	40	80
professional and ethical responsibilities	5	15	20
multicultural competency	5	15	20
TOTAL	250	520	1020

 

(i) For masters or higher degree applicants, 25 hours of the 250-hour minimum must be under direct supervision. The remaining hours must be under onsite clinical supervision in each of the 11 skill areas.

(ii) For baccalaureate degree applicants, 52 hours of the 520-hour minimum must be under direct supervision. The remaining hours must be under onsite clinical supervision in each of the 11 skill areas.

(iii) For associate degree applicants, 102 hours of the 1020-hour minimum must be under direct supervision. The remaining hours must be under onsite clinical supervision in each of the 11 skill areas.

(3) Temporary practice permit holders may select any of the 11 skill areas in order to accumulate the remaining supervised work experience hours. Temporary practice permit holders may select any of the 11 skill areas in order to accumulate the remaining supervised work experience hours.

(4) Temporary practice permit holders are not eligible to take the examination if the supervised work experience hours are not accumulated by the end of the timeframes delineated in (1). If holders do not accumulate their supervised work experience hours within those timeframes, their applications will be closed and applicants must reapply, pay the application fee, and begin accumulating the required hours again.

(5) Supervised work experience hours may be gained through paid work experience, academic internship hours, or unpaid volunteer work if the temporary practice permit holder is supervised by a Montana LAC in a qualified treatment setting.

(6) Supervised work experience must be completed in not more than two different treatment settings. Internship hours earned through an academic program are not included in the limit of two treatment settings.

(7) Qualified treatment settings include those where temporary practice permit holders may obtain supervised work experience based on nationally recognized patient placement criteria. Criteria for these treatment settings may include settings that provide the basis for a continuum of care for patients with addictions and settings that may include any level of care as defined by American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).

(a) Qualified treatment settings for supervised work experience may include, but are not limited to the following:

(i) settings with a primary focus in licensed addiction counseling;

(ii) Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) or Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)-approved settings;

(iii) Indian Health Service (IHS)-approved settings;

(iv) organized licensed addiction counseling settings within branches of the armed forces of veterans' administration hospitals; and

(v) organized group practice setting (two or more licensed addiction counselors in a defined, conjoint practice). The work setting must have the capacity to provide multidisciplinary supervision.

(b) Qualified treatment settings must have a direct referral relationship for the provision of:

(i) detoxification services;

(ii) medical services;

(iii) laboratory services;

(iv) psychiatric consultations; and

(v) psychological consultations.

(c) Qualified treatment settings must demonstrate the individualized treatment plans including:

(i) problem formulations;

(ii) goals;

(iii) measurable treatment objectives;

(iv) progress notes; and

(v) regular reviews of plans at specified times by a designated treatment team.