(a) To qualify for a license to practice clinical alcohol and drug counseling, an applicant shall be an individual who meets the requirements of this section.

(b) The applicant shall be of good moral character.

(c) The applicant shall be at least 18 years old.

(d) (1) Except as provided in § 17-305 of this subtitle, the applicant shall at a minimum:

(i) Hold a master’s or doctoral degree in a health and human services counseling field from a regionally accredited educational institution that is approved by the Board; or

(ii) Hold a master’s degree from a regionally accredited educational institution and have completed a program of studies judged by the Board to be substantially equivalent in subject matter as may be required by the Board in regulation.

(2) The applicant shall have completed any additional educational requirements established by the Board in regulation.

(e) The applicant shall:

(1) Have completed not less than 2 years with a minimum of 2,000 hours of supervised experience in alcohol and drug counseling, which shall have been completed after the award of the master’s or doctoral degree; and

(2) Provide documentation as required by the Board evidencing the completion of the postgraduate experience required under item (1) of this subsection.

(f) The applicant shall provide documentation to the Board evidencing the completion of any educational requirements established by the Board in regulation, completed at a regionally accredited educational institution approved by the Board.

(g) Except as otherwise provided in this title, the applicant shall pass:

(1) An examination approved by the Board; and

(2) The law examination on this title administered by the Board.