(a) Except as provided in § 17-405 of this subtitle, to qualify as a certified associate counselor-alcohol and drug, an applicant shall:

(1) Be of good moral character;

(2) At a minimum:

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

(ii) Hold a bachelor’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;

(3) Have completed not less than 1 year with a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinically supervised experience in alcohol and drug counseling approved by the Board; and

(4) Have completed any additional educational requirements established by the Board in regulation.

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

(1) An examination approved by the Board under this title; and

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

(c) A certified associate counselor-alcohol and drug shall practice alcohol and drug counseling under the supervision of a Board-approved alcohol and drug supervisor who is:

(1) A licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor;

(2) A certified professional counselor-alcohol and drug;

(3) A licensed clinical professional counselor;

(4) A licensed clinical marriage and family therapist;

(5) A licensed clinical professional art therapist; or

(6) A health care provider licensed under this article with documented expertise in alcohol and drug counseling.

(d) A certified associate counselor-alcohol and drug:

(1) May provide only:

(i) Alcohol and drug counseling as an employee of an agency or a facility that is certified or licensed by the State;

(ii) Alcohol and drug counseling under the supervision of a Board-approved supervisor as specified in subsection (c) of this section; and

(iii) Supervision with approval by the Board; and

(2) May not practice independently.