Minnesota Administrative Rules

9530.6450 STAFF QUALIFICATIONS.

Subpart 1.

Qualifications of all staff members with direct client contact.

All staff members who have direct client contact must be at least 18 years of age. At the time of hiring, all staff members must meet the qualifications in item A or B. A chemical use problem for purposes of this subpart is a problem listed by the license holder in the personnel policies and procedures according to part 9530.6460, subpart 1, item E.

A.

Treatment directors, supervisors, nurses, counselors, and other professionals must be free of chemical use problems for at least the two years immediately preceding their hiring and must sign a statement attesting to that fact.

B.

Paraprofessionals and all other staff members with direct client contact must be free of chemical use problems for at least one year immediately preceding their hiring and must sign a statement attesting to that fact.

Subp. 2.

Employment; prohibition on chemical use problems.

Staff members with direct client contact must be free from chemical use problems as a condition of employment, but are not required to sign additional statements. Staff members with direct client contact who are not free from chemical use problems must be removed from any responsibilities that include direct client contact for the time period specified in subpart 1. The time period begins to run on the date the employee begins receiving treatment services or the date of the last incident as described in the list developed according to part 9530.6460, subpart 1, item E.

Subp. 3.

Treatment director qualifications.

In addition to meeting the requirements of subpart 1, a treatment director must know and understand the implications of parts 9530.6405 to 9530.6505 and Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245A, and sections 626.556, 626.557, and 626.5572. A treatment director must:

A.

have at least one year of work experience in direct service to individuals with chemical use problems or one year of work experience in the management or administration of direct service to individuals with chemical use problems; and

B.

have a baccalaureate degree or three years of work experience in administration or personnel supervision in human services.

Subp. 4.

Alcohol and drug counselor supervisor qualifications.

In addition to meeting the requirements of subpart 1, an alcohol and drug counselor supervisor must meet the following qualifications:

A.

the individual is competent in the areas specified in subpart 5;

B.

the individual has three or more years of experience providing individual and group counseling to chemically dependent clients except that, prior to January 1, 2005, an individual employed in a program formerly licensed under parts 9530.5000 to 9530.6400 is required to have one or more years experience; and

C.

the individual knows and understands the implications of parts 9530.6405 to 9530.6505 and Minnesota Statutes, sections 245A.65, 626.556, 626.557, and 626.5572.

Subp. 5.

Alcohol and drug counselor qualifications.

In addition to meeting the requirements of subpart 1, an alcohol and drug counselor must be either licensed or exempt from licensure under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 148C. An alcohol and drug counselor must document competence in screening for and working with clients with mental health problems, through education, training, and experience.

A.

Alcohol and drug counselors licensed under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 148C, must comply with rules adopted under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 148C.

B.

Counselors exempt under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 148C, must be competent, as evidenced by one of the following:

(1)

completion of at least a baccalaureate degree with a major or concentration in social work, nursing, sociology, human services, or psychology, or licensure as a registered nurse; successful completion of a minimum of 120 hours of classroom instruction in which each of the core functions listed in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 148C, is covered; and successful completion of 440 hours of supervised experience as an alcohol and drug counselor, either as a student or as a staff member;

(2)

completion of 270 hours of alcohol and drug counselor training in which each of the core functions listed in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 148C, is covered, and successful completion of 880 hours of supervised experience as an alcohol and drug counselor, either as a student, or as a staff member;

(3)

current certification as an alcohol and drug counselor or alcohol and drug counselor reciprocal, through the evaluation process established by the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, Inc., and published in the Case Presentation Method Trainer's Manual, copyright 1993. The manual is incorporated by reference. It is available at the State Law Library, Judicial Center, 25 Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, Minnesota 55155;

(4)

completion of a bachelor's degree including 480 hours of alcohol and drug counseling education from an accredited school or educational program and 880 hours of alcohol and drug counseling practicum; or

(5)

employment in a program formerly licensed under parts 9530.5000 to 9530.6400 and successful completion of 6,000 hours of supervised work experience in a licensed program as an alcohol and drug counselor prior to January 1, 2005.

Subp. 6.

Paraprofessional qualifications and duties.

A paraprofessional must comply with subpart 1 and have knowledge of client rights, outlined in Minnesota Statutes, section 148F.165, and of staff responsibilities. A paraprofessional may not admit, transfer, or discharge clients but may be the person responsible for the delivery of treatment services as required in part 9530.6445, subpart 3.

Subp. 7.

Volunteers.

Volunteers may provide treatment services when they are supervised and can be seen or heard by a staff member meeting the criteria in subpart 4 or 5, but may not practice alcohol and drug counseling unless qualified under subpart 5.

Subp. 8.

Student interns.

A qualified staff person must supervise and be responsible for all treatment services performed by student interns and must review and sign all assessments, progress notes, and treatment plans prepared by the intern. Student interns must meet the requirements in subpart 1, item A, and receive the orientation and training required in part 9530.6460, subpart 1, item G, and subpart 2.

Subp. 9.

Individuals with temporary permit.

Individuals with a temporary permit from the Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy may provide chemical dependency treatment services under the conditions in either item A or B.

A.

The individual is supervised by a licensed alcohol and drug counselor assigned by the license holder. The licensed alcohol and drug counselor must document the amount and type of supervision at least weekly. The supervision must relate to clinical practices. One licensed alcohol and drug counselor may not supervise more than three individuals with temporary permits, according to Minnesota Statutes, section 148C.01, subdivision 12a.

B.

The individual is supervised by a clinical supervisor approved by the Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy. The supervision must be documented and meet the requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section 148C.044, subdivision 4.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 241.021; 245A.03; 245A.09; 254A.03; 254B.03; 254B.04

History:

29 SR 129; 32 SR 2268; L 2013 c 125 art 1 s 107

Published Electronically:

January 30, 2015