With the change in the Health Occupations Revision Act in 2009, the “registration” program for addiction counselors will end. New applicants as addiction counselors will be required to have either a 2-year Associate’s degree in a health or human services area  from an accredited college or university or a 4-year Bachelor’s degree in a health or human services area from an accredited college or university.

In addition, new applicants who do not qualify for grandfathering will be required to have supplemental coursework in core competency areas in addiction counseling and supervised clinical experience in the addiction counseling field.

Those addiction counselors who are currently registered and have practiced continually from July 7, 2007 through July 7, 2009  and are in good standing with the Board (have not been disciplined) will be allowed to be “grandfathered” in as an Addiction Counselor I. Those counselors who are currently registered and have practiced continually from July 7, 2004 through July 7, 2009 and are in good standing with the Board (have not been disciplined) will be allowed to be “grandfathered” in as an Addiction Counselor II

By “grandfathering” it is meant that those individuals who are currently registered as an addiction counselor in the District of Columbia and have practiced for the 2 or 5 year period and do not have a 2-year Associate’s degree or 4-year college degree will be allowed to continue to practice as an addiction counselor. Addiction counselors who are currently registered will be required to apply for the new certification.

New applicants who desire to be “certified” as an Addiction Counselor I or II and  who do not qualify to be “grandfathered” in will be required to present evidence that they have a 2 (Associate’s) or 4 (Bachelor’s) year degree from an accredited college or university.

In addition, ALL applicants will be required to take a jurisprudence examination. This examination will test you on the laws of the District of Columbia as they relate to the practice of addiction counseling. 

Applications for both Grandfathering of Addiction Counselors and New Certification for Addiction Counselors will be available on our website as soon as all regulations are passed and finalized.