Ky. Rev. Stat. § 309.0832 (2026)

counselor. An applicant for licensure as a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor shall pay the board the initial fee for licensure, and shall:

(1) Be at least eighteen (18) years of age;

(2) Have obtained from a regionally accredited college or university or a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education:

(a) A sixty (60) hour master's degree in a behavioral science with clinical application;

(b) A thirty (30) hour advanced placement master's degree in a behavioral science with clinical application; or

(c) A doctoral degree in a behavioral science with clinical application;

(3) Meet all education and supervision requirements of the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium for the Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC);

(4) Have passed a written examination as specified by the board in administrative regulation;

(5) Have signed an agreement to abide by the standards of practice and code of ethics approved by the board;

(6) Have completed at least six (6) hours of ethics training; three (3) hours of domestic violence training; and two (2) hours training in the transmission, control, treatment, and prevention of the human immunodeficiency virus, in addition to the educational requirements in subsection (2) of this section;

(7) Have submitted two (2) letters of reference from certified alcohol and drug counselors or licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselors;

(8) Live or work at least a majority of the time in Kentucky; and

(9) Have complied with the requirements for the training program in suicide assessment, treatment, and management in KRS 210.366 and any administrative regulations promulgated thereunder. Effective:March 24, 2021 History: Amended 2021 Ky. Acts ch. 107, sec. 7, effective March 24, 2021. -- Amended 2020 Ky. Acts ch. 99, sec. 9, effective March 1, 2021. -- Created 2015 Ky. Acts ch. 29, sec. 7, effective June 24, 2015.