2007 Minnesota Statutes

148C.11 EXCEPTIONS TO LICENSE REQUIREMENT.
    Subdivision 1. Other professionals. (a) Nothing in this chapter prevents members of other
professions or occupations from performing functions for which they are qualified or licensed.
This exception includes, but is not limited to: licensed physicians; registered nurses; licensed
practical nurses; licensed psychological practitioners; members of the clergy; American Indian
medicine men and women; licensed attorneys; probation officers; licensed marriage and family
therapists; licensed social workers; social workers employed by city, county, or state agencies;
licensed professional counselors; licensed school counselors; registered occupational therapists
or occupational therapy assistants; city, county, or state employees when providing assessments
or case management under Minnesota Rules, chapter 9530; and until July 1, 2009, individuals
providing integrated dual-diagnosis treatment in adult mental health rehabilitative programs
certified by the Department of Human Services under section 256B.0622 or 256B.0623.
    (b) Nothing in this chapter prohibits technicians and resident managers in programs licensed
by the Department of Human Services from discharging their duties as provided in Minnesota
Rules, chapter 9530.
    (c) Any person who is exempt under this subdivision but who elects to obtain a license
under this chapter is subject to this chapter to the same extent as other licensees. The board shall
issue a license without examination to an applicant who is licensed or registered in a profession
identified in paragraph (a) if the applicant:
    (1) shows evidence of current licensure or registration; and
    (2) has submitted to the board a plan for supervision during the first 2,000 hours of
professional practice or has submitted proof of supervised professional practice that is acceptable
to the board.
    (d) Any person who is exempt from licensure under this section must not use a title
incorporating the words "alcohol and drug counselor" or "licensed alcohol and drug counselor" or
otherwise hold themselves out to the public by any title or description stating or implying that
they are engaged in the practice of alcohol and drug counseling, or that they are licensed to engage
in the practice of alcohol and drug counseling unless that person is also licensed as an alcohol and
drug counselor. Persons engaged in the practice of alcohol and drug counseling are not exempt
from the board's jurisdiction solely by the use of one of the above titles.
    Subd. 2. Students. Nothing in sections 148C.01 to 148C.10 shall prevent students enrolled
in an accredited school of alcohol and drug counseling from engaging in the practice of alcohol
and drug counseling while under qualified supervision in an accredited school of alcohol and
drug counseling.
    Subd. 3. Federally recognized tribes; ethnic minorities. (a) Alcohol and drug counselors
practicing alcohol and drug counseling according to standards established by federally recognized
tribes, while practicing under tribal jurisdiction, are exempt from the requirements of this chapter.
In practicing alcohol and drug counseling under tribal jurisdiction, individuals practicing under
that authority shall be afforded the same rights, responsibilities, and recognition as persons
licensed pursuant to this chapter.
(b) The board shall develop special licensing criteria for issuance of a license to alcohol
and drug counselors who: (1) practice alcohol and drug counseling with a member of an ethnic
minority population or with a person with a disability as defined by rule; or (2) are employed
by agencies whose primary agency service focus addresses ethnic minority populations or
persons with a disability as defined by rule. These licensing criteria may differ from the licensing
requirements specified in section 148C.04. To develop, implement, and evaluate the effect of these
criteria, the board shall establish a committee comprised of, but not limited to, representatives
from the Minnesota Commission Serving Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing People, the Council on
Affairs of Chicano/Latino People, the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans, the Council on
Black Minnesotans, the Council on Disability, and the Indian Affairs Council. The committee
does not expire.
(c) MS 2002 [Expired, 2002 c 354 s 1]
    Subd. 4. Hospital alcohol and drug counselors. Effective January 1, 2007, hospitals
employing alcohol and drug counselors shall be required to employ licensed alcohol and drug
counselors. An alcohol or drug counselor employed by a hospital must be licensed as an alcohol
and drug counselor in accordance with this chapter.
    Subd. 5. City, county, and state agency alcohol and drug counselors. Effective January 1,
2007, city, county, and state agencies employing alcohol and drug counselors shall be required
to employ licensed alcohol and drug counselors. An alcohol and drug counselor employed by a
city, county, or state agency must be licensed as an alcohol and drug counselor in accordance
with this chapter.
    Subd. 6. Transition period for hospital and city, county, and state agency alcohol and
drug counselors. For the period between July 1, 2003, and January 1, 2007, the board shall grant
a license to an individual who is employed as an alcohol and drug counselor at a Minnesota
school district or hospital, or a city, county, or state agency in Minnesota, if the individual meets
the requirements in section 148C.0351 and:
(1) was employed as an alcohol and drug counselor at a school district, a hospital, or a city,
county, or state agency before August 1, 2002; has 8,000 hours of alcohol and drug counselor
work experience; has satisfactorily completed 2,000 hours of supervised postdegree equivalent
professional practice according to section 148C.04, subdivision 4; or has completed a written
case presentation and satisfactorily passed an oral examination established by the board; and has
satisfactorily passed a written examination as established by the board; or
(2) is credentialed as a board certified counselor (BCC) or board certified counselor
reciprocal (BCCR) by the Minnesota Certification Board; or
(3) has 14,000 hours of supervised alcohol and drug counselor work experience as
documented by the employer.
History: 1991 c 255 s 19; 1992 c 559 art 2 s 12; 1993 c 13 art 1 s 28; 1Sp1993 c 1 art 3 s
13-14; 1995 c 164 s 23; 1996 c 451 art 4 s 44,45; 1997 c 7 art 3 s 4; 1998 c 317 s 16; 2000 c 460
s 50; 2001 c 138 s 3; 2001 c 161 s 26; 2002 c 354 s 1; 2003 c 118 s 28; 1Sp2003 c 14 art 5 s 28;
2004 c 279 art 5 s 9; art 6 s 4,5; 2005 c 147 art 5 s 18-21; 2005 c 165 art 1 s 1; 2007 c 147 art 8 s 2