NAC641C.250. Authorized activities of counselor and certified intern; scope of practice of counseling.

     1. A person who is licensed or certified as an alcohol and drug abuse counselor may:

     (a) Provide counseling for the abuse of alcohol and other drugs, including, without limitation:

          (1) Making a diagnosis or classification;

          (2) Providing a referral; or

          (3) Planning a course of treatment;

     (b) Provide counseling to a person who has a significant relationship with an identified or suspected abuser of alcohol or drugs, only to the extent necessary to treat the identified or suspected abuser or engage the identified or suspected abuser in treatment; and

     (c) Conduct testing for which the counselor was trained.

     2. A person who is licensed as a clinical alcohol and drug abuse counselor may:

     (a) Provide counseling for the abuse of alcohol and other drugs, including, without limitation:

          (1) Making a diagnosis or classification;

          (2) Providing a referral; or

          (3) Planning a course of treatment;

     (b) Provide counseling for a mental illness to a person with mental illness who is also an alcoholic or abuser of drugs, including, without limitation:

          (1) Making a diagnosis or classification;

          (2) Providing a referral; or

          (3) Planning a course of treatment;

     (c) Provide counseling to a person who has a significant relationship with an identified or suspected abuser of alcohol or drugs, only to the extent necessary to treat the identified or suspected abuser or engage the identified or suspected abuser in treatment; and

     (d) Conduct testing for which the counselor was trained.

     3. A person who is certified as a problem gambling counselor may:

     (a) Provide counseling for problem gambling, including, without limitation:

          (1) Making a diagnosis or classification;

          (2) Providing a referral; or

          (3) Planning a course of treatment;

     (b) Provide counseling to a person who has a significant relationship with an identified or suspected problem gambler, only to the extent necessary to treat the identified or suspected problem gambler or engage the identified or suspected problem gambler in treatment; and

     (c) Conduct testing for which the counselor was trained.

     4. A certified intern may provide any services allowed by law subject to the clinical supervision and allowance by the licensed or certified counselor supervising the certified intern. If a certified intern diagnoses or classifies a client, the diagnosis or classification must be substantiated in the clinical record of the client and countersigned by the licensed or certified counselor supervising the certified intern.

     5. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6 and in NRS 641C.130, the provision of counseling services related to alcohol and drug abuse or problem gambling to a client in this State through any means, including, without limitation, electronic means or by telephone, regardless of the location of the person providing that counseling, constitutes the practice of counseling alcohol and drug abusers, the clinical practice of counseling alcohol and drug abusers or the practice of counseling problem gamblers which is subject to the provisions of this chapter and chapter 641C of NRS.

     6. The practice of counseling alcohol and drug abusers, the clinical practice of counseling alcohol and drug abusers and the practice of counseling problem gamblers in this State does not include counseling activities or services provided by the following persons:

     (a) A student of psychology or any other person preparing for the profession of psychology under the supervision of a qualified psychologist in a training institution or facility recognized by the Board of Psychological Examiners pursuant to the provisions of chapter 641 of NRS. Such a student or person must be designated by the title “psychological trainee,” “psychological intern,” “psychological resident” or “psychological assistant,” or any other title which clearly indicates his or her training status.

     (b) A student of marriage and family therapy or clinical professional counseling, or any other person preparing for the profession of marriage and family therapy or clinical professional counseling, under the supervision of a qualified marriage and family therapist or a clinical professional counselor in a training institution or facility recognized by the Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors pursuant to chapter 641A of NRS. Such a student or person must be designated by the title “intern in marriage and family therapy,” “intern in clinical professional counseling” or any other title which clearly indicates his or her training status.

     (c) A student of social work or any other person preparing for the profession of social work under the supervision of a qualified social worker in a training institution or facility recognized by the Board of Examiners for Social Workers pursuant to chapter 641B of NRS. Such a student must be designated by the title “student of social work” or “trainee in social work,” or any other title which clearly indicates his or her training status.

     7. A person who engages in the practice of counseling alcohol and drug abusers may represent himself or herself as:

     (a) A licensed alcohol and drug abuse counselor, or use the initials “LADC” after his or her name, only if the counselor is licensed as such by the Board.

     (b) A certified alcohol and drug abuse counselor, or use the initials “CADC” after his or her name, only if the counselor is certified as such by the Board.

     (c) If the person is issued a certificate as an alcohol and drug abuse counselor pursuant to NAC 641C.276 or 641C.277, a Native American certified alcohol and drug abuse counselor, or use the initials “NACADC” after his or her name.

     8. A person who engages in the clinical practice of counseling alcohol and drug abusers may represent himself or herself as a licensed clinical alcohol and drug abuse counselor, or use the initials “LCADC” after his or her name, only if the counselor is licensed as such by the Board. 

     9. A person who engages in the practice of counseling problem gamblers may represent himself or herself as a certified problem gambling counselor, or use the initials “CPGC” after his or her name, only if the counselor is certified as such by the Board.

     10. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 11, a certified intern may represent himself or herself as:

     (a) A certified alcohol and drug abuse counselor intern, or use the words “CADC Intern” after his or her name, only if the certified intern is certified as such by the Board.

     (b) A certified clinical alcohol and drug abuse counselor intern, or use the words “CCADC Intern” after his or her name, only if the certified intern is certified as such by the Board.

     (c) A certified problem gambling counselor intern, or use the words “CPGC Intern” after his or her name, only if the certified intern is certified as such by the Board.

     11. The representation used by a certified intern must ensure that a client does not confuse or misunderstand the fact that the certified intern is not a licensed or certified counselor.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Exam’rs for Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselors by R097-00, eff. 8-9-2000; A by Bd. of Exam’rs for Alcohol, Drug & Gambling Counselors by R157-03, 12-16-2003; R185-07, 12-17-2008)