Native American Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (NACADC)

Can the Board Waive the Bachelor's Degree Requirement?

1. For purposes of this chapter and NRS 641C.390 (1)(c) the board will waive the requirement for a bachelor’s degree if the applicant:
   (a) is of Native American descent or has contracted with or receives a grant from the Federal Government to provide services as an alcohol and drug abuse counselor to persons who are authorized to receive those services pursuant to 25 U.S.C. §§ 450 et seq. or 25 U.S.C. §§ 1601.

Other Licensing Requirements

1. An application on a form provided by the board, including:
   (a.) Proof the applicant is not less than 21 years of age;
   (b.) Proof the applicant is of Native American descent
   (c.) Proof of the completion of 270 hours of education. Education is defined as formal, structured instruction in the form of workshops, seminars, and institutes, college/university credit courses and distance learning. Education must be specifically related to the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the tasks within the following performance domains:
   1. Assessments
   2. Counseling
   3. Case management
   4. Education and professional responsibilities
   5. Ethics
   
   Training in the Twelve core Functions: A minimum of 10 hours each is required in each of the twelve core functions:
   1. Screening
   2. Intake
   3. Oriental
   4. Assessment
   5. Treatment planning
   6. Counseling
   7. Case management
   8. Crisis intervention
   9. Client education
   10. Referral
   11. Reports and record keeping
   12. Consultation with other professionals
    

(d.)Proof the applicant has completed 4,000 hours of supervised counseling of alcohol and drug abusers. An associate’s degree in an approved social science field maybe substituted for 1,000 hours of practical experience.

• Submittal of fees of: $495.00 (Request for application $150.00, Processing fee $60.00, ADC written exam fee, $185.00, Oral Boards $100.00)
• Written exam covers:
  Pharmacology of Psychoactive Substances
  Counseling Practice
  Theoretical Base of Counseling Professional Issues: Ethics, Confidentiality and Federal Dept. of Transportation Regulations
• An individual must pass the examinations required by the board with an average score of at least 70% to proceed to the oral boards
• Oral exam – an individual must receive a 70% or better to pass 

Request for Application (pdf)

Scope of Practice for Native American Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors

(a) Engage in the practice of counseling alcohol and drug abusers;

(b) Diagnose or classify a person as an alcoholic or abuser of drugs

(c) An alcohol and drug abuse counselor or intern certified pursuant to this section for whom the educational requirement set forth in paragraph (c) of subsection 1 of NRS 641C.390 is waived may provide services as an alcohol and drug abuse counselor only to those persons who are authorized to receive those services pursuant to 25 U.S.C. §§ 450 et seq. or 25 U.S.C. §§ 1601 et seq. The waiver provided by this section applies only to counselors, interns and clients on Indian Reservations and in the courts of this state when such courts exercise jurisdiction over a person who is authorized to receive those services pursuant to 25 U.S.C. §§ 450 et seq. or 25 U.S.C. §§ 1601 et seq