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Does OPI license all addiction counselors who work in the schools?

Guidance counselors are licensed by the Office of Public Instruction as school counselors. These individuals may also serve as individual counselors to students in school settings, depending on education, experience and their contract with the school district. There are no specific administrative rules that address the provision of drug and alcohol counseling within schools. The Office of Public Instruction does not provide drug and alcohol counselor licenses. The Montana Department of Labor is responsible for professional licenses, three of which are titled "licensed professional counselor", “licensed clinical social worker”, & “licensed addiction counselor”. Any of these credentialed professionals can practice addiction counseling however, only the licensed addiction counselor can represent themselves as a “licensed addiction counselor.” In many situations, that classification of license would be applicable to drug or alcohol counseling. Some school based counselors may have licenses in both categories. For information about counselors at the Department of Labor & Industry, contact: Cynthia Breen, Program Manager Department of Labor & Industry Montana Board of Private Alternative Adolescent Residential or Outdoor Programs (PAARP) Licensed Addiction Counselors Program (LAC) Board of Social Work Examiners & Professional Counselors (SWP) 301 South Park, 4th Floor, PO Box 200513 Helena, MT. 59620-0513 Phone: (406) 841-2392 Fax: (406) 841- 2305 E-Mail: cbreen@mt.gov Web pages: http://www.swpc.mt.gov http://www.lac.mt.gov http://www.paarp.mt.gov

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