Assembly Bill 2473 (AB 2473)

About the Bill

Assembly Bill 2473 (AB 2473), enacted in 2022, introduces updated standards for substance use disorder (SUD) counselors in California to enhance the quality of care for individuals facing substance use challenges. The bill mandates the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to define core competencies for both registered and certified SUD counselors, with full implementation slated for July 1, 2025.

Core Competency Requirements

AB 2473 specifies that the curriculum for SUD counselors must encompass the following key areas:

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM): Understanding the current DSM is essential for accurate assessment and diagnosis of mental health conditions.
American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Criteria: Familiarity with ASAM criteria ensures appropriate patient placement and treatment planning.
Cultural Competence: Emphasizing cultural humility and competence, including considerations for individuals with disabilities, to provide inclusive and effective treatment
Case Management: Skills in coordinating comprehensive care and services for clients.
Electronic Health Records (EHR) Systems: Proficiency in using EHR systems for accurate and confidential clinical documentation.
Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT): Knowledge of MAT options to support recovery efforts.
Clinical Documentation
Co-occurring Conditions: Understanding the interplay between substance use and mental health disorders.
Confidentiality: Adherence to laws and ethical standards regarding client privacy.
Law and Ethics: Awareness of relevant legal frameworks and ethical considerations in counseling practice.
Professional Boundaries: Maintaining appropriate boundaries to ensure effective and ethical client relationships.
Delivery of Services

These competencies are designed to align with national certification standards and examinations.

Educational Requirements

The bill stipulates that the educational hour requirements for registered SUD counselors must not be lower than those for certified peer support specialists. As of July 22, 2022, obtaining certification as a peer support specialist requires 80 hours of education. Therefore, registered SUD counselors are expected to meet or exceed these educational standards.

Timeline for Compliance

Newly registered SUD counselors are required to complete the specified core competencies within six months from the date of their registration. These education hours will count toward the total required for counselor certification. However, the implementation of these new requirements will not occur before July 1, 2025, as specified in the statute.

Exemptions

AB 2473 provides certain exemptions:

Existing Counselors: Counselors in good standing who registered with a state-approved certifying organization prior to July 1, 2025, are exempt from the new hour requirements.
Advanced Degree Holders: Counselors in good standing with a master’s degree in psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, or counseling are exempt from the core competency requirements. However, these degree holders will still need to provide proof of 80-hours of education in their first year as a registrant.

“In good standing” refers to registrants with an active registration status without a history of revocation.

Next Steps for Registrants

As the implementation date approaches, individuals seeking to become registered SUD counselors should:

Stay Informed: Regularly check for updates from DHCS regarding the finalization and dissemination of the core competency requirements.
Plan Education Accordingly: Pick one of the following approved courses or schools for the 80 hours below:
- https://ccappacademy.com/
- https://www.dlcllc.shop/collections/california
- UCSD ASCEND program is approved for CCAPP ADC Academic Content Domains of Case Management, and Introduction and Overview of Alcohol and Other Drug Counseling (as outlined on the CCAPP certification framework: https://ccappeducation.org/certification/)

California Community Colleges: ADS 102 Case Management and ADS 124 Ethics & Confidentiality (primary two-course pairing to meet this 80-hour requirement)

Antelope Valley College (Lancaster, Los Angeles County)

Course pairing: PSY 102: Introduction to Alcohol & Other Drug Studies & PSY 106: Case Management, Law & Ethics

Cabrillo College (Aptos, Santa Cruz County)

Course pairing: HSERV 161: Addiction Intervention, Treatment & Recovery & HSERV 51: Practices in the Human Services

Cerro Coso Community College (Ridgecrest, Kern and Inyo Counties)

Course pairing: ADST C101: Introduction to Addiction Studies & ADST C106X: Law and Ethics in Addiction Counseling

College of the Desert (Palm Desert, Riverside County)

Course pairing: HSAD 001 Intro Alcohol/Drugs & HSAD 025 Prevention, Intervention

Cypress College (Cypress, Orange County)

Course pairing: HUSR 200: Introduction to Human Services & any other three-unit course for certificate or degree

Diablo Valley College (Pleasant Hill, Contra Costa County) – Addiction Counseling

Course pairing: PH 127: Drugs, Health & Society & ADS 102: Motivational Interviewing

East Los Angeles College (Los Angeles, Los Angeles County)

Three courses required: (1) ADDICST 001 Understanding Addiction and Counseling & (2) ADDICST 007 Addiction Treatment and Recovery & (3) ADDICST 022 Prevention Specialist Training

Fresno City College (Fresno, Kern County)

Course pairing: HS 42: Introduction to Alcohol and Drug Counseling & HS 43: Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling: Case Management

Glendale Community College (Glendale, Los Angeles County)

Course Pairing: ADST 101: Alcohol/Drug Abuse and Dependency & ADST 103: Chemical Dependency: Intervention, Treatment, and Recovery

Imperial Valley College (Imperial, Imperial County)

Course pairing: ADS 101: Intro to Addiction Studies & any other three-unit course for certificate or degree

Los Angeles City College (Los Angeles, Los Angeles County)

Course pairing: ADDICST 001: Understanding Addiction and Counseling & Psych C 1000: Intro to Psychology.

Los Angeles Southwest College (Los Angeles, Los Angeles County)

Course pairing: Psychology 64: Introduction to Alcohol and Drug Abuse & Psychology 65: Chemical Dependency: Interventions, Treatment and Recovery

Long Beach City College (Long Beach, Los Angeles County)

Course pairing: HS 43: Crisis Intervention, Treatment & Aftercare & HS 41: Introduction to Chemical Dependency

Merrit College (Oakland, Alameda County)

Course pairing 1: COSER 41: Substance Abuse and the Law & COSER 25: Relapse Prevention
Course pairing 2: Coser 28: Co-Occurring Disorders & Coser 26:Case Management

Modesto Junior College (Modesto, Stanislaus County)

Course pairing: HUMSR 101: Introduction to Human Services & HUMSR 120: Legal and Ethical Issues

Moreno Valley College (Moreno Valley, Riverside County)

Course Pairing: HMS 5: Intro to Evaluation and Counseling & HMS 6: Intro to Case Management

Mt San Antonio College (Walnut, Los Angeles County)

Course Pairing: AD 1: Intro to Addiction Counseling & AD 3: Prevention and Intervention

Oxnard City College (Oxnard, Ventura County)

Course Pairing: ADS 102: Case Management & ADS 124: Ethics and Confidentiality

Palo Verde College (Blythe, Riverside County)

Course Pairing 1 (Fall): ADS 101: Introduction to Addiction Studies & ADS 103: Case Management & Documentation
Course Pairing 2 (Spring): ADS 104: Addiction Prevention Education and Outreach/Referral & ADS 110: Introduction to Human Services

Pierce College (Woodland Hills, Los Angeles County)

Course pairing: AS 1: Understanding Addiction and Counseling & AS 7: Intervention, Treatment, and Recovery

Rio Hondo College (Whittier, Los Angeles County)

Course pairing: Human Services 124: Case Management & Human Services 135: Law and Ethics

Saddleback College (Mission Viejo, Orange County)

Course pairing: HS 174: Case Administration, Crisis Intervention and Referral & HS 105: Ethical Issues and Clients’ Rights

San Bernardino Valley College (San Bernardino, San Bernardino County)

Course pairing: HUMSV 130: Intro to Addiction Studies & HUMSV 179: Law and Ethics

San Diego City College (San Diego, San Diego County)

Course pairing: AODS 150: Introduction to Chemical Dependency & AODS 154: Law, Ethics and Skills in Substance Abuse Counseling

San Joaquin Delta College (Stockton, San Joaquin County)

Course Pairing: Psychology 40: Case Management / Treatment Planning & Psychology 26: Co-occurring Disorders

San Jose City College (San Jose, San Jose County)

Course pairing: ADS 70: Intro to Chemical Dependency & ADS 074: Ethics and Personal and Professional Development

College of San Mateo (San Mateo, San Mateo County)

Course pairing: SOSC 301: Introduction to Addiction Studies & any other three-unit course toward certificate or degree

Santa Rosa Jr College (Santa Rosa, Sonoma County)

Course pairing: SWHS 80: Intro to Addiction Studies & any other three-unit course toward certificate or degree

Shasta College (Redding, Shasta County)

Course pairing: ADS 11: Substance Abuse Counseling for Diverse Populations & ADS 10: Introduction to Addiction Studies

West Los Angeles College (Culver City, Los Angeles County)

Course pairing: ADS 2: Physiology and Pharmacology of Psychoactive Drugs & ADS 007: Addiction Treatment & Recovery

AB 2473 – AOD Counselor Educational Requirements

This draft Behavioral Health Information Notice (BHIN) from the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) outlines new education requirements for Alcohol or Other Drug (AOD) counselors, in accordance with Assembly Bill (AB) 2473, effective January 1, 2026. It provides guidance for certifying organizations and counselor registrants.

Key Provisions

1. Core Competency Topics

Under AB 2473, new education requirements include mandated instruction in the following areas:

The current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders;
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria and continuum of
ASAM levels of care, or other similar criteria and standards as approved by the
department;
Utilizing cultural responsiveness, including for people with disabilities, and its
implication for treatment;
Case management/care coordination;
Utilization of electronic health record systems;
Knowledge of medication assisted treatment;
Clinical documentation;
Knowledge of co-occurring substance use and mental health conditions;
Confidentiality;
Knowledge of relevant law and ethics
Professional boundaries; and
Delivery of services in the behavioral health delivery system.

2. Education Hour Requirements

Group	Requirements
First-time registrants (after July 1, 2025)	Complete 80 hours of core competency education within 6 months. Must also complete 50 hours of AOD education annually.
Registrants before July 1, 2025	Must document core competency education by the time of initial certification.
Master’s degree holders (in psych, social work, MFT, counseling)	Exempt from the core competency requirement.

3. Terminology Updates

First-year registered counselor: Not yet renewed registration.
Registered counselor: Renewed registration at least once.

4. Registration and Renewal Procedures

Submission Timelines: Must apply at least 120 days before registration expiry.
Review Deadlines: Certifying organizations have 45 days to approve, deny, or mark applications incomplete.
Correction Window: Counselors have 30 days to respond to incomplete notices, with a 15-day review turnaround post-response.