A: Individuals practicing psychotherapy in Arizona must have a license in order to do so.  The areas of psychotherapy that are licensed are Substance Abuse Counselors, Professional Counselors (general mental health counselors), Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists.  Each of these professions has more than one type of license that covers independent practice and supervised practice.  The ARIZONA BOARD OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EXAMINERS (BBHE) issues all of the required licenses.  You cannot practice without a license.  The BBHE Website provides comprehensive information about licensure, including how to obtain an application and the requirements that need to met for each type of license.  For further information please visit the BBHE Website:  http://www.bbhe.state.az.us/

You may also hear about the Arizona Board for the Certification of Addictions Counselors (ABCAC).  ABCAC and BBHE are totally separate.  ABCAC provides the test used by BBHE as part of the licensure process for substance abuse counselors.  ABCAC is a member board of the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (ICRC) and deals with ICRC issues in Arizona, including granting certifications for alcohol and drug abuse counselors on behalf of the ICRC.  ABCAC does not grant licenses to practice in Arizona and you do not need a certification from ABCAC in order to obtain an Arizona license.  However, you MUST have a license from BBHE in order to psychotherapy, including substance abuse counseling in Arizona. You can also keep your certification current while being licensed that will permit you to move to a state that honors certification via the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (ICRC). For further information please visit the ABCAC Website:  http://www.abcac.net/ and the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (ICRC).
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Department of Transportation - www.dot.gov/ost/dapc/ - Comphrehensive explanation of SAP etc.