CONTINUING EDUCATION RELATING TO HIV, HEPATITIS C, AND SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

(a) The continuing education required under Section 504.205 must include six hours of training during each two-year licensing period relating to HIV, hepatitis C, and sexually transmitted diseases. (b) The department shall recognize, prepare, or administer a training component that satisfies the requirement of Subsection (a) for use in continuing education for chemical dependency counselors. (c) The training component must address HIV, hepatitis C, and sexually transmitted diseases in the context of chemical dependency counseling and must provide information relating to the special needs of persons with positive test results, including the importance of prevention, early intervention, and treatment and recognition of psychosocial needs. The training component must prepare a chemical dependency counselor to provide appropriate information to educate clients about HIV, hepatitis C, and sexually transmitted diseases. (d) In developing the training component, the department may, to the extent appropriate, consider the training course relating to hepatitis C developed by the department under Section 94.002, Health and Safety Code.