When a credential holder voluntarily requests help for a substance use issue, to whom should they be referred?

• A. The governor.
• B. The board liaison and the coordinator.
• C. The treatment facility staff.
• D. The department secretary

Answer: (B)

When someone who holds a credential voluntarily seeks help for a substance use issue, the appropriate path is through the board’s support system for impaired professionals. The board liaison serves as the confidential point of contact to initiate support, and the coordinator oversees connecting the individual with treatment, arranging monitoring, and guiding them back to practice if and when they meet the recovery and compliance requirements.

This route is preferred because it focuses on rehabilitation and safe, professional reintegration rather than punitive action. It also maintains confidentiality and ensures the process is coordinated with the licensing board’s standards. In contrast, involving political leaders like the governor or department secretary isn’t how this support system operates, and while treatment facility staff provide care, they aren’t the front-line coordinators for the board’s impairment program.