§ 32 §13858 — Requirements for licensure

To be eligible for a license to practice counseling at any level, an applicant must be at least 18 years of age and satisfactorily pass any examination as the board may prescribe by its rules. Each applicant must demonstrate trustworthiness and competence to engage in the practice of counseling in such a manner as to safeguard the interests of the public. Each applicant must submit an application and pay the fee as set under section 13859. The license categories "licensed clinical professional counselor," "licensed pastoral counselor" and "licensed marriage and family therapist" are of equivalent clinical status. Clinical status grants the ability to diagnose and treat mental health disorders.
The following shall be considered as minimum evidence satisfactory to the board that an applicant is qualified for licensure under this chapter.
1.
Licensed professional counselor.
To be qualified as a licensed professional counselor, an applicant must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board adherence to the ethics of the counseling profession, successfully complete the examination prescribed by the board and have:
2.
Licensed clinical professional counselor.
To be qualified as a licensed clinical professional counselor, an applicant must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board adherence to the ethics of the counseling profession, successfully complete the examination prescribed by the board and have:
3.
Licensed marriage and family therapist.
To be qualified as a licensed marriage and family therapist, an applicant must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board adherence to the ethics of the counseling profession, successfully complete the examination prescribed by the board and have:
3-A.
Licensed pastoral counselor.
To be qualified as a licensed pastoral counselor, an applicant must have:
4.
Supervision.
Supervision may be provided by a qualified and duly certified or licensed counseling professional, clinical social worker, psychologist or psychiatrist. Any other supervisor must be individually approved by the board.
5.
Examination.
All applicants are required to pass a written examination in subjects the board deems necessary to determine the fitness of the applicant to practice. The board shall establish the passing score for all examinations. Examinations must be held at least twice a year. The examination must be graded using established written base line scores for failure or passage, be based on accepted counseling criteria and include measurable and clearly defined procedures for grading the results and issuing a pass or fail decision. Decisions on all examinations must be in writing and include a grade and, whenever possible, a summary of the criteria for the grade and an explanation of the procedure for reexamination or appeal.
6.
Existing counselors.
7.
License not allowed.
Notwithstanding subsections 1 to 5, an individual whose license, certification or registration has been revoked or suspended in this or any other state and in this or any other related field, may not be licensed under this section, unless the period of revocation or suspension has been completed and the board has conducted a competency review and determined that an acceptable degree of rehabilitation has been accomplished.
8.
Rulemaking.
The board shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of subsections 1, 2 and 3 and subsection 3‑A, paragraph B. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.

Legislative History

PL 1989, c. 465, §3 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 895, §§1,22 (AFF). PL 1989, c. 895, §§12-14 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 263, §§3,4 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 263, §§5,6 (AFF). PL 1995, c. 259, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 386, §T2 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 542, §§2-4 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. EE, §5 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 172, §1 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 262, §5 (AMD).