Texas § 61.601 DEFINITION.

Texas Statutes

§ 61.601 — DEFINITION.

Texas § 61.601

Code EDEducation Code

This text of Texas § 61.601 (DEFINITION.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Tex. Education Code Code Ann. § 61.601 (2026).

Text

Sec. 61.601. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "mental health professional" means:

(1)a licensed physician who is:

(A)a graduate of an accredited psychiatric residency training program; or

(B)certified in psychiatry by:

(i)the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology; or

(ii)the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry;

(2)a psychologist, as defined by Section 501.002 , Occupations Code;

(3)a licensed professional counselor, as defined by Section 503.002 , Occupations Code;

(4)an advanced practice registered nurse, as defined by Section 301.152 , Occupations Code, who holds a nationally recognized board certification in psychiatric or mental health nursing;

(5)a licensed clinical social worker, as defined by Section 505.002 , Occupations Code;

(6)a school psychologi

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Sec. 61.601. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "mental health professional" means:
(1) a licensed physician who is:
(A) a graduate of an accredited psychiatric residency training program; or
(B) certified in psychiatry by:
(i) the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology; or
(ii) the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry;
(2) a psychologist, as defined by Section 501.002 , Occupations Code;
(3) a licensed professional counselor, as defined by Section 503.002 , Occupations Code;
(4) an advanced practice registered nurse, as defined by Section 301.152 , Occupations Code, who holds a nationally recognized board certification in psychiatric or mental health nursing;
(5) a licensed clinical social worker, as defined by Section 505.002 , Occupations Code;
(6) a school psychologist, as defined by Section 501.002 , Occupations Code;
(7) a chemical dependency counselor, as defined by Section 504.001 , Occupations Code;
(8) a licensed marriage and family therapist, as defined by Section 502.002 , Occupations Code;
(9) a licensed master social worker, as defined by Section 505.002 , Occupations Code;
(10) a person who holds a licensed professional counselor associate license issued by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors;
(11) a licensed marriage and family therapist associate, as defined by Section 502.002 , Occupations Code; and
(12) a school counselor certified under Subchapter B , Chapter 21 , who has earned at least a master's degree related to counseling from any public or accredited private institution of higher education.
Reenacted and amended by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 678 (H.B. 1211 ), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2023.

Legislative History

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 956, Sec. 8.12, eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.738, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 322 (S.B. 239 ), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015. Amended by: Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 891 (H.B. 3083 ), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1101 (H.B. 3808 ), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017. Amended by: Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 738 (H.B. 2598 ), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2025. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1180 (S.B. 646 ), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.