[32 Pa.B. 1197]
[Continued from previous Web Page]
CHAPTER 48. STATE BOARD OF SOCIAL WORKERS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS AND PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS--LICENSURE OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS
GENERAL PROVISIONS Sec.
48.1. Definitions. 48.2. Educational requirements. 48.3. Qualifications for supervisors.
LICENSURE
48.11. Licensure examination. 48.12. General qualifications for licensure. 48.13. Licensed MFT. 48.14. Standards for supervisors. 48.15. Exemption from licensure examination. 48.16. Application for licensure by reciprocity.
GENERAL PROVISIONS § 48.1. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
AAMFT--The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
AMFTRB--The Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards.
Accredited educational institution--A graduate school which is recognized as an institution of higher education or which is accredited by a regional accrediting association recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Act--The Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act (63 P. S. §§ 1901--1922).
Board--The State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors.
COAMFTE--The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education.
Doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy--A doctoral degree which is awarded upon successful completion of a program in marriage and family therapy which is either accredited by COAMFTE, or, which includes coursework that meets the criteria in § 48.2 (relating to educational requirements).
Field closely related to the practice of marriage and family therapy--Includes the fields of social work, psychology, counseling, child development and family studies, medicine, nursing, pastoral counseling, ministry, theology, education and sociology.
Graduate level coursework in marriage and family therapy acceptable to the Board--Coursework that meets the criteria in § 48.2.
Institution of higher education--An independent institution of higher education, a community college, a State-related institution or a member institution of the State System. (See 22 Pa. Code § 33.102 (relating to definitions)).
Master's degree in marriage and family therapy--A master's degree which is awarded upon successful completion of a program in marriage and family therapy which is either accredited by COAMFTE, or, which includes coursework that meets the criteria in § 48.2.
MFT--Marriage and family therapist.
Planned program of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours which is closely related to marriage and family therapy--A program which includes coursework that meets the criteria in § 48.2.
Program recognized by a National accrediting agency--A master, doctor or postgraduate degree training program accredited by COAMFTE.
Related field--Includes the fields of psychiatry, psychology, social work, counseling, art therapy, dance/movement therapy, drama therapy, music therapy, human services and counseling education.
Supervisee--An individual who is fulfilling the supervised experience requirement for licensure.
Supervision--The act of overseeing, directing or instructing the activity or course of action of another.
Supervisor--An individual providing supervision to a supervisee who meets the criteria in § 48.3 (relating to qualifications for supervisors).
§ 48.2. Educational requirements.
Educational requirements are as follows:
(1) Human development (3 courses minimum-9 semester or 12 quarter or 135 didactic contact hours).
(i) Courses in this area shall provide knowledge of individual personality development and its normal and abnormal manifestations.
(ii) Coursework shall cover human development across the life span, including special issues that affect an individual's development (that is, culture, gender and human sexuality).
(2) Marriage and family studies (3 courses minimum-9 semester or 12 quarter or 135 didactic contact hours). Courses in this area shall be a fundamental introduction to family systems theory.
(3) Marriage and family therapy (3 courses minimum-9 semester or 12 quarter or 135 didactic contact hours).
(i) Courses in this area shall have a major focus on family systems theory and systemic therapeutic interventions.
(ii) This area shall provide a substantive understanding of the major theories of systems change and the applied practices evolving from each theoretical orientation.
(4) Professional studies (1 course minimum-3 semester or 4 quarter or 45 didactic contact hours).
(i) Courses in this area shall contribute to the professional development of the therapist.
(ii) Areas of study shall include the therapist's legal responsibilities and liabilities, professional ethics as a marriage and family therapist, professional socialization, and the role of the professional organization, licensure or certification legislation, independent practice and interprofessional cooperation.
(5) Research (1 course minimum-3 semester or 4 quarter or 45 didactic contact hours). Courses in this area shall assist students in understanding and performing research.
(6) Practicum (minimum 1 year, 300 hours of supervised direct client contact with individuals, couples and families).
§ 48.3. Qualifications for supervisors.
To qualify as a supervisor, an individual shall meet one of the following criteria:
(1) Hold a license as an MFT and have received certification as an approved supervisor or supervisor-in-training by the AAMFT.
(2) Hold a license and have at least a master's degree in a related field, and have 5 years experience within the last 10 years in that field.
(3) Until January 1, 2010, meet the following criteria:
(i) Practices as an MFT.
(ii) Have completed a 1-semester graduate course in MFT supervision (at least 30 contact hours) or the equivalent.
(iii) Have 5 years experience within the last 10 years as an MFT.
LICENSURE § 48.11. Licensure examination.
(a) The examination required as a prerequisite to being granted a license to hold oneself out as a licensed MFT is the AMFTRB National MFT Examination. It will be given annually and at other times deemed appropriate by the Board, in consultation with the third-party testing organization providing the examination to license applicants of the Board.
(b) The applicant shall apply to the testing organization for admission to the applicable licensure examination and shall pay the required fee at the direction of the testing organization.
(c) The applicant shall be responsible for directing that the testing organization send examination results and other information requested to the Board.
(d) The passing grade for the examination will be determined by the Board.
§ 48.12. General qualifications for licensure.
General qualifications and requirements for applicants for licensure are as follows:
(1) The applicant is of good moral character.
(2) The applicant has not been convicted of a felony, which shall include a judgment, an admission of guilt or a plea of nolo contendere, under The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act (35 P. S. §§ 780-101--780-144), or of an offense under the laws of another jurisdiction, which, if committed in this Commonwealth, would be a felony under The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, unless the following apply:
(i) At least 10 years have elapsed from the date of conviction.
(ii) The applicant satisfactorily demonstrates to the Board that the applicant has made significant progress in personal rehabilitation since the conviction, so that licensure of the applicant would not be expected to create a substantial risk of harm to the health and safety of the applicant's clients or the public or a substantial risk of further criminal violations.
(3) The applicant has submitted an application for licensure on forms furnished by the Board. The application for licensure may be obtained by contacting the Board by mail at: State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors, Post Office Box 2649, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105-2649, (717) 783-1389 or by e-mail at: socialwo@pados.state.pa.us.
(4) The applicant has submitted the required application licensure fee by check or money order, payable to the ''Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.''
(5) The applicant has submitted two certificates of recommendation on forms furnished by the Board.
(6) The applicant has submitted an affirmation signed by the applicant verifying the information on the application.
§ 48.13. Licensed MFT.
(a) Conditions for licensure. To be issued a license to hold oneself out as a licensed MFT, an applicant shall provide proof satisfactory to the Board, that the applicant has met the following conditions:
(1) Satisfied the general requirements for licensure in § 48.12 (relating to general qualifications for licensure).
(2) Passed the examination required by § 49.11 (relating to licensure examination).
(3) Successfully met one of the following educational requirements:
(i) By March 2, 2007, has completed a planned program of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate coursework which is closely related to marriage and family therapy as defined in § 48.1 (relating to definitions), including one of the following:
(A) A master's degree in marriage and family therapy from an accredited educational institution.
(B) A master's degree in a field closely related to the practice of marriage and family therapy as defined in § 48.1 from an accredited educational institution, with graduate level coursework in marriage and family therapy as defined in § 48.1 and § 48.2 (relating to educational requirements) from an accredited educational institution or from a program recognized by a National accrediting agency as defined in § 48.1.
(ii) Successfully completed a planned program of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate coursework which is closely related to marriage and family therapy as defined in § 48.1 including one of the following:
(A) A 48 semester hour or 72 quarter hour master's degree in marriage and family therapy from an accredited educational institution.
(B) A 48 semester hour or 72 quarter hour master's degree in a field closely related to the practice of marriage and family therapy as defined in § 48.1 from an accredited educational institution with graduate level coursework in marriage and family therapy as defined in § 48.1 from an accredited educational institution or from a program recognized by a National accrediting agency as defined in § 48.1.
(iii) Holds a doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy as defined in § 48.1 from an accredited educational institution.
(iv) Holds a doctoral degree in a field closely related to marriage and family therapy as defined in § 48.1 from an accredited educational institution with graduate level coursework in marriage and family therapy as defined in § 48.1 from an accredited educational institution from a program recognized by a National accrediting agency as defined in § 48.1.
(4) Has met the following experience requirements:
(i) Individuals who meet the education requirements of paragraph (3)(i) or (ii), shall have completed at least 3 years or 3,600 hours of supervised clinical experience meeting the criteria in subsection (b), obtained after the completion of 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours of graduate coursework. Supervision for the supervised clinical experience shall be provided by a supervisor as defined in § 48.1.
(ii) Individuals who meet the education requirements of paragraph (3)(iii) or (iv) shall have completed at least 2 years or 2,400 hours of supervised clinical experience which meets the criteria in subsection (b), 1 year or 1,200 hours of which was obtained subsequent to the granting of the doctoral degree. Supervision for the supervised clinical experience shall be provided by a supervisor as defined in § 48.1.
(b) Supervised clinical experience. Experience acceptable to the Board means experience as a supervisee in a setting that is organized to prepare the applicant for the practice of marriage and family therapy consistent with the applicant's education and training.
(1) At least one-half of the experience shall consist of providing services in one or more of the following areas:
(i) Assessment.
(ii) Couples therapy.
(iii) Family therapy.
(iv) Other systems interventions.
(v) Consultation.
(vi) Individual therapy.
(vii) Group therapy.
(2) Supervision for the clinical experience shall be provided by a supervisor as defined in § 48.1 and § 48.3 (relating to definitions). However, 1,800 hours shall be supervised by a supervisor meeting the qualifications in § 48.3(1) or (3).
(3) A supervisee shall disclose his status as a supervisee to each patient and obtain written permission to discuss the patient's case with the supervisor.
(4) The supervisor shall oversee, direct, recommend and instruct the marriage and family therapy activities of the supervisee. (Editor's Note: The act of February 13, 2002 (P. L. 83, No. 4) deleted the requirement that clinical social workers have practice experience in the Commonwealth to be eligible for licensure without examination, formerly found at section 9 of the Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act (63 P. S. § 1909(a)(3)).)
(i) A supervisor who is temporarily unable to provide supervision shall designate another supervisor as a substitute.
(ii) Although the supervisor shall continue to bear the ultimate responsibility for supervision, those to whom supervisory responsibilities are delegated shall be individually responsible for activities of the supervisee performed under their supervision.
(5) The supervisor, or one to whom supervisory responsibilities have been delegated, shall meet with the supervisee for a minimum of 2 hours for every 40 hours of supervised clinical experience. At least 1 of the 2 hours shall be with the supervisee individually and in person, and 1 of the 2 hours may be with the supervisee in a group setting and in person.
(6) A supervisor shall supervise no more than 6 supervisees at the same time. If this paragraph creates an undue hardship on a supervisee, the supervisor and supervisee may request an exception to this paragraph. The request shall state, in writing, the reasons why this paragraph creates a hardship on the supervisee and why the supervisee is not able to obtain a supervisor who meets the requirements of this paragraph. Before making a determination, the Board may require a personal appearance by the supervisee and supervisor.
(7) A supervisor who wishes to terminate supervision during the training period shall give the supervisee 2 weeks written notice to enable the supervisee to obtain another qualified supervisor. A supervisor may not terminate supervision when termination would result in abandonment of the supervisee's client/patients.
(8) Supervised work activity will be counted toward satisfying the experience requirement only if it takes place in a single setting for either, first, at least 30 hours per week but no more than 50 hours per week during at least a 3-month period or, second, at least 15 hours per week for at least 6 months.
(9) The supervised clinical experience shall be completed in no less than 2 years and no more than 6 years, except that no less than 600 hours and no more than 1,800 hours may be credited in any 12-month period.
(c) Supervised clinical experience obtained within 5 years prior to March 2, 2002.
(1) For hours of supervised clinical experience obtained within 5 years prior to March 2, 2002, the applicant shall present evidence of having acquired at least one-half of those hours under the supervision of an MFT. The applicant shall also have acquired hours of supervision at a ratio of 2 hours of supervision per 40 hours of supervised clinical experience, one-half of which may be in group supervision and at least one-half of which shall be provided by an MFT.
(2) Supervised clinical experience obtained under this subsection is not subject to the requirements of § 48.14 (relating to standards for supervisors).
§ 48.14. Standards for supervisors.
Supervisors, and those to whom supervisory responsibilities are delegated, under § 48.13(a)(4) (relating to licensed marriage and family therapist) shall comply with this section. Supervisors will be asked to attest to compliance on the verification of experience form which shall accompany the supervisee's application for licensure. The Board reserves the right to require a supervisor by documentation or otherwise to establish to the Board's satisfaction that compliance occurred.
(1) The supervisor shall be qualified by training and experience to practice in the supervisee's areas of supervised practice.
(2) The supervisor may not be a relative of the supervisee by blood or marriage, may not be involved in a dual relationship which obliges the supervisor to the supervisee and may not engage in treatment of the supervisee.
(3) An individual whose license has been actively suspended or revoked by a licensing Board will not qualify as a supervisor.
(i) If during the period of supervision, the supervisor's license is suspended or revoked, the supervisor shall immediately notify the supervisee and immediately cease supervision. Credit will be given for hours completed prior to the disciplinary action.
(ii) The supervisee shall obtain a new supervisor in order to complete the required experience.
(4) The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring that the requirements of § 48.13(b) are met.
(5) The supervisor shall be accessible to the supervisee for consultation.
(6) The supervisor shall be empowered to recommend the interruption or termination of the supervisee's activities in providing services to a client/patient and, if necessary, to terminate the supervisory relationship. Any hours accumulated for activities not approved by the supervisor will not count towards satisfying the 3,600 hours of supervised experience.
(7) The supervisor shall ensure that the supervisee's status as a supervisee is made known to the supervisee's patients, and also ensure that the supervisee has obtained written permission from each patient to discuss his case with the supervisor.
(8) The supervisor shall establish objectives to be achieved by the supervisee during supervision.
(9) The supervisor shall review issues of practice and ethics with the supervisee.
(10) The supervisor shall maintain notes or records of scheduled supervisory sessions and provide these records to the Board upon request.
(11) The supervisor shall observe client/patient sessions of the supervisee or review recordings of these sessions.
(12) In supervisory meetings, the supervisor shall discuss the supervisee's level of work--for example, the supervisee's areas of competence and areas of needed improvement.
(13) The supervisor shall provide the supervisee with recommendations bearing on further professional development, professional study and skills necessary for independent practice.
(14) The supervisor shall prepare written evaluations or reports of progress which shall delineate the supervisee's strengths and weaknesses. These evaluations or reports shall be discussed with the supervisee on at least a quarterly basis.
(15) The supervisor shall encourage the supervisee to work with professionals in other disciplines as indicated by the needs of each client/patient and shall periodically observe these cooperative encounters.
(16) The supervisor shall encourage the supervisee to access multidisciplinary consultation, as necessary.
§ 48.15. Exemption from licensure examination.
A license will be issued without examination to an applicant who meets the following requirements. The applicant shall have:
(1) Satisfied the general requirements for licensure of § 48.12 (relating to general qualifications for licensure).
(2) Submitted an application provided by the Board and accompanied by the required fee.
(3) Submitted an application by February 19, 2002. (Editor's Note: The act of February 13, 2002 (P. L. 83, No. 4) extended the deadline for the filing of an application by 1 year.)
(4) Demonstrated proof of practice of marriage and family therapy for at least 5 of the 7 years immediately prior to the date of application for license.
(5) Have successfully met one of the following education requirements:
(i) Have a doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy as defined in § 48.1 (relating to definitions) from an accredited educational institution.
(ii) Have a doctoral degree in a field closely related to the practice of marriage and family therapy as defined in § 48.1 from an accredited educational institution with graduate level coursework in marriage and family therapy acceptable to the Board as defined in § 48.1.
(iii) Have a master's degree of at least 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours in marriage and family therapy as defined in § 48.1 from an accredited educational institution.
(iv) Have a master's degree of at least 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours in a field closely related to marriage and family therapy as defined in § 48.1 from an accredited educational institution with graduate level course-work in marriage and family therapy acceptable to the Board as defined in § 48.1.
(v) Have a master's degree of less than 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours but not less than 36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours in marriage and family therapy as defined in § 48.1 from an accredited educational institution and have within the past 10 years completed sufficient continuing education satisfactory to the Board to equal the number of hours needed to achieve a total of 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours at a ratio of 15 continuing education hours equaling 1 semester hour. Continuing education satisfactory to the Board shall meet the following requirements:
(A) Master's level difficulty.
(B) Excludes courses in office management or practice building.
(C) Any course which is related to the practice of marriage and family therapy that has been approved for continuing education credit for licensed psychologists or licensed social workers, has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. (NBCC), the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC), the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT), AATA, American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) or the National Association for Drama Therapy (NADT), or has been offered by AAMFT or the Pennsylvania Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (PAMFT).
(vi) Have a master's degree of less than 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours but not less than 36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours in a field closely related to the practice of marriage and family therapy as defined in § 48.1, from an accredited educational institution with graduate level coursework in marriage and family therapy as defined in § 48.1 and have within the past 10 years completed sufficient continuing education satisfactory to the Board to equal the number of hours needed to achieve a total of 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours at a ratio of 15 continuing education hours equaling 1 semester hour. Continuing education satisfactory to the Board shall meet the following requirements:
(A) Master's level difficulty.
(B) Excludes courses in office management or practice building.
(C) Any course which is related to the practice of marriage and family therapy that has been approved for continuing education credit for licensed psychologists or licensed social workers, has been approved by NBCC, CRCC, CBMT, AATA, ADTA or NADT, or has been offered by AAMFT or PAMFT.
(2) Demonstrated holding clinical membership status from AAMFT and passing the AMFTRB National MFT Examination or an examination given by another state as a requirement for licensure in that state.
§ 48.16. Application for licensure by reciprocity.
(a) A license shall be issued based on reciprocity to an applicant who meets the following requirements. The applicant shall have:
(1) Satisfied the general requirements for licensure in § 48.12 (relating to general qualifications for licensure).
(2) Provided a letter from other jurisdiction registration boards where the licensed MFT is licensed, certifying licensure and reporting any violations.
(3) Demonstrated qualifications at least equal to the qualifications required by the act and this chapter.
(b) The Board will accept an applicant's examination grades taken in another jurisdiction, as furnished through the professional examination reporting service or from the jurisdiction which administered the examination, in lieu of taking the Commonwealth's required examination.
(1) The applicant shall show that the examination taken in the other jurisdiction is similar to the one offered by the Commonwealth and that the applicant passed the examination with a grade at least equal to the passing grade set by the Commonwealth.
(2) The other jurisdiction in which the applicant is licensed or certified must grant licenses by reciprocity to residents of this Commonwealth who possess a license as an MFT under the act and this chapter.
CHAPTER 49. STATE BOARD OF SOCIAL WORKERS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS AND PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS--LICENSURE OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS
GENERAL PROVISIONS Sec.
49.1. Definitions. 49.2. Educational requirements. 49.3. Qualifications for supervisors.
LICENSE
49.11. Licensure examination. 49.12. General qualifications for licensure. 49.13. Licensed professional counselor. 49.14. Standards for supervisors. 49.15. Exemption from licensure examination. 49.16 Application for licensure by reciprocity.
GENERAL PROVISIONS § 49.1. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Accredited educational institution--A graduate school which is recognized as an institution of higher education or which is accredited by a regional accrediting association recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Act--The Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act (63 P. S. §§ 1901--1922).
Board--The State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors.
CACREP--Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs.
Doctoral degree in a field closely related to the practice of professional counseling. Includes one of the following:
(i) Doctoral degrees in social work, psychiatry, psychology, art therapy, dance/movement therapy, drama therapy, music therapy, human services, counseling education and child development and family studies.
(ii) Another doctoral degree in any applied behavioral science which is awarded after successful completion of a master's degree in a field closely related to the practice of professional counseling and that includes advanced (beyond the master's level) clinical instruction and advanced (beyond the master's level) coursework in any five of the educational requirements in § 49.2(1)--(8) (relating to educational requirements).
Doctoral degree in professional counseling--A doctoral degree which is awarded upon successful completion of a program which includes coursework that meets and builds upon the educational requirements in § 49.2.
Institution of higher education--An independent institution of higher education, a community college, a State-related institution or a member institution of the State System. See 22 Pa. Code § 33.102 (relating to definitions).
Master's degree in a field closely related to the practice of professional counseling includes. One of the following:
(i) Degrees in social work, psychology, art therapy, dance/movement therapy, drama therapy, music therapy, human services, counseling education and child development and family studies.
(ii) A degree in any applied behavioral science that includes a practicum or internship and meets any five of the educational requirements in § 49.2(1)--(8).
Planned program of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate coursework in counseling or a field closely related to the practice of professional counseling--A program which includes coursework that meets the criteria in § 49.2.
Related field--Includes the fields of psychiatry, psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, art therapy, dance/movement therapy, drama therapy, music therapy, human services and counseling education.
Supervisee--An individual who is fulfilling the supervised experience requirement for licensure.
Supervision--The act of overseeing, directing or instructing the activity or course of action of another.
Supervisor--An individual providing supervision to a supervisee who meets the criteria in § 49.3 (relating to qualifications for supervisors).
§ 49.2. Educational requirements.
Educational requirements are as follows:
(1) Human growth and development--(2 semester or 3 quarter hours) studies that provide an understanding of the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental stages.
(2) Social and cultural foundations--(2 semester or 3 quarter hours) studies that provide an understanding of issues and trends in a multicultural and diverse society.
(3) Helping relationships--(2 semester or 3 quarter hours) studies that provide an understanding of counseling and consultation processes.
(4) Group work--(2 semester or 3 quarter hours) studies that provide an understanding of group development, dynamics, counseling theories, group counseling methods and skills and other group approaches.
(5) Career and lifestyle development--(2 semester or 3 quarter hours) studies that provide an understanding of career development and related life factors.
(6) Appraisal--(2 semester or 3 quarter hours) studies that provide an understanding of individual and group approaches to assessment and evaluation.
(7) Research and program evaluation--(2 semester or 3 quarter hours) studies that provide an understanding of types of research methods, basic statistics, and ethical and legal considerations in research.
(8) Professional orientation--(2 semester or 3 quarter hours) studies that provide an understanding of all aspects of professional functioning, including history, roles, organizational structures, ethics, standards and credentialing.
(9) Clinical instruction--(Includes 100 clock hours of supervised practicum experience and 600 clock hours of supervised internship experience). The supervised internship experience shall begin after completion of the supervised practicum experience. Until March 2, 2007, this requirement may be satisfied by completion of a total of 6 semester hours or 9 quarter hours of practicum/internship experience.
§ 49.3. Qualifications for supervisors.
To qualify as a supervisor, an individual shall meet one of the following criteria:
(1) Holds a license as a professional counselor and has 5 years experience within the last 10 years as a professional counselor.
(2) Holds a license and has at least a master's degree in a related field and has 5 years experience within the last 10 years in that field.
(3) Until January 1, 2006, meet the following criteria:
(i) Practices as a professional counselor.
(ii) Has 5 years experience within the last 10 years as a professional counselor.
LICENSURE § 49.11. Licensure examination.
(a) The examination required as a prerequisite to being granted a license to hold oneself out as a licensed professional counselor shall be one of the following:
(1) The National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) given by NBCC.
(2) The Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) Examination given by CRCC.
(3) The Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) Certification Examination given by ATCB.
(4) The Board Certification Examination given by CBMT.
(5) The practice examination of psychological knowledge given by the NorthAmerican Association of Master's in Psychology (NAMP).
(6) The Advanced Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse Counselor Examination (AAODA) given by the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Inc. (IC & RC/AODA).
(7) The Examination for Master Addictions Counselors (EMAC) given by NBCC.
(b) The applicant shall apply to the testing organization for admission to the applicable licensure examination and shall pay the required fee at the direction of the testing organization.
(c) The applicant shall be responsible for directing that the testing organization send examination results and other information requested to the Board.
(d) The passing grade for the examination will be determined by the Board.
§ 49.12. General qualifications for licensure.
General qualifications and requirements for applicants for licensure are as follows:
(1) The applicant is of good moral character.
(2) The applicant has not been convicted of a felony, which shall include a judgment, an admission of guilt or a plea of nolo contendere, under The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act (35 P. S. §§ 780-101--780-144), or of an offense under the laws of another jurisdiction, which, if committed in this Commonwealth, would be a felony under The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, unless the following apply:
(i) At least 10 years have elapsed from the date of conviction.
(ii) The applicant satisfactorily demonstrates to the Board that the applicant has made significant progress in personal rehabilitation since the conviction, so that licensure of the applicant would not be expected to create a substantial risk of harm to the health and safety of the applicant's clients or the public or a substantial risk of further criminal violations.
(3) The applicant has submitted an application for licensure on forms furnished by the Board. The application for licensure may be obtained by contacting the Board by mail at: State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors, Post Office Box 2649, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105-2649, (717) 783-1389 or by e-mail at: socialwo@pados. state.pa.us.
(4) The applicant has submitted the application licensure fee required by the Board, by check or money order, payable to the ''Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.''
(5) The applicant has submitted two certificates of recommendation on forms furnished by the Board.
(6) The applicant has submitted an affirmation signed by the applicant verifying the information on the application.
§ 49.13. Licensed professional counselor.
(a) Conditions for licensure. To be issued a license to hold oneself out as a licensed professional counselor, an applicant shall provide proof satisfactory to the Board, that the applicant has met the following conditions:
(1) Satisfied the general requirements for licensure of § 49.12 (relating to general qualifications for licensure).
(2) Passed the examination required by § 49.11 (relating to licensure examination).
(3) Successfully met one of the following education requirements:
(i) By March 2, 2002, has successfully completed a planned program of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate coursework in counseling or a field closely related to the practice of professional counseling as defined in § 49.1 (relating to definitions) including one of the following:
(A) A master's degree in professional counseling from an accredited education institution.
(B) A master's degree in a field closely related to the practice of professional counseling as defined in § 49.1 from an accredited educational institution.
(ii) Has successfully completed a planned program of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate coursework in counseling or a field closely related to the practice of professional counseling as defined in § 49.1 including one of the following:
(A) A 48 semester hour or 72 quarter hour master's degree in professional counseling from an accredited education institution.
(B) A 48 semester hour or 72 quarter hour master's degree in a field closely related to the practice of professional counseling as defined in § 49.1 from an accredited educational institution.
(iii) Holds a doctoral degree in counseling from an accredited educational institution.
(iv) Holds a doctoral degree in a field closely related to the practice of professional counseling as defined in § 49.1 from an accredited education institution.
(4) Has met the following experience requirements:
(i) Individuals who met the educational requirements of paragraph (3)(i) or (ii), shall have completed at least 3 years or 3,600 hours of supervised clinical experience meeting the criteria in subsection (b), obtained after the completion of 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours of graduate coursework. Supervision for the supervised clinical experience shall be provided by a supervisor as defined in § 49.1 and § 49.3 (relating to qualifications for supervisors).
(ii) Individuals who meet the educational requirements of paragraph (3)(iii) or (iv) shall have completed at least 2 years or 2,400 hours of supervised clinical experience meeting the criteria in subsection (b), 1 year or 1,200 hours of which was obtained subsequent to the granting of the doctoral degree. Supervision for the supervised clinical experience shall be provided by a supervisor as defined in §§ 49.1 and 49.3.
(b) Supervised clinical experience. Experience acceptable to the Board means experience as a supervisee in a setting that is organized to prepare the applicant for the practice of counseling consistent with the applicant's education and training.
(1) At least one-half of the experience shall consist of providing services in one or more of the following areas:
(i) Assessment.
(ii) Counseling.
(iii) Therapy.
(iv) Psychotherapy.
(v) Other therapeutic interventions.
(vi) Consultation.
(vii) Family therapy.
(viii) Group therapy.
(2) Supervision for the clinical experience shall be provided by a supervisor as defined in § 49.1. Eighteen hundred hours shall be supervised by a supervisor meeting the qualifications in § 49.3(1) and (3).
(3) A supervisee shall disclose his status as a supervisee to each patient and obtain written permission to discuss the patient's case with the supervisor.
(4) The supervisor shall oversee, direct, recommend and instruct the professional counseling activities of the supervisee.
(i) A supervisor who is temporarily unable to provide supervision shall designate another supervisor as a substitute.
(ii) Although the supervisor shall continue to bear the ultimate responsibility for supervision, those to whom supervisory responsibilities are delegated shall be individually responsible for activities of the supervisee performed under their supervision.
(5) The supervisor, or one to whom supervisory responsibilities have been delegated, shall meet with the supervisee for a minimum of 2 hours for every 40 hours of supervised clinical experience. At least 1 of the 2 hours shall be with the supervisee individually and in person, and 1 of the 2 hours may be with the supervisee in a group setting and in person.
(6) A supervisor shall supervise no more than 6 supervisees at the same time. If this paragraph creates an undue hardship on a supervisee, the supervisor and supervisee may request an exception to this paragraph. The request shall state, in writing, the reasons why this paragraph creates a hardship on the supervisee and why the supervisee is not able to obtain a supervisor who meets the requirements of this paragraph. Before making a determination, the Board may require a personal appearance by the supervisee and supervisor.
(7) A supervisor who wishes to terminate supervision during the training period shall give the supervisee 2 weeks written notice to enable the supervisee to obtain another qualified supervisor. A supervisor may not terminate supervision when termination would result in abandonment of the supervisee's client/patient.
(8) Supervised work activity will be counted toward satisfying the experience requirement only if it takes place in a single setting for either, first, at least 30 hours per week but no more than 40 hours per week during at least a 3-month period or, second, at least 15 hours per week for at least 6 months.
(9) The supervised clinical experience shall be completed in no less than 2 years and no more than 6 years, except that no less than 600 hours and no more than 1,800 hours may be credited in any 12 month period.
(c) Supervised clinical experience obtained within 5 years prior to March 2, 2002.
(1) For hours of supervised clinical experience obtained within 5 years prior to March 2, 2002, the applicant shall present evidence of having acquired at least one-half of those hours under the supervision of a professional counselor. The applicant shall also have acquired hours of supervision at a ratio of 2 hours of supervision per 40 hours of supervised clinical experience, one-half of which may be in group supervision and at least one-half of which shall be provided by a professional counselor.
(2) Supervised clinical experience obtained under this subsection is not subject to the requirements of § 49.14 (relating to standards for supervision).
§ 49.14. Standards for supervisors.
Supervisors, and those to whom supervisory responsibilities are delegated under § 49.13(a)(4) (relating to licensed professional counselors) shall comply with this section. Supervisors will be asked to attest to compliance on the verification of experience form which shall accompany the supervisee's application for licensure. The Board reserves the right to require a supervisor by documentation or otherwise to establish to the Board's satisfaction that compliance occurred.
(1) The supervisor shall be qualified by training and experience to practice in the supervisee's areas of supervised practice.
(2) The supervisor may not be a relative of the supervisee by blood or marriage, may not be involved in a dual relationship which obliges the supervisor to the supervisee and may not engage in treatment of the supervisee.
(3) An individual whose license has been actively suspended or revoked by a licensing Board will not qualify as a supervisor.
(i) If during the period of supervision, the supervisor's license is suspended or revoked, the supervisor shall immediately notify the supervisee and immediately cease supervision. Credit will be given for hours completed prior to the disciplinary action.
(ii) The supervisee shall obtain a new supervisor to complete the required experience.
(4) The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring that the requirements of § 49.13(b) are met.
(5) The supervisor shall be accessible to the supervisee for consultation.
(6) The supervisor shall be empowered to recommend the interruption or termination of the supervisee's activities in providing services to a client/patient and, if necessary, to terminate the supervisory relationship. Hours accumulated for activities not approved by the supervisor will not count towards satisfying the 3,600 hours of supervised experience.
(7) The supervisor shall ensure that the supervisee's status as a supervisee is made known to the supervisee's patients, and also ensure that the supervisee has obtained written permission from each patient to discuss his case with the supervisor.
(8) The supervisor shall establish objectives to be achieved by the supervisee during supervision.
(9) The supervisor shall review issues of practice and ethics with the supervisee.
(10) The supervisor shall maintain notes or records of scheduled supervisory sessions and provide these records to the Board upon request.
(11) The supervisor shall observe client/patient sessions of the supervisee or review recordings of these sessions.
(12) In supervisory meetings, the supervisor shall discuss the supervisee's level of work--for example, the supervisee's areas of competence and areas of needed improvement.
(13) The supervisor shall provide the supervisee with recommendations bearing on further professional development, professional study and skills necessary for independent practice.
(14) The supervisor shall prepare written evaluations or reports of progress which shall delineate the supervisee's strengths and weaknesses. These evaluations or reports shall be discussed with the supervisee on at least a quarterly basis.
(15) The supervisor shall encourage the supervisee to work with professionals in other disciplines as indicated by the needs of each client/patient and shall periodically observe these cooperative encounters.
(16) The supervisor shall encourage the supervisee to access multidisciplinary consultation, as necessary.
§ 49.15. Exemption from licensure examination.
A license will be issued without examination to an applicant who meets the following requirements. The applicant shall have:
(1) Satisfied the general requirements for licensure of § 49.12 (relating to qualification for licensure).
(2) Submitted an application provided by the Board and accompanied by the required fee.
(3) Submitted an application by February 19, 2002. (Editor's Note: The act of February 13, 2002 (P. L. 83, No. 4) extended the deadline for the filing of an application by 1 year.)
(4) Demonstrated proof of practice of professional counseling for at least 5 of the 7 years immediately prior to the date of application for license.
(5) Have successfully met one of the following educational requirements:
(i) Holds a doctoral degree in professional counseling from an accredited educational institution.
(ii) Holds a doctoral degree in a field closely related to the practice of professional counseling from an accredited educational institution.
(iii) Holds a master's degree of at least 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours in professional counseling or a field closely related to the practice of professional counseling from an accredited educational institution.
(iv) Holds a master's degree of less than 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours but not less than 36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours in professional counseling or a field closely related to the practice of professional counseling and has within the past 10 years completed sufficient continuing education satisfactory to the Board to equal the number of hours needed to achieve a total of 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours at a ratio of 15 continuing education hours equaling 1 semester hour. Continuing education satisfactory to the Board shall meet the following requirements:
(A) Master's level difficulty.
(B) Excludes courses in office management or practice building.
(C) Any course approved by NBCC, CRC, CBMT, AATA, ADTA, the Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB) or NADT, or which is approved for continuing education credit for licensed psychologists or licensed social workers, and which does not include a course in office management or practice building.
(6) Demonstrated holding one of the following:
(i) The National Certified Counselor (CC) certification from NBCC and having passed the National Counselor Examination given by the NBCC.
(ii) CRC certification from the CRCC and having passed the CRC Examination given by the CRCC.
(iii) The Registered Art Therapist (ATR) certification from the ATCB and having passed the Board Certification Examination given by the ATCB.
(iv) The Academy of Dance Therapists Registered (ADTR) certification from the ADTA and having passed the National Counselor Examination given by the NBCC.
(v) The Music Therapist-Board Certified certification from CBMT and having passed the Board Certification Examination given by the CBMT.
(vi) The Registered Drama Therapist (RDT) certification from NADT and having passed the National Counselor Examination given by NBCC.
(vii) The Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) certification from the Academy of Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselors (ACCMHC) and having passed the credentialing examination given by ACCMHC.
(viii) The Nationally Certified Psychologist (NCP) certification from the NAMP, and having passed the Practice Exam of Psychological Knowledge given by NAMP.
(ix) The Certified Addictions Counselor Credential (CAC) from PCB, and having passed the Advanced Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor Examination given by the IC & RC/AODA.
(x) The Master's Addictions Counselor Credential from NBCC, and having passed the Examination for Master's Addictions Counselors given by NBCC.
§ 49.16. Application for licensure by reciprocity.
(a) A license shall be issued based on reciprocity to an applicant who meets the following requirements. The applicant shall have:
(1) Satisfied the general requirements for licensure of § 49.12 (relating to general qualifications for licensure).
(2) Provided a letter from other jurisdiction registration boards where the licensed professional counselor is licensed, certifying licensure and reporting any violations.
(3) Demonstrated qualifications at least equal to the qualifications required by the act and this chapter.
(b) The Board will accept an applicant's examination grades taken in another jurisdiction, as furnished through the professional examination reporting service or from the jurisdiction which administered the examination, in lieu of taking the Commonwealth's required examination.
(1) The applicant shall show that the examination taken in the other jurisdiction is similar to the one offered by the Commonwealth and that the applicant passed the examination with a grade at least equal to the passing grade set by the Commonwealth.
(2) The other jurisdiction in which the applicant is licensed or certified must grant licenses by reciprocity to residents of this Commonwealth who possess a license as a professional counselor under the act and this chapter.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 02-341. Filed for public inspection March 1, 2002, 9:00 a.m.]
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