To be licensed by the board as a professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, or addiction counselor, an individual must:

(1) pay the appropriate fees and pass an examination approved by the board;

(2) complete forms prescribed by the board; and

(3) complete the following educational requirements:

(a) for licensed professional counselor or marriage and family therapist, successfully complete a minimum of a master's degree or higher degree program and have been awarded a graduate degree as provided in regulation, provided all course work, including any additional core coursework, must be taken at a college or university accredited by a national educational accrediting body, or one that follows similar educational standards and by the Commission on the Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, one of its transferring regional associations, the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, or a post-degree program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, or a regionally accredited institution of higher learning subsequent to receiving the graduate degree; or

(b) for licensed addiction counselor, successfully complete a minimum of a master's degree or higher degree program and have been awarded a graduate degree as provided in regulation, provided all course work, including any additional core coursework, must be taken at a college or university accredited by a national educational accrediting body, or one that follows similar standards and the Commission on the Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, one of its transferring regional associations, the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission, other board-approved educational institution, or a regionally accredited institution of higher learning.

HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 396, Section 8; 2018 Act No. 249 (H.4601), Section 9, eff May 18, 2018.

Effect of Amendment

2018 Act No. 249, Section 9, rewrote the section, revising the requirements for licensure and providing additional requirements for addiction counselor licensure.