Summary of REQUIREMENTS for those who hold a valid license as a professional clinical counselor, or other counseling license, which allows the applicant to independently provide clinical mental health services in another jurisdiction of the United States. Applications accepted after January 1, 2011.
Following are requirements for those who apply before December 31, 2013. Those who apply after January 1, 2014 must meet additional core content requirements that take effect in 2012.
Education that is substantially equivalent to California’s requirement for LPCCs: A 48-semester-unit master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited or approved institution, which is counseling or psychotherapy in content, includes 6 semester units of supervised practicum or fieldwork study, and contains at least 3 semester units of coursework in 7 the following 9 core content areas, all of which must be completed before licensure. Licensed counselors from other states may remediate deficiencies at the board’s discretion.
(A) Counseling and psychotherapeutic theories and techniques (includes counseling theories, selection of counseling interventions, orientation to wellness and prevention, etc.)
(B) Human growth and development across the lifespan (includes psychopathology, normal and abnormal behavior, developmental crises)
(C) Career development theories and techniques
(D) Group counseling theories and techniques
(E) Assessment, appraisal and testing
(F) Multicultural counseling theories and techniques
(G) Principles of diagnosis, treatment planning and prevention of mental and emotional disorders and dysfunctional behavior
(H) Research and evaluation
(I) Professional orientation, ethics and law in counselingClick here to see a definition of each of the core content areas.
In addition to the course requirements described above, a minimum of 12 semester units of advanced coursework to develop knowledge of specific treatment issues, special populations, application of counseling constructs, assessment and treatment planning, clinical interventions, therapeutic relationships, psychopathology or other clinical topics.
In addition to, or as part of the graduate degree, instruction in each of the following content areas must be completed prior to licensure:
Note that, other than the psychopharmacology course, these courses are continuing education hours.
(1) Minimum of 15 contact hours of instruction in alcoholism and other chemical substance dependency
(2) Minimum of 10 contact hours of instruction in human sexuality
(3) Two-semester or three quarter-unit survey course in psychopharmacology
(4) Minimum of 15 contact hours of instruction in spousal or partner abuse
(5) Minimum of seven contact hours of instruction in child abuse assessment & reporting
(6) Minimum of 18 contact hours of instruction in California law and professional ethics, if not included in required core content area
(7) Minimum of 10 contact hours of instruction in aging and long-term care
(8) Minimum of 15 contact hours of instruction in crisis/trauma counseling
Supervision that is substantially equivalent to that required in California. California’s requirement for LPCCs: A minimum of 3,000 post-degree hours of supervised experience, by a LPC, LMFT, LCSW, licensed psychologist or licensed physician who is certified in psychiatry, over a period of not less than two years, including not less than 1,750 hours of direct counseling with individuals or groups in a clinical mental health counseling setting and 150 hours in a hospital or community mental health setting.
The bill has been amended to allow the BBS to accept supervised hours, that are substantially equivalent to California's requirements, for counselors who have held a valid license in another state for at least two years. Counselors, who have not been licensed for at least two years in another state, will be required to gain a minimum of 250 hours of supervised clinical experience in direct counseling within in California, after registering with the Board as an intern. Counselors can register as interns with the Board beginning January 1, 2011.
Examination: Passing score on examinations approved by the board, likely the NCE and the NCMHCE and a CA jurisprudence and ethics exam. The board will not have approved exams until January 1, 2012.
Click here to see entire section 4999.58 - 4999.62 in the bill, regarding reciprocity.
