Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 2, February 2024
I. General
Information
Section 1.1 ENABLING LEGISLATION
The Rules are adopted pursuant to Arkansas Code Annotated §
17-27-101 et
seq.
Preface
The enabling legislation of the Arkansas Board of Examiners in
Counseling is codified at Arkansas Code Annotated §
17-27-101 and it
provides for the licensure and regulation of Counselors and Marriage and Family
Therapists; and the individuals who are allowed to use the titles "licensed
professional counselor", "licensed associate counselor", "licensed marriage and
family therapist", and "licensed associate marriage and family therapist". The
Act is both title and practice.
The Board of Examiners in Counseling shall, in all deliberations
and in all adopted Rules, diligently pursue goals most consistent with the
public interest and protection of the public welfare and shall, at all times,
apply the provisions of Arkansas Code Annotated §
17-27-101, et
seq. and the Rules in a fair and impartial manner.
Section 1.2 DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
The Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling is composed of nine
(9) members appointed by the Governor to staggered terms of three years. The
composition of the Board shall include six (6) licensed or licensable
counselors (three practicing counselors (one of whom must be a supervisor) and
three counselor educators or supervisors, one of which shall also be a licensed
Marriage and Family Therapist educator and/or approved supervisor and one (1)
non-licensed individual who represents the general public. The seven are
recommended to the governor by November 1 each year by the Executive Committee
of the Arkansas Counseling Association (ArCA) or the Executive Committee of the
Arkansas Mental Health Counseling Association (ArMHCA). One (1) licensed
Marriage and Family Therapist shall be recommended to the governor by the Board
of Directors of the Arkansas Association for Marriage and Family Therapists
(ArAMFT). One (1) non-licensed member shall represent the over sixty
populations and is selected by the governor from the general population.
Section (c)(l)(e)(l)
Board members shall be ineligible for reappointment for a period
of three (3) years following completion of each full, three (3) year
term.
The appointed replacement shall be eligible for reappointment to
a full three year term upon completion of the partial term appointment created
by the vacancy. Section (c) (1) (e) (1) (g)
Section 1.3 INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC GUIDANCE
Records of the Board shall be kept, maintained, and made
available for inspection in accordance with the Arkansas Freedom of Information
Act (Arkansas Code Annotated § 2549-101 etseq.).
Records of the Board will be maintained in accordance with the
laws governing retention of documents of State agencies.
The Board will periodically release names of new licensees and
the names of those licensees whose licenses have been suspended or revoked, and
those who are appealing a suspension or a revocation, to the Arkansas
Counseling Association, to the Arkansas Association of Marriage and Family
Therapy, and the Arkansas Mental Health Counselors Association for publication
in their newsletters. This information will be periodically placed
on the Board website: http://www.abec.myarkansas.net/
A periodic press release may be issued to state-wide newspapers
listing licenses issued, suspended, and revoked. If the suspension or
revocation is under appeal it will be so noted.
Final decisions arrived at through administrative hearings will
be available to requesters [including third party payers]. These decisions will
be available through the Board's web site or by written request from the Board
office.
Section 1.4 PURPOSES
OF ORGANIZATION
The Board is responsible for the regulation of the titles and the
practices of Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy and Specialization
Licenses related to Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy in the State of
Arkansas. This includes examining the qualifications of the applicants and
approving each for licensing, as well as revoking, suspending, and renewing
licenses.
Persons engaged in the practice of Counseling or Marriage and
Family Therapy to individuals or groups in Arkansas must hold an Arkansas
license to engage in that practice. These regulations apply to all traditional
approaches and to all technology-assisted distance approaches, including
telephone approaches, to Counseling or Marriage and Family Therapy offered to
individuals or groups in Arkansas. Telephone Crisis "Hot Lines", telephone
consultation between licensed mental health providers and emergency telephone
calls are exempt. Counseling or Marriage and Family Therapy telephone services
provided as a regular scope of practice, as a business, advertised to the
public with hourly fees as mental health services by Counselors or Marriage and
Family Therapists requires an Arkansas license. See Section XII for the ethics,
definitions and standards for the practice of internet or telephone
services.
In order to protect the citizens of Arkansas, obtaining a license
as a Counselor/Psychotherapist or Marriage and Family Therapist is a
prerequisite to offering, rendering or delivering counseling services in
Arkansas to individuals or groups located in Arkansas. The license requirement
applies to traditional face to face counseling as well as to
Technology-Assisted distance (electronic, computer, telephone)
counseling.
If the individual or group receiving mental health services is
physically located in Arkansas, the Counselor/Psychotherapist or Marriage and
Family Therapist providing the services must hold an Arkansas license
regardless of whether he or she is located in-state or out of state.
If the Counselor/Psychotherapist or Marriage and Family Therapist
are physically located in Arkansas, he or she must have an Arkansas license to
provide Counseling/Psychotherapy or Marriage and Family Therapy services to
individuals or groups located in Arkansas. If the licensee offers services to
clients in another state, the licensee is subject to the laws of that
state.
Section 1.5
ORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD
The Board will elect officers, within 30 days before January 2 of
each year. The Board shall elect a chair and a secretary and other such
officers, as it deems necessary, from its members to serve for terms of one
year. Five (5) members shall at all times constitute a quorum. Additional
meetings may he held at the discretion of the chair or upon written request of
any three (3) members of the Boards
Section 1.6 MEETINGS
Meetings of the Board shall be open to the public in accordance
with the Freedom of Information Act. Dates, times, and places of meetings shall
be furnished to anyone requesting the information and made available to the
press and on the website.
Under the provisions of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act
the Board may go into executive session for the purpose of giving oral
licensure examinations or to develop examination questions.
Section 1.7 FINANCES
The Board shall charge fees for applications, licenses,
examinations and other administrative purposes deemed necessary by the Board.
In addition to fees collected, the Board is empowered to accept grants from
foundations and institutions to carry out its function. The Board may hire such
personnel as necessary to carry out its activities. The Board Chairperson and
the Executive Director shall be bonded to handle finances of the Board in
compliance with state regulations.
All receipts for fees are numbered and dated.
Section 1.8 INTENT OF THE ACT
It is intended that the provisions of Arkansas Code Annotated
§
17-27-101 et
seq. operate in accordance with other laws.
Section 1.9 DEFINITIONS
(a) "Appraisal activities" means selecting,
administering, scoring and interpreting instruments designed to assess an
individual's aptitudes, attitudes, abilities, achievements, personal
characteristics and interests, but shall not include the use of projective
techniques for personality assessment unless specifically qualified to do so
under another license. Documentation of all training for appraisal activities
and Board approval for those activities is required for protection of the
public. Appraisal Specialization License [Rule Section 3.5 (C) (6)] is required
if appraising/evaluating for placement of children or adults in special
programs, in schools, institutions, etc. If appraisals are conducted under
contracts with public schools or for the Arkansas Department of Human Services
the Appraisal Specialization License must be verified prior to reimbursement to
schools or individuals.
(b)
"Counseling/Psychotherapy" means assisting individuals or groups, through the
counseling relationship, to develop understanding of personal problems, define
goals, and plan action reflecting interests, abilities, aptitudes, and needs.
Counseling/Psychotherapy is the application of mental health, psychological, or
human development principles, through cognitive, affective, behavioral or
systemic intervention strategies that address wellness, personal growth, or
career development, as well as pathology. The terms Counseling/ Psychotherapy
are used interchangeably in definitions of mental health activities in
counseling textbooks
(c) "Licensed
Associate Counselor" means any person holding himself/herself out to the public
by any title or description of services incorporating the words Licensed
Associate Counselor, who meets the requirements set forth in Section 3.1 of
these rules and regulations, and who offers to render counseling services to
individuals, groups, organizations, corporations, institutions, government
agencies, or the general public for monetary remuneration otherwise implying
licensure, training, experience, and/or expertise in counseling, and who holds
a current, valid license to practice counseling under the supervision of a duly
Licensed Professional Counselor. Nothing in this definition shall be construed
to include those professions excluded by Ark. Code Ann. §
17-27-103.
(d) "Licensed Associate Marriage and Family
Therapist" means any person who holds himself/herself out to the public by any
title or description of services incorporating the words licensed associate
marriage and family therapist, who meets the requirements set forth in Section
3.3 of these rules and regulations; offers to render marriage and family
therapy services to individuals, couples and families, singularly or in groups
for monetary remuneration; or holds a current, valid license to practice
marriage and family therapy services under the supervision of a licensed
Marriage and Family Therapist. Nothing in this definition shall be construed to
include those professions excluded by Ark. Code Ann. §
17-27-103.
(e) "Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist"
means any person who: holds himself/herself out to the public by any title or
description of services incorporating the words licensed marriage and family
therapist, who meets the requirements set forth in Section 3.4 of the rules and
regulations; offers to render marriage and family therapy services to
individuals, groups, couples, families, organizations, corporations,
institutions, government agencies, or the general public for monetary
remuneration or otherwise implying that he or she is licensed, trained,
experienced, or an expert in marriage and family therapy; or holds a current,
valid license to practice marriage and family therapy. Nothing in this
definition shall be construed to include those professions excluded by Ark.
Code Ann. §
17-27-103.
(f) "Licensed Professional Counselor" shall
mean any person holding himself/herself out to the public by any title or
description of services incorporating the words Licensed Professional
Counselor, who meets the requirements set forth in Section 3.2 of the rules and
regulations, and who offers to render counseling services to individuals,
groups, organizations, corporations, institutions, government agencies, or to
the general public for monetary remuneration or who otherwise implies
licensure, training, experience, and/or expertise in counseling and who holds a
current valid license to practice counseling/psychotherapy. Nothing in this
definition shall be construed to include those professions excluded by Ark,
Code Ann. §
17-27-103.
(g) "Marriage and Family Therapy" means the
use of scientific and applied marriage and family theories, methods and
procedures for the purpose of describing, evaluating and modifying marital,
family and individual behavior within the context of marital and family
systems, including the context of marital formation and dissolution. Marriage
and family therapy is based on systems theories, marriage and family
development, normal and dysfunctional behavior, human sexuality and
psychotherapeutic, marital and family therapy theories, and techniques in the
evaluation, assessment and treatment of interpersonal or intrapersonal
dysfunction within the context of marriage and family systems. Marriage and
family therapy may also include clinical research into more effective methods
for the treatment and prevention of the above-named conditions. Nothing in this
definition or in this chapter shall be construed as precluding licensed
professional counselors or licensed associate counselors from rendering these
services.
(h) "Privileged
Communication" shall mean any communication between client and counselor given
in confidence and not intended to be disclosed to third persons other than
those to whom disclosure is made in the furtherance of the rendition of
professional services to the client.
(i) "Referral activities" means the
evaluating of data to identify problems and to determine the advisability of
referral to other specialists.
(j)
"Relevant Professional" or "Continued Education Experience" means documented
training, workshops, institutes, seminars, etc., primarily counseling in
content. The Board accepts documented clock hours as described in Section
7.3.
(k) "Research activities"
means reporting, designing, conducting, or consulting on research in counseling
with human subjects.
(l) "Statement
of Professional Intent" means a typed statement from the applicant on file with
the Board, describing the scope of practice for use under the requested
license, the public with whom the applicant will work, and the
counseling/psychotherapy and appraisal approaches the applicant plans
to use (including techniques and tools).
(m) "Supervision" means professional
monitoring and reporting (a) of a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) by an
individual licensed as a LAC supervisor and (b) of a Licensed Associate
Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFL) by an individual licensed as a LAMFT
supervisor.
(n) "Practicing
Counselors" means individuals who apply mental health, psychological or human
development principles, through cognitive, affective, behavioral or systemic
intervention, strategies that address wellness, personal growth, or career
development, as well as pathology.
(o) "Counselor Educator" means Counselors who
are responsible for developing, implementing, and supervising educational
programs and are skilled as teachers and practitioners. They are knowledgeable
regarding the ethical, legal, and regulatory aspects of the profession, are
skilled in applying that knowledge, and make students and supervisees aware of
their responsibilities. Counselor Educators conduct counselor education and
training programs in an ethical manner and serve as role models for
professional behavior. Individuals, who develop, implement/conduct and
supervise comprehensive education and training programs for counseling trainees
in a knowledgeable, skillful and ethical manner, and serve as culturally-aware
role models for professional behavior. Counselor Educators are considered
professionals at the degree level of Ed.D. or Ph.D. in counseling, psychology,
or closely related field level of education who infuse material related to
human diversity into all courses and/or workshops that are designed to promote
the development of professional counselors. Counselor Educators are individuals
whose primary profession is as a counselor educator, employed at least half
time in an Arkansas institution of higher education or counselor educators
retired from a higher education institution in Arkansas.
(p) "Adjunct lecturer" means persons who
teach counseling courses, part time for various reasons at universities in
higher education. They are considered practicing counselors by profession, if
licensed or licensable. They are eligible for board service under the
practicing counselor category.
(q)
"Supervisor" means an individual who holds a state appointment as a supervisor
in the State Department of Education for the purpose of promoting the
development of professional counselors in the public schools and holds the EdD
or the PhD level of education in counseling or related field. The intent of Act
593 of 1979 was to recognize the State Supervisors of public school counselors
as equal to Counselor Educators in Higher Education as persons responsible for
programs and training. The amendments of Act 244 of 1997 did not address nor
change the intent of the Act 593 of 1979. Arkansas individuals who hold the LPC
or LMFT license and also hold the Supervision Specialization License are
approved to supervise LAC and LAMFT licensed individuals.
(r) "Licensed or Licensable" means a person
who hold an Arkansas counseling or therapy license that is in good standing
with the Board or persons who have filed an application and are in the process
of becoming licensed by the Board. Individuals who have an application in
process but fail the examinations or fingerprint check are not considered
licensable.
(s) "Distance Learning"
means distance education; learning or distance learning, a formal education
process, in which instruction occurs when the student and instructor are not
located in the same place. Distance learning adds technology to the learning
environment by a variety of means. Instruction may be synchronous or
asynchronous. Courses taught via distance learning must be approved by the
Board, as per the rules for distance course work, prior to acceptance of
courses used in an application for an Arkansas license. Section 3.6 As this
form of education has evolved with technology, it may be referred to as cyber
learning, electronic learning, distance learning. For the purposes of these
rules, the term distance learning refers to all non-traditional methods of
presentation.
(t)
"Technology-Assisted Distance Counseling" (Electronic Counseling, Cyber
Counseling) for Counseling or Marriage and Family Therapy means any form of
services offered or rendered by electronic or technology-assisted approaches
when the Counselor or Marriage and Family Therapist and the client are not
located in the same place. Technology-Assisted Distance Counseling may be
synchronous or asynchronous. Only Counselors and Marriage and Family
Therapists, licensed by the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling, who also
hold the Technology-assisted Distance Counseling or Marriage and Family Therapy
Specialization License, may provide Technology Assisted Distance Counseling or
Marriage and Family services.
(u)
"Traditional Counseling" means any form of Counseling or Marriage and Family
Therapy offered or rendered in person, face to face, with the Counselor or
Marriage and Family Therapist in the same physical location.
(v) "Group Counseling, Relational Counseling
or Group Marriage and Family Therapy" means two or more persons,
couples or families meeting with the Counselor or Marriage and
Family Therapist.
(w) "Technology"
means electronically based hardware, software, video and related systems and
telephone systems to deliver knowledge, skills, and tools for learning and
communication processes. Technology for Counseling or Marriage and Family
Therapy encompasses distance learning and distance counseling by any form of
technology system/telephone system delivery s of services. See section XII for
the Technology-Assisted Distance Counseling definitions.
(x) "Direct Service" means interaction with
clients that includes the application of Counseling or Marriage and Family
Therapy for human development skills and/or for mental health issues. In
general, the term is used to refer to time spent by the Counselor or Marriage
and Family Therapist working face to face or directly with individuals or
groups.
(y) "Indirect Service"
means consultation, case management, paperwork, staffing, billing and test
administration when the Counselor or Marriage and Family Therapist is not
working directly with the individuals or groups , but the services are directly
related to the individuals or groups employing the Counselor or Marriage and
Family Therapist.
(z) "Volunteer"
means an individual offering volunteer services that is approved by the
organization or agency for whom the service is rendered. See II. Exemptions,
Section 2.2
III. LICENSING QUALIFICATIONS
Section 3.1 LICENSED ASSOCL\TE COUNSELORS
(LAC)
In order to be eligible as a Licensed Associate Counselor, an
applicant:
(a) Must have received a
graduate degree that is primarily professional counseling in content from a
regionally accredited institution. The graduate semester hours must meet the
national academic and training content standards adopted by the Board and the
Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
(CACREP/CORE) or equivalent;
(b)
Must demonstrate professional competencies by passing written, oral, and
situational examinations as prescribed by the Board;
(c) Must arrange supervision with a
Board-approved LAC supervisor and have the plan/agreement for the supervision
approved by the Board prior to license issue;
(d) Must have met the criminal background
check mandated by Ark. Code Ann. §
17-27-313;
(e) Must be a citizen of the U.S. or have an
immigration green card to document and verify legal alien work status in the
U.S_as indicated by a valid Social Security Number.
(f) The intent of the law is for the required
three years (3000 clock hours) of supervision as a Licensed Associate Counselor
(LAC) to be training with the intent to become a Licensed Professional
Counselor (LPC). The intent of the law is not for the LAC license to be a
permanent license.
Section
3.2 LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS (LPC)
In order to be eligible as a Licensed Professional Counselor, an
applicant:
(a) Must meet the
requirements of Section 3.1 with the exception of (c); and
(b) Must provide evidence of three years
(3000 clock hours) of supervised full-time experience, as defined by the Board,
in professional counseling beyond the Master's Degree. One year (1000 hours) of
experience may be gained for 30-semester hours of graduate work beyond the
Master's level, provided the hours are clearly counseling in nature and
acceptable to the Board. Hours earned may be substituted for no more than two
(2) years of supervised professional experience. The Board of Examiners in
Counseling does not have the power to waive any required period of supervised
experience.
Section 3.3
LICENSED ASSOCIATE MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS (LAMFT)
In order to be eligible as a Licensed Associate Marriage and
Family Therapist, an applicant:
(a)
Must have received a graduate degree in marriage and family therapy or related
field from a regionally accredited institution. The graduate semester hours
must meet the national academic and training content standards adopted by the
Board from the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy
Education (COAMFTE/AAMFT) or the Council for Accreditation Counselor Related
Education Programs (CACREP/CORE) or equivalent;
(b) Must demonstrate professional
competencies by passing written, oral, and situational examinations prescribed
by the Board;
(c) Must arrange
supervision with a Board-approved Licensed Associate Marriage and Family
Therapist supervisor and have the plan/agreement for supervision approved by
the Board prior to license issue;
(d) Must have met the Criminal Background
Check mandated by Act 1317 of 1997;
(e) ) Must be a citizen of the U.S. or have
an immigration green card to document and verify legal alien work status in the
U.S, as indicated by a valid Social Security Number.
(f) The intent of the law is for the required
three years (3000 clock hours) of supervision as a Licensed Associate Marriage
and Family Therapist (LAMFT) to be training with the intent to become a
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).
Section 3.4 LICENSED MARRL\GE AND FAMILY
THERAPISTS (LMFT)
In order to be eligible as a Licensed Marriage and Family
Therapist, an applicant:
(a) Must have
received a graduate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy or related field from
a regionally accredited institution. The graduate semester hours must meet the
national academic and training content standards adopted by the Board from the
Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)
or the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
(CACREP/CORE/COAMFTE Standards or the American Association of Marriage &
Family Therapy (AAMFT)
(b) Must
demonstrate professional competencies by passing written, oral, and situational
examinations prescribed by the Board;
(c) Must have met the Criminal Background
Check mandated by Act 1317 of 1997;
(d) Must be a citizen of the United States or
have a green card to document and verify legal alien work status in the U.S.
The green card must be current and issued by the United States Immigration
Bureau; and
(e) Must provide
evidence of three years (3000 clock hours) of supervised full-time experience,
as defined by the Board, in marriage and family therapy beyond the Master's
Degree. One year of experience may be gained for 30 semester hours of graduate
work beyond the Master's level, provided the hours are clearly marriage and
family therapy in nature and acceptable to the Board. Hours earned may be
substituted for no more than two years of supervised professional experience.
The Board of Examiners in Counseling does not have the power to waive any
required period of supervised experience.
Section 3.5 Dual Credential / Licensure
For practitioners who possess both the LAC/LPC &. LAMFT/LMFT,
a single licensure certificate will be available at a reduced cost. This is not
a new licensure category, only a different certificate. The Continuing
Education requirement will be 24 hours, with 3 hours minimum in Ethics. The
remaining 21 hours must indicate a balance between counseling and marriage
& family continuing education.
Section 3.6 Specializations
(a) The Board shall evaluate areas of
specialization. The Board will use the national standards for the preparation
of counselors, prepared by the specific professional association, as a guide in
establishing the standards for counseling; i.e., Rehabilitation Counseling,
Pastoral Counseling, Coaching, Career Counseling, School Counseling, ,
Gerontological Counseling, Counseling Supervision, Drug Sl Alcohol, Addictions,
Appraisal, Art, Music, Mediation, Technology-assisted Counseling or Marriage
and Family Therapy, Technology-assisted Supervision, Traditional Supervision,
Recreation Therapeutic Counseling, Applied Behavior Analysts, Play Therapy,
Dance Therapy, Neurofeedback, Therapeutic Humor, EMDR, Animal Assisted Therapy,
Eating Disorders, Trauma, Treatment of Sexual Abusers, Grief and / or other
specified counseling areas as identified. If no national standards are
available, the Board will adopt the highest Arkansas standards
available.
(b) Specialization
licenses will be granted to individuals who hold the LPC, LAC, LAMFT, or LMFT
license and are in good standing with the Board. The applicant for the
specialization license who holds certification, registry, or license issued by
recognized and Board approved national associations or credentialing bodies
will submit that documentation. All certifications received directly from the
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) or the American Association for
Marriage and Family Therapist AAMFT) will be accepted as evidence of
specialization. If no national standards are available the Board will adopt the
highest Arkansas state standards available for that specialization.
(c) Specializations currently approved are:
include:
School________________ |
Hypnotherapy__________ |
Career________________ |
Pastoral Counseling ,_______ |
Rehabilitation__________ |
Supervision-LAC____________ |
Appraisal ____________ |
Supervision-LAMFT___________ |
Drug Sl Alcohol________ |
Play Therapy___________ |
Addictions ________ |
Dance Therapy___________ |
Art Therapy___________ |
Neurofeedback___________, |
Mediation__________ |
Technology-Assisted Counseling___________, |
Coaching___________ |
Technology-Assisted Supervision___________ |
Recreation____________ |
Behavior Analyst/Therapeutic
Specialist___________ |
Music Therapy_________ |
Therapeutic Humor _________ |
EMDR_______________ |
Eating Disorders______________ |
Animal Assisted Therapy_____ |
Trauma__________Grief |
Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA)
specialization Standard Bodies
School Counselors:
https://www.schoolt:oun5elor.ors/iisca/media/asca/home/SCConipeterictes.pdf
Hypnotherapy:
http://www.natboard.cotn/tndexfiles/pagc358.htm
Career Counselors:
http://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/guidelines
Pastoral Counselors:
hctp://www.aapc.org/Dcfault.aspx?ssid=74&.NavPTypeId= 1184
Rehabilitation:
https://www.crccertification.com/eligibility-requirements
Supervision (LAC): http://www.cce-global.org/AC5
Supervision (LAMFT):
http://www.aamft.org/imis15/documents/approved supervisor
handbook.pdf
Drug & Alcohol: http://www.naadac.org/mac.
Addictions:
http://www.nbcc.org/Certtification/masterAddictionsCounselor
Play Therapy: http://a4pt.site-ym.com/?page=Credentials
Dance Therapy: http://www.adta.orK/DMTCB
Art Therapy: http://www.atcb.org/
Neurofeedback:
http://www.bcia.org/i4a/pages/index.cfin?pageid=3435
Mediation:
http://www.msb.org.au/mediator-standards/standards
Tech-Assisted:
http://www.nbcc.org/Assets/Ethics/NBCCPoltcyRcgardingPracticeofDistanceCounselingBoard.pdf
Coaching:
http://www.cce-global.org/Credenrialing/BCC
Recreation:
http://nctrc.org/about--certification/certification-standards/
Behavior Analyst, Therapeutic Specialist:
http://bacb.com/
Music Therapy: http://www.cbmt.org/
Therapeutic Humor:
http://www.aath.org/aath-code-of-ethics
EMDR: http://www.emdria.Org/?page=21
Eating Disorders:
http://www.iaedp.com/certification/certificfttion.htm
Animal Assisted Therapy:http://www.animaledu.com/programs/Animals-Assisted-Therapy
Trauma:
http://traumapro.net/certiftcation/certified-clinical'trauma-professional
Grief:
http;//aihcp.net/american-academy-of-grief-counseling
ATSA: hftp://www.atsa.com/atsa-practice-guidelines
(d) SpeciaUzation license
clarification for the following:
(1) Pastoral
Counseling specialization license standard for issue for Clergy who are
licensed by this Board and who are credentialed as member, fellow, or diplomat
by the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC) or Association for
Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE).
(2) Rehabilitation Counselor specialization
license standard for issue being for Counselors/Therapist who are licensed by
this Board and who are credentialed by the Commission on Rehabilitation
Counselor Certification (CRCC).
(3)
. Appraisal Specialization license standards for issue being (A) or (B) and (C)
(A) The curriculum and assessment experience
standards acceptable for the School Psychology Specialist Specialization
Certification/License issued by the Arkansas State Department of Education.
OR
(B) The
standards for the School Psychologists from the National Association of School
Psychologists (NASP).
(C)
Documentation of a passing score on the School Psychologist Examination (Praxis
II) Code 0400 from Educational Testing Service (ETS) required for (A) or
(B).
(4) Supervision
Specialization license standards for issue being:
(A) Three (3) years' experience as a Licensed
Professional Counselor and/or a Licensed Marriage and Family
Therapist
(B) Good standing (as LPC
and/or LMFT) in Arkansas
(C)
Documentation of one of the following:
(i) A
doctorate, primarily counseling/therapy in content, which included both course
work in supervision (specific to the supervision license, LAC or LAMFT) and
supervised experience in supervision; or
(ii) A completed, advanced three (3) credit
hour graduate course in clinical supervision (specific to the supervision
license, LAC or LAMFT) which included eighteen (18) hours of supervised
experience in supervision arranged as part of the graduate course. This class
must be taken post-full licensure as LPC unless the class is/was part of
doctoral studies prior to licensure.
(D) Must submit and have Board approval of:
(i) A typed description of his/her
theoretical orientation to supervision (specific to the supervision license,
LAC or LAMFT), including model of supervision, and techniques of
practice;
(ii) A signed code of
ethics agreement and a group supervision plan and forms;
(iii) An Oral Examination with the
Board
(5)
Mediation Specialization license standard for issue being the Certification
Standards established by the Arkansas Commission for Mediation.
(6) Thanatology and Grief Counseling
specialization license standard for being the Certification Standards
established by the Association of Thanatology and Grief Counseling.
(7) Technology-Assisted Distance Counseling
or Marriage and Family Therapy Specialization license standards for issue for
Counseling or Marriage and Family Therapy or Supervision being:
(A) A licensed LPC/LAC or LMFT/LAMFT in good
standing with the Board must apply for the Technology-assisted Distance
Counseling or Marriage Family Therapy specialization license and submit
documentation of training for approval by the Board. As training sources are
developed, the responsibility for seeking Board endorsement for the training
rests with the provider of the training. The provider must submit a written
request with materials documenting the training content for Board review and
approval prior to endorsement of the training.
(B) The written submission of a detailed plan
that delineates how the applicant will meet provisions of the Board adopted
American Counseling Association Code of Ethics and the Standards regulating
Technology-Assisted Distance Counseling or Marriage and Family Therapy for
Board approval.
(C) Revised
Statement of Intent (scope of practice) that includes a description of the
Technology-Assisted Distance Counseling or Marriage and Family
Therapy.
(D) The Board may require
an oral examination if there are unresolved questions about requirements (9)
(A-F).
(E) The submitted materials
must be approved by the Board prior to the Technology-Assisted Distance
Counseling or Marriage and Family Therapy Specialization license being
issued.
(F) Any Technology-Assisted
Distance Counseling or Marriage and Family Therapy that occurs within the State
of Arkansas, whether by an Arkansas counselor or by an out of state Counselor
or Marriage and Family Therapist, is deemed to have occurred in Arkansas. All
providers of services whether traditional or Technology-Assisted who may offer
or provide Counseling or Marriage and Family Therapy services to individuals or
groups must hold a valid Arkansas license to provide such services.
(G) Specialization requests not already
specified will be reviewed by the Board and standards established as
needed.
(H) Licensed Counselors or
Therapist who apply for a specialization license will be issued such license
upon completion of the application for a specialization, documentation of a
valid national or required credential (certificate, registry, or license), pass
on the oral examination (if required), payment of the specialization fee and
approval by majority vote of the Board,
Section 3.7 GRADUATE COURSE
REQUIREMENTS
(a) The applicant must have
received a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher
education that is primarily professional counseling or therapy in content
and document completion of a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours
in course work, counseling/therapy in content, that meet the academic and
training standards established by the Board. The counseling programs, from
which the degree/courses are earned, within the institution, shall meet the
standards for the preparation of counselors by the specific national
professional associations related to each license.
(b) The adopted standards of the national
accrediting body. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related
Educational Programs (CACREP/CORE) for Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) and
for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Endorsed and adopted as parallel are
the standards of the following: The Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE,
Standards), the United States Department of Education (USDE), and the Council
for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Other nationally recognized
accrediting bodies will be reviewed for Board endorsement as needed.
(c) The adopted standards for Licensed
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT) and Licensed Marriage and
Family Therapist (LMFT) are the current Commission on Accreditation for
Marriage and Family Therapy Education Standards (COAMFTE) or current
CACREP/CORE Standards for Marriage and Family Therapy or the current
Association of Marriage & Family Therapy (AAMFT) standards.
(d) Documentation from the institution
issuing the credit may be required in addition to the Core Curriculum section
of the application to verify that all course standards are met if the
institution has not previously filed and gained approval for courses with the
Arkansas Board.
(e)
(1) Core Curriculum for LAC or LPC includes:
(A) Professional Identity, (3 Graduate Credit
Hour Minimum)
(B) Social and
Cultural Diversity, (3 Graduate Credit Hour Minimum)
(C) Human Growth and Development, (3 Graduate
Credit Hour Minimum)
(D) Career
Development, (3 Graduate Credit Hour Minimum)
(E) Helping Relations, (3 Graduate Credit
Hour Minimum)
(F) Group Work, (3
Graduate Credit Hour Minimum)
(G)
Assessment, (3 Graduate Credit Hour Minimum)
(H) Research and Program Evaluation, (3
Graduate Credit Hour Minimum)
(I)
Practicum and/or Internships, (9 Graduate Credit Hour Minimum),
(J) Psychopathology, including DSM and ICD
training (3 Graduate Credit Hour Minimum
(K) Family and Relationship (3 Graduate
Credit Hour Minimum)
(L)
Psychopharmacology (3 Graduate Credit Hour Minimum)
(f) International degree(s) relied
on in applying for a license of any kind from the Arkansas Board must be
submitted with an English translation and certification from a credential
evaluation service. These agencies must certify that the international degree
is equivalent to a United States graduate degree. All cost for the
certification is the responsibility of the applicant. The applicant may contact
the Board office for information about approved agencies that provide the
services.
(g) All graduate course
hours used in the application for any license issued by the Arkansas Board must
have a "B" grade or above. Grades of "C" or below will not be accepted for
licensure purposes.
(h)
(1) Distance/Cyber/Electronic education
degrees will be treated the same as onsite education degrees if the degrees are
primarily professional counseling or marriage and family therapy in content and
are earned from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and the
distance education degree programs are accredited as required, ((j)
(A-H).
(2) CACREP/CORE. Courses
must be graduate credit, meet the CACREP/CORE/COAMFTE/AAMFT standards, and meet
the American Counselor Educators and Supervisors (ACES) course guidelines. ACES
Technology Interest Network course quality items are adopted for distance
learning courses.
(3)
Cyber/Distance learning includes cyber/distance (electronic)
learning/education. The definition of distance learning/education acceptable to
the Board for licensure purposes is a formal education process in which
instruction occurs when the student and instructor are not located in the same
place. Distance learning adds technology to the learning environment by a
variety of means, such as web sites, e-mail and video conferencing. Instruction
may be synchronous or asynchronous. Videos may not comprise more than 20% of
the instruction time in any one course.
(i) The responsibihty for documenting that
each course, content and presentation, meets the standards for Board
endorsement and acceptance is the responsibility of the granting institution
and the appUcant. The Board review and acceptance/denial of each
Cyber/Distance/Electronic course is mandated prior to the appUcation being
processed for any Arkansas Ucense issued by the Board.
(j) Institutions of higher education that
have graduate counselor education and related graduate programs that are not
accredited by CACREP/CORE/ /COAMFTE/AAMFT must seek endorsement from the
Arkansas Board. The Board accepts certification/accreditation from the
following, in addition to, CACREP/CORE/COAMFTE/AAMFT: The Council on
Rehabilitation Education (CORE) the Council for Higher Education Accreditation,
(CHEA). Institutions accredited by other nationally recognized accrediting
bodies must seek and secure endorsement to the adopted standards from the
Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling. Board endorsement must be completed
prior to applications and course work of graduates from those programs being
processed. The institution seeking endorsement must submit the following
information for Board review:
(1) Two (2) 0
graduate catalogs;
(2) A completed
Core Curriculum for the 60 hour requirements, effective January 1, 2003 with
the course numbers and titles from the graduate program;
(3) A copy of each syllabus listed on the
Core Curriculum;
(4) A letter from
the university verifying that the content of the courses are equivalent to the
current CACREP/CORE Standards. The CACREP/CORE Standards are the standards used
for a transcript to be processed for licensure purposes;
(5) Documentation that the quality of each
course meets the Course Quality Guidelines, of ACES Guidelines;
(6) A copy of the distance learning program
or traditional program approval/accreditation from the accrediting/certifying
agency that has accredited the university degree program/programs;
(7) The software used for distance learning
platform; and
(8) Any other
materials the university would like to submit to the Board to support the
institution's endorsement request.
When the information (j) (k) (1-8) is received, reviewed, and
approved by the Board, the administrative office staff may use the information
to review current and future transcripts from graduates of the endorsed
institution. The institution has the responsibility to keep the syllabi and
other university materials current to expedite any applications received from
graduates of the institution. The institution has the responsibility to ensure
that all courses meet the requirements set forth in the
Rules/Regulations.
IV. SUPERVISION
Section
4.1 SUPERVISION CONTENT
(a)
Supervision for the Associate Counselor in Arkansas must be provided by a
practitioner who is a Licensed Professional Counselor, holds approved
supervisor status from the Board and whose license is valid (i.e. not suspended
due to delinquent renewal or disciplinary action).
Supervision hours for applicants moving into the state must be
approved by the Board.
The Standards for Clinical Approved Supervisor (CAS) by the
National Board for Certified Counselors are adopted by the Board as the
standards to ensure the preparation in methods and techniques for practicing
counselors who offer clinical supervision services to Associate Counselors for
the protection of the client.
(b) Supervision for the Associate Marriage
and Family Therapist in Arkansas must be provided by a practitioner who is a
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, holds approved supervisor status from
the Board, and whose license is current, (i.e, not suspended due to delinquent
renewal or disciplinary actions).
Supervision hours for applicants moving into the state must be
approved by the Board.
The Standards for Clinical Approved Supervisor (CAS) by the
National Board for Certified Counselors are adopted by the Board as the
standards to ensure the preparation in methods and techniques for practicing
counselors who offer clinical supervision services to Associate Marriage and
Family Therapists for the protection of the client.
(c) Counselors or Marriage and Family
Therapists licensed at the associate level must complete approximately three
(3) years or 3000 Client Contact Hours (CCH) with supervision. The ratio for
both the LAC and LAMFT will be one (1) hour of supervision for every ten (10)
hours of client contact for the first five hundred (500) direct CCH; then one
(1) hour of supervision for every twenty (20) client contact hours for the
remaining twenty-five hundred (2500) hours. A client contact hour is defined as
face-to-face contact with a client(s) in a therapeutic engagement.
The LAC and LAMFT are required to have a minimum of 3000 hours of
cUent contact, 2200 hours defined as work related to direct, face-to-face
counseling practice and 800 hours of indirect client contact. The supervisee
may accumulate more than 800 hours, but they do not reduce the 1700 direct
client contact hours required to complete the 3000 hours of supervised
practice.
During the first 500 hours of supervision, no
indirect hours will be applicable. The total hours of supervised practice will
remain 175 clock hours of supervision-Supervisors may engage in Dyad /TriaJic
supervision after the first 500 hours in addition to traditional group
supervision.
(d) LAMFTs must have a minimum of fifty
percent (50% or 1500 hours) direct client contact hours in
family/relational/group/systemic sessions.
(e) Group sessions are reported in clock
hours of the sessions, not the clock time multiplied by the number of persons
in the group.
(f) Group supervision
may not exceed half of the total Board specified supervision requirements. A
supervision group is defined as consisting of three (3) to six (6) supervisees
with the contracted supervisor. In addition to this increase in group members.
Supervisors may engage in Dyadic Supervision (Supervisor and two (2)
supervisees), sometimes also referred to as Triadic Supervision, and list it as
Individual Supervision.
(g) For the
purpose of supervised clinical practice, hours spent conducting
Psycho-educational groups (whether inpatient/outpatient or at other locations)
may not be credited as direct client contact hours.
(h) The contracted supervisor may not
delegate supervision responsibility to any other individual. The contracted
supervisor should have an emergency plan on file if he/she were to be
unavailable.
(i) Post-master's
course work necessary for application for an Arkansas license maynot be applied
to the required supervised work experience in accordance with the rules and
regulations.
Post-master's course work may be applied toward supervised
experience in accordance with the rules and regulations governing both Licensed
Professional Counselors and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists. The Board
may accept thirty (30) hours of acceptable graduate coursework with the
exception of Section 4.1 (i). These hours will adhere to the '80 - 20' rule,
meaning 80 hours will go toward direct hours & 20 hours will go toward
indirect hours.
(j) The
LAC/LAMFl' may choose to take the NCMHCE: The National Chnical Mental Health
Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) option is available for the Licensed Associate
Counselor (LAC) and the Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMT)
who petitions for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or the Licensed
Marriage and Family (LMFT) license upon completion of the required supervised
Client Contact Hours (CCH) as a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) or Licensed
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT).
(1) The LAC/LAMFT may petition the Board to
take the NCMHCE with recommendation of the contracted supervisor upon the
completion of 2000 client contact hours. When approved, the applicant may apply
to NBCC and take the NCMHCE. The passing score will be the national cut off
score. A pass score on the NCMHCE will be equated to 500
Client Contact Hours (CCH) and applied to the total hours required for
completion of supervision.
(2) When
the passing score on the NCMHCE, all supervised CCH's are completed and
documented, revised Statement of Intent and LAC/LAMFT license fee are received,
the LPC or LMFT license may be issued and supervision may cease.
(3) Test dates for the NCMHCE will be the
same as the dates established for the NCE and all examinations will be
administered by NBCC or a designate. The candidate will send test application
and test fee directly to NBCC.
(k) Practitioners who are fully licensed for
independent practice, and meet all the requirements for both the LPC and the
LMFT, and who would prefer a single license to reflect those competencies, may
elect to have a single, dual credential at a reduced fee. There are no
additional requirements, the renewal period will remain two (2) years and the
Continuing Education requirements will be the same as any other license
category (24 CEUs every two (2) years.
Section 4.2 SUPERVISEE REQUIREMENTS AND
RESTRICTIONS
(a) All Licensed Associate
Counselors must have a Board-approved supervision plan/agreement prior to
providing any counseling services. The Licensed Associate Counselor must notify
the Board immediately and in writing of any proposed change in supervisors. The
Licensed Associate Counselor must obtain Board approval of any change in
supervisors. Failure to maintain an approved current supervision agreement may
result in license suspension or revocation.
(b) All Licensed Associate Marriage and
Family Therapists must have a Board-approved supervision plan/agreement prior
to providing any therapy services. The Licensed Associate Marriage and Family
Therapists must notify the Board immediately and in writing of any proposed
change in supervisors. The Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapists
must obtain Board approval of any change in supervisors. Failure to maintain an
approved current supervision agreement may result in license suspension or
revocation.
(c) Counselors or
Marriage and Family Therapists licensed at the associate level may offer
professional counseling services beginning the date of approval on a valid and
current supervision agreement filed with the Board and be under the supervision
of a Board licensed supervisor. Not one client may be seen prior to that date.
No clients may be seen by the associate licensee if the supervision agreement
has expired and a new one has not been Board approved. There is no grace period
for a supervision agreement that has expired; the associate licensee must cease
and desist practice the expiration date of the agreement. Both supervisee and
supervisor are responsible for being cognizant of the expiration date and for
maintaining a current supervision agreement.
(d) The LAC or LAMFT is the responsible party
for:
(1) Maintaining a current, valid, and
approved supervision contract on file with the Board prior to providing any
counseling services. The primary responsibility is with the LAC or LAMFT, but
is a shared responsibility with the supervisor. Any practice or service
rendered by the supervisee or any supervision by the supervisor becomes illegal
at 12:01midnight the expiration date of the agreement.
(2) Maintaining an accurate Statement of
Intent (Scope of Practice) and filing a copy of the current Board approved
statement with the supervisor of record.
(3) Submission of supervision reports each
six (6) months.
(e)
Supervisees must carefully avoid multiple relationships with supervisors that
interfere with the supervisory relationship; such as, having the ability to
hire or dismiss the supervisee from employment.
Section 4.3 SUPERVISOR REQUIREMENTS AND
RESTRICTIONS
(a) A Counselor or Therapist,
holding a Supervision Specialization License, shall not sign new supervision
plans/agreements if supervisor's license has not been renewed or if the
supervisor is under investigation. If under investigation, no new contracts may
be signed or submitted to the Board until all reviews, hearings, or
disciplinary actions (if any in progress) are completed and resolved.
(b) Supervisors will be limited to twelve
(12) supervision contracts at any given time, Exceptions to the limitation of
twelve (12) maybe made only at Board initiated request to a designated
supervisor.
(c) The Board office
staff may not approve supervision contract/agreements to exceed twelve
supervisees (12) for any one supervisor.
(d) Supervisors must have a Board approved
copy of a supervision plan/agreement dated prior to providing supervision to a
LAC or LAMFT.
(e) Board approved
supervisors of LAC/LAMFT must carefully avoid multiple relationships with
supervisees that interfere with the supervisory relationship; such as,
administrative supervisors within agencies with any level of direct or indirect
administrative authority over the supervisee.
(f) The supervisor and the supervisee are
both the responsible parties for maintaining a current Board approved
supervision agreement/plan. Any practice or service rendered by the supervisee
or any supervision by the supervisor becomes illegal at 12:01midnight the
expiration date of the agreement.
(g) Supervisors are required to attend one
(1) Board approved / sponsored / recognized supervisor training per licensure
renewal period. These recognized trainings are available from Board recognized
state associations (ArMHCA, ArACES, ArCA, ArMFTA, ArLCA, ArSCA & ArMHEA)
and at other Board recognized and designated times and places such as regional
or national conferences.
Section
4.4 SUPERVISION REPORTS AND EVALUATIONS
(a) Supervision evaluations and Client
Contact Hours reports are due every six (6) months regardless of the number of
CCH accumulated.
(b) The LAC or
LAMFT is the party responsible for submission of supervision reports and
evaluations every six (6) months.
(c) The maximum of a thirty (30) day grace
period is allowed for the Board to receive the reports and
evaluations.
(d) Reports submitted
over thirty days late will be reviewed by the Board on a case by case basis to
determine whether or not the hours will be accepted. The licensee and the
supervisor must send written explanation for the late report. The Board will
evaluate the stated reasons for the late reports. The Board may request the
Supervisor and Supervisee to meet with the Board for additional information
prior to making a decision concerning the situation.
(e) A continual pattern of violation and
failure to comply with the law may result in an Administrative Hearing for
disciplinary action, suspension or revocation of license.
(f) The supervisor and the supervisee are
both the responsible parties for maintaining a current; Board approved
supervision agreement/plan. Any practice or service rendered by the supervisee
or any supervision by the supervisor becomes illegal at 12:01 midnight the
expiration date of the agreement.
V. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Section 5.1 STATEMENT OF INTENT
The Statement of Intent (Scope of Practice) to practice must be
completed signed and dated on each page. The statement must be consistent with
the credentials documented in the application for licensure and include a
satisfactory response to all items on the Statement of Intent (Scope of
Practice) form.
Section 5.2
TRANSCRIPTS
(a) Applicants must submit
official transcript documentation for Board review. The Board office staff will
review applicants' transcripts to ensure:
(1)
That all academic coursework for licensure has been completed at institutions
of higher education having accreditation duly recognized by the Board for
degree programs and courses;
(2)
That applicants are minimally qualified to sit for the appropriate written
examination (s) by having completed either the required CACREP/CORE or
COAMFTE/AAMFTE core curriculum courses; and
(3) That core curriculum courses have been
completed prior to admission to written examination/examinations unless exempt
under section 6.2 (d).
(4) That all
course grades are B or above.
(b) If the transcript courses titles are
ambiguous or do not adequately convey the pertinent content of the courses, the
Board office staff is to request documentation of content from the applicant
for clarification purposes.
Section
5.3 PROOF OF SUPERVISION
The applicant (licensed in another state or with an Arkansas
state agency) will submit a record of post-master's supervised counseling work
related experience and/or Marriage and Family Therapy work related experience
for Board approval. The approved experience will determine the applicant's
license (Associate or Professional) level.
Section 5.4 REFERENCES
(a) The applicant will submit a minimum of
four (4) references. Copies of references sent directly from other state boards
or university placement centers will be accepted by endorsement if no more than
five years old. The applicant must include references from two (2) full time
faculty members in the degree granting training program, one (1) supervisor of
the applicant's clinical work and one (1) from another mental health
professional.
(b) The Board will
not accept evaluations recommendations, and documentation of supervised
experience from persons related either by blood (both lineal and collateral
consanguinity) or marriage (affinity). Current members of the Board may not
submit references for the applicants.
(c) If a Board member supervised an applicant
in graduate courses, the supervision may be documented and verified by that
Board member. A Board member will not lead the Oral Examination nor evaluate
the application file of a former student.
(d) All forms and instructions included in
the application process will be considered part of the rules and regulations of
the Board. The forms may not be altered or changed by applicants.
Section 5.5 BOARD DECISIONS
An affirmative vote of a majority of those Board members present
and voting will be held as evidence of the following:
(a) The applicant has passed an oral
examination;
(b) The applicant
shall successfully complete a situational examination because of unresolved
questions that arose during an oral examination;
(c) Application is processed for the
Associate or the Professional License as determined by the documented, approved
post-master's work experience;
(d)
The applicant has been granted the license based upon satisfactory completion
of the application process.
Section
5.6 APPLICANT STATUS WITH OTHER PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS AND BOARDS
Applications from individuals who are under investigation,
sanction, probation, disciplinary supervision, revocation, or rehabilitation by
counseling, psychology, social work, or other related Boards or credentialing
bodies will not be considered for an Arkansas license until documentation from
the issuing body is received that the sanctions are removed or completed
Section 5.7 DURATION OF APPLICATION
(a) Applications are active for twelve (12)
calendar months from the date the application is received in the Board
office.
(b) If the application
process is not completed within (12) twelve months from receipt of the
application by the Board, an applicant may request that the Board extend the
twelve-month application window. If an extension is not requested, or is
denied, the application becomes void and the applicant must apply as a new
applicant.
(c) If new requirements
have been placed for applicants in the twelve-month window the Board may
require that the new requirements be met within the extension period as part of
the application extension approval.
(d) A second extension period is discouraged
and will only be considered by the Board when very unusual, extenuating
circumstances are documented.
VI. EXAMINATIONS
Section
6.1 GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
(a)
Applicants whose credentials meet the requirements of Ark. Code Ann. §
17-27-301
through 305, will be scheduled for written examinations. Oral and/or
situational examinations may be required by the Board if deemed
necessary.
(b) The Board staff will
compile lists of applicants who have met all requirements for admission to the
National Counselor Examination (NCE), American Marriage & Family Therapy
Regulatory Board (AMFTRB), and/or National Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Examination (NCMHCE) examination(s). The list will be supplied to the national
test administrators regularly (weekly on most occasions).
(c) Each year the Board will contract for the
administration of:
(1) The National Counseling
Examinations (NCE) with the National Board for Certifying Counselors
(NBCC).
(2) The National Clinical
Mental Health Counseling Examinations (NCMHCE) with NBCC.
(3) The Examinations in Marital and Family
Therapy with the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards
(AMFTRB).
(4) The Arkansas Board of
Examiners in Counseling Jurisprudence Exam with NBCC.
(d) Cut-off scores established by the
national examination agencies for each examination date are the minimum scores
accepted by the Board for an applicant to meet respective written examination
requirements for licensure.
(e) If
the Board votes to deny the license, the applicant will be so notified by
certified or signature confirmation mail. Specific reasons for denial will be
stated.
(f) License will be granted
to applicants who satisfactorily complete the application process and are
approved by a majority vote of the Board.
(g) An applicant who fails required written
examination the first time attempted may take it the second time at any date of
his/her choice
(h) If the applicant
fails to pass written, oral, or situational examination(s) in two trials, the
applicant's application file will be removed from active status. The applicant
must wait two years from the date of the second examination and apply as a new
applicant meeting any requirements in place the date the new application is
received in the Board office.
(i)
Prior to an application being processed when an examination has been failed two
times, the Board requires:
(1) A new
application for licensure and examination may not be submitted prior to two
years following the date of the second failed examination; and
(2) Documentation of completed additional
graduate study in Counseling or Marriage and Family Therapy or other remedial
work that the Board may specify.
Section 6.2 WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS
(a) All applicants for licensure must
complete one of the following
applicable written
examinations.
(1) Counselor applicants must
satisfactorily complete the National Counseling Examination (NCE) unless
licensed in another state and required to take the NCMHCE (Section
9(i)).
(2) Marriage and Family
Therapist applicants must satisfactorily complete the American Marriage and
Family Therapy Regulatory Board (AMFTRB) examination and meet the national pass
score.
(b) All
applicants must provide verification of a successful passing score on the
Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling Jurisprudence Exam when such exam
becomes a part of the application process.
(c) The Board will adopt a prepared
standardized test covering the specialized knowledge common to each license.
The Board may contract with test design specialists to prepare and provide
materials for such testing and to revise the examination as deemed necessary.
Subtests in specialty skill areas may be a part of updating. The national pass
score determined for each examination by the testing company is the acceptable
score determined by the Board to be the pass level to qualify the applicant for
the oral and situational examinations.
(d) Submission of application documentation
and fees for national written examinations occurs in two (2) steps:
(1) Test application and associated fees must
be made directly to the national examining organizations for admission to sit
for the written examinations. The test applications and fees for written
examinations must comply with the test company's deadlines.
(2) The licensure application, including
transcripts, statements of intent, letters of recommendation and payment of the
licensure application fee, must be received by the Board office for the
applicant's name to be added to the approved list for test admission.
(e) Persons who are enrolled in
the final semester of graduate study in counseling or marriage and family
therapy and have completed the core curriculum courses may be admitted to the
written examination by submitting to the Board, with their application, a
letter stating their projected graduation date from one of the following
college or university officials:
(1) Faculty
Internship Coordinator
(2) Master's
Committee Chair
(3) Graduate
Coordinator
(4) Department
Chair
(5) Registrar
(6) Associate Dean
(7) Dean
Section 6.3 ORAL EXAMINATIONS
(a) All individuals applying for licensure
may be required to complete an oral examination prior to being granted a
license. If the applicant is seeking dual licensure, he or she must completey
oral, written and/or situational examinations. Individuals applying for a
Supervision specialization license or the Technology-Assisted specialization,
must successfully pass an oral examination.
(b) An oral examination may be scheduled for
applicants upon receipt by the Board of the following: a passing score on the
written examination, thetf applicant's final official transcripts reflecting
degree conferred, and all other application requirements.
(c) The oral cxcimin&tion. will may
include a review of the applicant's Statement of Intent, questions from the
Board relative to the profession of counseling/therapy, and questions about
credentials submitted with the application.
(d) If there are unresolved questions, the
Board may require an oral examination of any applicant.
Section 6.4 SITUATIONAL EXAMINATIONS
(a) Situational exam - A situational
demonstration of counseling or marriage and family therapy skills may be
requested by the Board in the form of a DVD/CD, other technology-assisted
methods, (example Skype) or live demonstration. A consent and release statement
signed by each participant must accompany such session. The Board may utilize
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists or Licensed Professional Counselors,
who have specialized knowledge common to the license being sought, to review
and advise regarding the session or demonstration, At least one reviewer will
have specialized knowledge appropriate to the review.
(b) The Board does not routinely require a
situational examination be passed prior to oral examination. The Board may
request a situational examination be administered and passed if the applicant
does not successfully complete the oral examination or if the Board has
unresolved questions about the competency and/or skills of the
applicant.
(c) The situational
examination may consist of a video recording, technology assisted methods, to
be determined by the Board, of the applicant engaged in a counseling
interaction with an internship client or volunteer.
(d) Volunteer clients who participated in the
situational examination may not be persons related either by blood (both lineal
and collateral consanguinity) or marriage (affinity) or from other
inappropriate multiple relationships with the applicant.
(e) When the Board requires a situational
examination, a signed and witnessed consent form signed by the client, even if
a volunteer, must accompany the submitted video.
(f) Evaluation of the situational examination
is based on demonstration of basic counseling skills on the part of the
applicant appropriate to the content, effect, and behavior of the
client/volunteer. The examination and the Board member reviews and evaluation
forms signed by the Board members will be retained in the applicant's
file.
Section 6.5
UNRESOLVED QUESTIONS
(a) Should the Board
have unresolved questions of competence it may require any one or all of the
following:
(1) Additional academic
work;
(2) Additional supervised
experience;
(3) Additional
training;
(4) Additional references
or recommendations;
(5)
Clarification of Statement of Intent;
(6) Situational Examination, Oral Examination
or both;
(7) Training
documentation
(8) Other evidence
deemed necessary to satisfy the Board as to the qualifications and/or fitness
and competence of the applicant to practice as a counselor or marriage and
family therapist.
Section
6.6 FEES
(a) Written examination
fees are determined by the national testing companies and are paid directly to
those providers.
(b) An examination
fee may be set by the Board for the processing and conducting situational
examinations.
(c) An annual file
maintenance fee, determined by the Board, will be charged when application
materials are retained in an active status longer than twelve (12) months from
application date.
(d) The schedule
of service-fees will be reviewed annually and will be set at the lowest
possible level to meet the operational expenses of the Board as appropriated by
the legislature. The fees established by the Board are published on the
Board's website (
www.abec.myarkansas.net) and are included
in each application packet and each license renewal packet. Application and
Renewal fees are found in Section XIII of the Rules.
VII. LICENSE RENEWAL
Section 7.1 EXPIRATION
All licenses expire biennially on June 30 of the renewal year.
Licensing dates and payment of fees will be set to conform to the State's
fiscal year, July 1 through June 30.
Failure to renew a license within twelve (12) months from the
date of expiration will necessitate applying for the license as a new applicant
meeting all requirements in effect as of the date the new application is
received in the Board office. In this circumstance, prior to the application
being processed, the applicant may be required to appear before the Board to
explain the failure to meet the renewal deadlines.
Section 7.2 RENEWAL FEES
(a) The biennial license renewal fee is due
and payable by May 31 of the renewal year,
(b) A late fee will be assessed if the
renewal fee is postmarked after 12:01 midnight, June 30 of the renewal
year.
(c) Failure to pay the
biennial fee within the time stated shall automatically suspend the right of
any licensee to practice while delinquent. {Arkansas Code Annotated §
17-27-307(2)
(A). Such lapsed license may be renewed
within a period of twelve (12) months, from the expiration date, by payment of
all fees and Board requirements that are in arrears.
Section 7.3 CONTINUING EDUCATION
(a) No license will be renewed without
evidence of satisfactory completion of a minimum of twenty-four (24) clock
hours of continued professional education and/or training in the twenty-four
(24) months prior to renewal. Twenty one (21) of the twenty-four (24) clock
hours must support the licensee's statement of intent. Evidence must also be
submitted of a minimum of three (3) clock hours obtained in ethics relevant to
the license being renewed.
(b) The
continuing education policies for documentation and reporting for renewal
purposes are adopted, as applicable, from those published by the National Board
for Certified Counselors (NBCC).
(c) LAC's, LPC's, LAMFT's, and LMFT's are
responsible for maintaining all appropriate documentation of their continuing
education hours completed during the previous twenty-four (24) months should
they be required for audit review. .
(d) A percentage of all renewal notices will
be audited and each licensee must submit proper documentation of CEU credit.
One-third of the file numbers each year may be selected for audit.
(e) If the licensee has not accumulated the
required continuing education hours, the licensee may take the NCE, NCMHCE, or
the AAMFT examination and meet the national pass score as a substitute for
continuing education clock hours.
(f) American Association of Christian
Counselors (AACC) continuing education documentation CEU'S related to
Counseling or Marriage and Family Therapy is acceptable.
(g) The Arkansas Board of Examiners in
Counseling does not screen programs offered by providers of continuing
education. Providers are required to secure Approved Provider Status through
NBCC, AAMFT, AACC, APA, CROC, etc., prior to advertising the programs as
approved for license renewal purposes. With official documentation, the
continuing education program hours related to counseling or therapy that are
offered by Arkansas universities and Arkansas state departments will be
accepted.
(h) The maximum number of
continuing education clock hours to be approved for reading/reviewing journal
articles or newsletter articles shall not exceed six (6) clock hours) in a two
year renewal cycle.
(i) The maximum
number of online continuing education clock hours to
be approved for renewal of the Supervision Specialization License shall not
exceed three (3) clock hours. Three (3) clock hours
must be from participation in a regional university continuing education
program or from an ArCA, ArMHCA, ArACES, ArLCAor AxMFl' Conference program or
acquired from participation at national conferences such as the Association for
Counselor Education & Supervision (ACES).
(j) All specialization licenses are required
to have six (6) hours of CEU training specific to the specialization
license.
Section 7.4
STATEMENT OF INTENT
(a) A new Statement of
Intent (Scope of Practice) must be received with the renewal fee and continuing
education documentation for any license to be renewed. The Statement of Intent
must be reviewed carefully and at least one theoretical approach to counseling
must be checked and some techniques used in conjunction with that approach must
be checked.
(b) The approved
Statement of Intent (Scope of Practice) will be in force for the valid license
date.
(c) Each page of the
Statement of Intent (Scope of Practice) must be signed and dated.
(d) The Statement of Intent (Scope of
Practice) may be revised at any time the scope of practice changes. The revised
Statement of Intent (Scope of Practice) must be submitted to the Board for
approval.
Section 7.5
RENEWAL NOTICE
Notices of renewal will be sent on or about December 15 of the
renewal year. A percentage of all annual renewals may be randomly audited based
on file number of the applicant. Forms are available on-line and will be sent
on or about January 15 for the licensee to use for the documentation of
continued education, statement of intent, and other related professional
activities. Completion of such documentation by the licensee is mandatory prior
to license renewal.
Section
7.6 RENEWAL REQUEST UNDER EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES
Renewals from individuals who are under investigation, sanction,
probation, disciplinary supervision, revocation, or rehabilitation by
counseling, marriage and family therapy, psychology, social work, or other
related Boards or credentialing bodies will not be considered for an Arkansas
license renewal until documentation from the issuing body is received that the
sanctions are removed or completed.
Non-Practicing status is available for extenuating circumstances,
whether health related, leaving the field temporarily, retirement or military
deployment. There is a $50 bi-annual fee for file maintenance.
IX. LICENSING UNDER SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Section 9.1 RECIPROCITY
No reciprocity agreement exists between other states or other
Arkansas agencies. Applicants from other states or Arkansas agencies must apply
and complete the formal application process prior to license issue. The
following rules apply to the process:
(a) An applicant who has been licensed as a
counselor or mental health professional in other state/states or by other
Arkansas agencies must submit a License Verification Form (LVF) from each state
or agency prior to the oral examination.
(b) Applicants who have continually
maintained full licensure status as an LPC, LMFT or the equivalency for a
minimum of three years (36 months) may be eligible for licensure endorsement by
the Board. The applicant must provide verification that the minimum educational
requirements identified in Section 3.6 have been met, the license issued by
another Board is in good standing and there is no history of disciplinary
action, sanctions or license denial by another state agency or by another
Arkansas agency.
(clWaiver of the NCE, NCMHCE, or the AMFIRB may be granted when
the Board has determined that another examination is equivalent or an
endorsement agreement has been reached with the other boards or agencies
responsible for licensing Counselors/Therapists.
(d) Applicants moving from another state, who
hold their licenses from that state under grand parenting, and were not
previously tested for licensure, will be required to satisfactorily complete
the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Self-Assessment Examination
(NCMHCE), et the National Counseling Examination (NCE) or the AMFTRB
Examination.
(e) Applicants who do
not meet the requirements identified in Section 9.1 (b) but meet the
requirements for full license (LPC or LMFT) in another state requiring 2000
Client Contact Hours (CCH), will need to document an additional 1000 CCH of
supervision or the application will be processed for LAC or LAMFT. The 2000 CCH
from another state will be applied to the total number of required hours. The
1000 CCH to be earned in Arkansas must be year one with 1000 clock hours of
supervised practice provided at the ratio of one (1) hour of supervision for
each twenty (20) hours of client contact?
(f) Acceptability of supervision, gained
prior to application, under other Licensing Boards or in exempt positions, will
be determined in accordance with the following:
(1) The ethical and professional standards of
the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision or the Commission on
Accreditation of Marriage and Family Therapy Education, the American
Association for Pastoral Counselors, Council for Accreditation of Counseling
and Related Educational Programs, National Board for Certifying Counselors,
Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.
(2) The appropriateness of the supervisory
relationship.
(3) The direct
counseling hours performed while under supervision will be credited at the
ratio specified by the Board and must consist of direct, face-to-face
supervision in either individual and/or group format. Technology-Assisted
Distance Supervision may be reported if the Supervisor holds the Specialization
License. Technology- Assisted Distance Supervision may not exceed fifty percent
in any one phase.
(4) Indirect
service hours while under supervision may not exceed 800 hours.
(4) Graduate school practicum or internship
hours acquired in the Master's program are not
credited to substitute for the required supervised professional work. Post
Master's hours in practicum/internships not needed for the initial application
for the Arkansas license may be applied.
(5) Hours spent conducting Psycho Educational
groups (whether inpatient/outpatient or at other locations) may not be credited
as Counseling or Marriage and Family Therapy to reduce the required direct or
indirect post master's supervised work.
(g) Acceptable Post-Master's Supervision may
include:
(1) A recognized post-master's
internship training program
(2)
Supervised CCH approved by another state's counseling Licensure Board or
Marriage and Family Therapy Board
(3) Supervision approved by NBCC, AAMFT, CRCC
or AAPC
(4) Supervised Counseling
or Marriage and Family Therapy hours accrued during employment in private
practice or in an agency or institution that meet Board adopted supervision
criteria.
Section
9.2 CONSULTING
(a) Non-resident
persons who are licensed by Counseling or Marriage and Family Therapy
regulatory boards in other states or countries may provide consulting or
research services within Arkansas for not more than thirty (30) days
(discontinuous or continuous) per calendar year.
(b) Consultant is defined as a licensed
LPC/LMFT who has practiced as a professional for a minimum of three (3) years
in another state and contracts with an Arkansas agency or institution for
research, workshops, training, or for providing advice and guidance on
professional issues.
(c) Consultant
activities and services must be short-term and contractual and must be
sponsored and supervised by a licensed Arkansas LPC or LMFT.
(d) Prospective employees, moving to Arkansas
from another state, who are applying for an Arkansas license are not to be
considered consultants and are not exempt from licensure.
(e) Licensed Counselors or Marriage and
Family Therapists who consult with other licensed professionals and/or develop
relationships with Colleagues, Employers and Employees must follow the ACA Code
Section DLa through D.2.d.
Section
9.3 OTHER PROFESSIONALS AND AGENCIES
(a) Neither the National Counselor
Examination nor the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Board
Examination will be waived for licensed Psychologists who apply for a license
from the Board.
(b) Licensed
Psychological Examiners (LPEs) who apply for a counseling or marriage and
family therapy license must minimally complete 1000 CCH of direct client
contact. . The maximum of two (2) years of supervised professional experience
may be submitted for approval by the Board if the applicant documents
supervised experience consistent with his/her Statement of Intent by
submitting:
(1) Documentation from the
Arkansas Board of Examiners in Psychology (ABKP)
(2) Statement from the ABE? or LPE supervisor
verifying the ratio of supervision to CCH and that the scope of the practice
supervised was not related to assessment, appraisal, or testing as part of
their practice
(c) Any
person holding a license from the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Psychology
(ABEP) will not be approved for any appraisal, assessment, or testing under any
license issued by this Board. All appraisal activities will be regulated by the
ABEP for any persons licensed by both the Board of Examiners in Counseling and
Board of Examiners in Psychology.
(d)
(1)
Clergy who are credentialed as member, fellow, or diplomat by the American
Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC), Association for Clinical Pastoral
Education (ACPE) or other Board-approved credentialing organizations will be
accepted as meeting the Board definition of equivalent training for Licensed
Associate or Professional Counselor or Marriage and Family Therapist
(2) Upon completion of the application
process, providing a passing score on one of the written examinations (National
Counseling Examination, Marriage and Family Therapy Examination, Pastoral
Counselor Examination or equivalent), passing the situational and oral exams,
clergy applicants with appropriate documented experience will be granted the
Licensed Counselor or Marriage and Family Therapist license with the specialty
license as pastoral counselor or pastoral marriage and family
therapist.
(e)
Applicants for the Licensed Professional Counselor license who hold a master's
degree and who are credentialed as CRC by the Commission on Rehabilitation
Counselor Certification (CRCC) standards adopted by CRCC July 1, 2003 will be
accepted as meeting the Board definition of equivalent/parallel training for
licensed Associate or Professional Counselor or Marriage and Family Therapist
provided the core curriculum courses are included in the degree or in
post-master's course work. The Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Examination
(CRC Examination) has not been determined equivalent to the National Counseling
Examination (NCE) and will not be substituted for the NCE for the LPC license.
The CRC Examination will be accepted for the Rehabilitation Counselor
Specialization License.
(f) If a
candidate is licensed or certified to practice Counseling and/or Marriage and
Family Therapy by a similar Board in another state, the Arkansas Board may at
its discretion, waive the written examination requirements of a candidate if
the candidate had an equivalent written examination in the process of obtaining
the license in another state and has been continuously licensed. If the
previous license has expired or lapsed the examination may not be waived. If
the applicant had written the examination, but did not complete the licensure
process, the written examination of record may not be more than five (5) years
old to be accepted for Arkansas license application purposes.
(g) Persons who apply for an Arkansas
license, have been continuously licensed seven years in another state and in
good standing but lack no more than nine hours of the required graduate course
work may have a one time license issued with the provision that the graduate
course requirements must be met prior to the first license renewal.
(h) Documents relevant to an application from
a person licensed in another state will be accepted as official if sent
directly from the state licensing board, from NBCC, or from the American
Association of State Counseling Boards National Credential Registry.
XII. THE PRACTICE OF INTERNET OR TELEPHONE
SERVICES
The Board adopts the National Board for Certified Counselors
(NBCC) document titled The Practice of Internet Counseling. The NBCC document
is adopted as part of Arkansas Rules to further extend and clarify
Technology-Assisted Distance Counseling Ethics, Definitions and Standards for
Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapist licensed in the state of Arkansas.
The adoption of the document is to support and extend the American Counseling
Code of Ethics for the practice of Internet Counseling.
COPIED FROM WWW.NBCC.ORG
THE PRACTICE OF INTERNET COUNSELING
This document contains a statement of principles for guiding the
evolving practice of Internet counseling. In order to provide a context for
these principles, the following definition of Internet counseling, which is one
element of technology-assisted distance counseling, is provided. The Internet
counseling standards follow the definitions presented below.
A Taxonomy for Defining Face-To-Face and Technology-Assisted
Distance Counseling
The delivery of technology-assisted distance counseling continues
to grow and evolve. Technology assistance in the form of computer-assisted
assessment, computer-assisted information systems, and telephone counseling has
been available and widely used for some time. The rapid development and use of
the Internet to deliver information and foster communication has resulted in
the creation of new forms of counseling. Developments have occurred so rapidly
that it is difficult to communicate a common understanding of these new forms
of counseling practice.
The purpose of this document is to create standard definitions of
technology-assisted distance counseling that can be easily updated in response
to evolutions in technology and practice. A definition of traditional
face-to-face counseling is also presented to show similarities and differences
with respect to various applications of technology in counseling. A taxonomy of
forms of counseling is also presented to further clarify how technology relates
to counseling practice.
Nature of Counseling
Counseling is the application of mental health, psychological, or
human development principles, through cognitive, affective, behavioral or
systemic intervention strategies, that address wellness, personal growth, or
career development, as well as pathology.
Depending on the needs of the client and the availability of
services, counseling may range from a few brief interactions in a short period
of time, to numerous interactions over an extended period of time. Brief
interventions, such as classroom discussions, workshop
presentations, or assistance in using assessment, information, or
instructional resources, may be sufficient to meet individual needs. Or, these
brief interventions may lead to longer-term counseling interventions for
individuals with more substantial needs. Counseling may be delivered by a
single counselor, two counselors working collaboratively, or a single counselor
with brief assistance from another counselor who has specialized expertise that
is needed by the client.
Forms of Counseling
Counseling can be delivered in a variety of forms that share the
definition presented above. Forms of counseling differ with respect to
participants, delivery location, communication medium, and interaction process.
Counseling participants can be individuals, couples, or
groups. The location for counseling delivery can be
face-to-face or at a distance with the assistance of technology. The
communication medium for counseling can be what is read from
text, what is heard from audio, or what is seen and heard in person or from
video. The interaction process for counseling can be
synchronous or asynchronous. Synchronous interaction occurs with little or no
gap in time between the responses of the counselor and the client. Asynchronous
interaction occurs with a gap in time between the responses of the counselor
and the client.
The selection of a specific form of counseling is based on the
needs and preferences of the client within the range of services available.
Distance counseling supplements face-to-face counseling by providing increased
access to counseling on the basis of necessity or convenience. Barriers, such
as being a long distance from counseling services, geographic separation of a
couple, or limited physical mobility as a result of having a disability, can
make it necessary to provide counseling at a distance. Options, such as
scheduling counseling sessions outside of traditional service delivery hours or
delivering counseling services at a place of residence or employment, can make
it more convenient to provide counseling at a distance.
A Taxonom-y of Forms of Counseling Practice.
Table 1 presents a taxonomy of currently available forms of counseling
practice. This schema is intended to show the relationships among counseling
forms.
Table 1
A Taxonomy of Face-To-Face and Technology-Assisted Distance
Counseling
Counseling
* Face-To-Face Counseling
* Individual Counseling
* Couple Counseling
* Group Counseling
*Technology-Assisted Distance Counseling
* Telecounseling
* Telephone-Based Individual Counseling
* Telephone-Based Couple Counseling
* Telephone-Based Group Counseling
* Internet Counseling
* E-Mail-Based Individual Counseling
* Chat-Based Individual Counseling " Chat-Based Couple
Counseling
* Chat-Based Group Counseling
* Video-Based Individual Counseling
* Video-Based Couple Counseling
* Video-Based Group Counseling
Definitions
Counseling is the application of mental health,
psychological, or human development principles, through cognitive, affective,
behavioral or systemic intervention strategies, that address wellness, personal
growth, or career development, as well as pathology.
Face-to-face counseling for individuals,
couples, and groups involves synchronous interaction between and among
counselors and clients using what is seen and heard in person to
communicate.
Technology-assisted distance counseling for individuals, couples,
and groups involves the use of the telephone or the computer to enable
counselors and clients to communicate at a distance when circumstances make
this approach necessary or convenient.
Telecounseling involves synchronous distance interaction among
counselors and clients using one-to-one or conferencing features of the
telephone to communicate.
Telephone-based individual counseling involves synchronous
distance interaction between a counselor and a client using what is heard via
audio to communicate.
Telephone-based couple counseling involves synchronous distance
interaction among a counselor or counselors and a couple using what is heard
via audio to communicate.
Telephone-based group counseling involves synchronous distance
interaction among counselors and clients using what is heard via audio to
communicate.
Internet counseling involves asynchronous and synchronous
distance interaction among counselors and clients using e-mail, chat, and
videoconferencing features of the Internet to communicate.
E-mail-based individual Internet counseling involves asynchronous
distance interaction between counselor and client using what is read via text
to communicate.
Chat-based individual Internet counseling involves synchronous
distance interaction between counselor and client using what is read via text
to communicate.
Chat-based couple Internet counseling involves synchronous
distance interaction among a counselor or counselors and a couple using what is
read via text to communicate.
Chat-based group Internet counseling involves synchronous
distance interaction among counselors and clients using what is read via text
to communicate.
Video-based individual Internet counseling involves synchronous
distance interaction between counselor and client using what is seen and heard
via video to communicate.
Video-based couple Internet counseling involves synchronous
distance interaction among a counselor or counselors and a couple using what is
seen and heard via video to communicate.
Video-based group Internet counseling involves synchronous
distance interaction among counselors and clients using what is seen and heard
via video to communicate.
Standards for the Ethical Practice of Internet Counseling
These standards govern the practice of Internet counseling and
are intended for use by counselors, clients, the public, counselor educators,
and organizations that examine and deliver Internet counseling. These standards
are intended to address practices that are unique to Internet counseling and
Internet counselors and do not duplicate principles found in traditional codes
of ethics.
These Internet counseling standards of practice are based upon
the principles of ethical practice embodied in the NBCC Code of Ethics.
Therefore, these standards should be used in conjunction with the most recent
version of the NBCC ethical code. Related content in the NBCC Code are
indicated in parentheses after each standard.
Recognizing that significant new technology emerges continuously,
these standards should be reviewed frequently. It is also recognized that
Internet counseling ethics cases should be reviewed in light of delivery
systems existing at the moment rather than at the time the standards were
adopted.
Internet Counseling Relationship
1. In situations where it is difficult to
verify the identity of the Internet client, steps are taken to address impostor
concerns, such as by using code words or numbers.
2. Internet counselors determine if a client
is a minor and therefore in need of parental/guardian consent. When
parent/guardian consent is required to provide Internet counseling to minors,
the identity of the consenting person is verified.
3. As part of the counseling orientation
process, the Internet counselor explains to clients the procedures for
contacting the Internet counselor when he or she is offline and, in the case of
asynchronous counseling, how often e-mail messages will be checked by the
Internet counselor.
4. As part of
the counseling orientation process, the Internet counselor explains to clients
the possibility of technology failure and discusses alternative modes of
communication, if that failure occurs.
5. As part of the counseling orientation
process, the Internet counselor explains to clients how to cope with potential
misunderstandings when visual cues do not exist.
6. As a part of the counseling orientation
process, the Internet counselor collaborates with the Internet client to
identify an appropriately trained professional who can provide local
assistance, including crisis intervention, if needed. The Internet counselor
and Internet client should also collaborate to determine the local crisis
hotline telephone number and the local emergency telephone number.
7. The Internet counselor has an obligation,
when appropriate, to make clients aware of free public access points to the
Internet within the community for accessing Internet counseling or Web-based
assessment, information, and instructional resources.
8. Within the limits of readily available
technology, Internet counselors have an obligation to make their Web site a
barrier-free environment to clients with disabilities.
9. Internet counselors are aware that some
clients may communicate in different languages, live in different time zones,
and have unique cultural perspectives. Internet counselors are also aware that
local conditions and events may impact the client.
Confidentiality in Internet Counseling
10. The Internet counselor informs Internet
clients of encryption methods being used to help insure the security of
client/counselor/supervisor communications.
Encryption methods should be used whenever possible. If
encryption is not made available to clients, clients must be informed of the
potential hazards of unsecured communication on the Internet. Hazards may
include unauthorized monitoring of transmissions and/or records of Internet
counseling sessions.
11.
The Internet counselor informs Internet clients if, how, and how long session
data are being preserved.
Session data may include Internet counselor/Internet client
e-mail, test results, audio/video session recordings, session notes, and
counselor/supervisor communications. The likelihood of electronic sessions
being preserved is greater
because of the ease and decreased costs involved in recording.
Thus, its potential use in supervision, research, and legal proceedings
increases.
12. Internet
counselors follow appropriate procedures regarding the release of information
for sharing Internet client information with other electronic sources.
Because of the relative ease with which e-mail messages can be
forwarded to formal and casual referral sources, Internet counselors must work
to insure the confidentiality of the Internet counseling relationship.
Legal Considerations, Licensure, and Certification
13. Internet counselors review
pertinent legal and ethical codes for guidance on the practice of Internet
counseling and supervision.
Local, state, provincial, and national statutes as well as codes
of professional membership organizations, professional certifying bodies, and
state or provincial licensing boards need to be reviewed. Also, as varying
state rules and opinions exist on questions pertaining to whether Internet
counseling takes place in the Internet counselor's location or the Internet
client's location, it is important to review codes in the counselor's home
jurisdiction as well as the client's. Internet counselors also consider
carefully local customs regarding age of consent and child abuse reporting, and
liability insurance policies need to be reviewed to determine if the practice
of Internet counseling is a covered activity.
The Internet counselor's Web site provides links to websites of
all appropriate certification bodies and licensure boards to facilitate
consumer protection.