Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 135 - RULES OF GEORGIA COMPOSITE BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS, SOCIAL WORKERS AND MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS
Chapter 135-5 - REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE
Rule 135-5-.02 - Professional Counselors
Universal Citation: GA Rules and Regs r 135-5-.02
Current through Rules and Regulations filed through March 20, 2024
Pursuant to Official Code of Georgia Annotated 43-10A-11 an applicant for a license in Professional Counseling must meet the following requirements.
(a) Definitions.
1.
"The
Practice of Professional Counseling" means practice in that specialty
which utilizes counseling and psychotherapy to evaluate and treat emotional and
mental problems and conditions, whether cognitive, behavioral, or affective.
The practice is further defined in O.C.G.A.
43-10A-3(10).
2.
"Direction" means the ongoing
administrative overseeing by an employer or superior of a Professional
Counselor's work in the practice of professional counseling as defined by
135-5-.02(a)(1) by a
director. The director shall be responsible for assuring the quality of the
services rendered by that practitioner and shall ensure that qualified
supervision or intervention occurs in situations which require expertise beyond
that of the practitioner.
3.
"Director" means the person who provides direction and who is
either the employer of the person who receives direction or is the supervisor
in the administrative chain of command to the person who receives
direction.
4.
"Supervision" means the direct clinical review, for the purpose of
training or teaching, by a supervisor of a Professional Counselor's interaction
with their client(s). The purpose of supervision is to promote the development
of the practitioner's clinical skills. Supervision may include, without being
limited to, the review of case presentations, audiotapes, videotapes, and
direct observation of the practitioner's clinical skills. Supervision does not
require the supervisor to be present at the work site with the supervisee.
Supervision may be provided pro bono or for a fee. Both supervisors and
supervisees are required to maintain a contemporaneous record of the date,
duration, type (individual, paired, or group), and a brief summary of the
pertinent activity for each supervision session to be submitted to the Board
upon request. If there are any discrepancies in hours, contemporaneous
documentation of supervision will be requested.
(i)Individual Supervision means
one supervisor meeting with a maximum of two supervisees.
(ii)
Group Supervision means one
supervisor meeting with a maximum of six supervisees.
5.
"Supervisor" means a licensed
Professional Counselor, Clinical Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist,
Psychologist, or Psychiatrist, who complies with the ethical standards of
practice of their profession with particular attention being paid to prohibited
dual relationships. In addition,
(i) a
supervisor who holds a master's degree must have three (3) years of
post-licensure experience; and
(ii)
a supervisor who holds a specialist degree must have two (2) years of
post-licensure experience; and
(iii) a supervisor who holds a doctoral
degree must have one (1) year of post-licensure experience; and
(iv) for supervision entered into after
September 30, 2018, a supervisor who is a Licensed Professional
Counselor must hold either a National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC)
Approved Clinical Supervisor credential or a Licensed Professional Counselors
Association of Georgia (LPCAGA) Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor
credential.
(v) however, the Board
in its discretion may approve a supervisor whose experience is substantially
similar to those stated herein.
(vi) in a supervised practicum or internship
which is part of the graduate degree program, either the course instructor of
record or the on-site clinical instructor must be a qualified supervisor OR, in
the education of rehabilitation counselors, may be a Certified Rehabilitation
Counselor.
6.
"Directed Experience" means time spent under direction engaging in
the practice of Professional Counseling as defined in
135-5-.02(a)(1).
(i) all work sites must include a formal
structure related to the practice of professional counseling as defined in Rule
135-5-.01(a)(1).
Valid work sites should have measurable detailed documentation for every
candidate, to include a signed contractual agreement that outlines the job
description, office hours, performance review procedures and dismissal
policies.
(ii) non-compensated
experiences or services will be reviewed on a case by case basis to determine
acceptability in defining the working relationship for the purposes of
obtainment of the required post-master's directed work experience only if they
meet these requirements. The agreement between the work site and the candidate
should be akin to employment.
(iii)
applicants may, at the discretion of the Board, be required to submit
documentation substantiating (a) the nature of the working relationship with
the directed experience site, (b) the formal structure of the organization, and
(c) whether any licensed or associate licensed individuals work there to ensure
compliance and understanding of these requirements.
7.
"Years of Directed
Experience"
(i) "One year of Directed
Experience" means a minimum of 600 hours of directed experience acquired within
a period of not less than twelve months and not more than twenty
months.
(ii) "Two years of Directed
Experience" means a minimum of 1200 hours of directed experience under
supervision acquired within a period of not less than twenty-four months and
not more than 60 months.
(iii)
"Three years of Directed Experience" means a minimum of 1800 hours of directed
experience under supervision acquired within a period of not less than
thirty-six months and not more than 60 months.
(iv) "Four years of Directed Experience"
means a minimum of 2400 hours of directed experience under supervision acquired
within a period of not less than forty-eight months and not more than 60
months.
(v)
After September
30, 2018 "One year of Directed Experience" means a minimum of 1000 hours
of directed experience acquired in not less than a twelve (12) month period.
The number of required years of Directed Experience is based on the applicant's
educational credentials as defined in Rule
135-5-.02 (b, c, d, e and
f).
(vi)
After September 30,
2018, all Directed Experience must be obtained within the sixty (60)
months prior to the date of application. Endorsement applications will be
considered on a case by case basis at the discretion of the Board.
8.
"Years of
Supervision"
(i) "One year of
Supervision" means a minimum of 30 hours of supervision obtained during one
year of Directed Experience as defined in Rule
135-5-.02(7).
(ii) "Two years of Supervision" means a
minimum of 60 hours of supervision obtained during two years of Directed
Experience as defined in Rule
135-5-.02(7).
(iii) "Three years of Supervision" means a
minimum of 90 hours of s supervision obtained during three years of Directed
Experience as defined in Rule
135-5-.02(7).
(iv) "Four years of Supervision" means a
minimum of 120 hours of supervision obtained during four years of Directed
Experience as defined in Rule
135-5-.02(7).
(v)
After September 30, 2018,
"One year of Supervision" means a minimum of thirty five (35) hours of
supervision obtained during one twelve (12) month period of Directed Experience
as defined in Rule
135-5-.02(7).
(vi)
After September 30, 2018,
all Supervision must be obtained within the sixty (60) months prior to the date
of application. Endorsement applications will be considered on a case by case
basis at the discretion of the Board.
9.
"Work settings acceptable to the
Board" means a directed work settings in which the practice of
Professional Counseling takes place and may include, but is not limited to,
education, rehabilitation, career development, mental health, community, or
industrial organizations. Practice without direction is not a work setting
acceptable to the Board. Directed experience sites in the contract must meet
the requirements of rule
135-5-.02(a)(6)
above, the definition of "Directed Experience".
10.
"Certified Rehabilitation
Counselor" means a person who is certified as a rehabilitation counselor
by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.
11.
"Program Primarily Counseling in
Content" and "Program in Applied Psychology" means a course
of study at an accredited educational institution consisting of a master's,
specialist or doctoral degree which includes either as part of the degree
program or as additional course work completed prior to, during or after the
degree program, the following graduate level courses. After September 30,
2018 the degree program must be accredited by the Council on
Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the
Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) or a regionally accredited program
recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The
approved program must be substantially similar in coursework and content to a
CACREP or CORE accredited program. An individual course may not be used to
fulfill the requirement in more than one content area.
(i)
Counseling/Psychotherapy
Theory, which includes the principles, concepts, and practice of
counseling/psychotherapy and the major models of
counseling/psychotherapy.
(ii)
A Counseling or Applied Psychology Practicum or Internship as part
of the graduate degree program.
(iii)
Courses in six (6) of the
following nine (9) content areas: After September 30, 2018, all 9
content areas of the following course work are required:
(I)
Human Growth and
Development, which includes an understanding of the nature and needs of
individuals at all developmental levels, personality theory, and learning
theory, and which may provide a comprehensive overview of the factors,
determinants, and stages that pertain to physical, emotional, intellectual, and
social development and adaptation from infantile to geriatric stages.
(II)
Multicultural Counseling or
Diversity Training, which includes an understanding of societal changes
and trends, human roles, societal subgroups, diversity, social mores and
interaction patterns, and differing lifestyles and competency in counseling a
diverse clientele.
(III)
Counseling Techniques or Skills, which includes an understanding
of the philosophic bases of helping processes, helper self-understanding and
self-development, and the facilitation of client change; OR Advanced
Psychotherapy/Intervention Theory, which includes the in- depth study of
the major theories, principles, methods and techniques of psychotherapy with
individuals, groups or families, focusing on the treatment or prevention of
behavior disorders, adjustment problems, psychopathology, or other
psychological disturbance.
(IV)
Group Dynamics and Group Counseling/Psychotherapy, which includes
an understanding of group development, dynamics, and counseling/psychotherapy
theories; group leadership styles; group counseling/psychotherapy methods and
skills; and other group approaches.
(V)
Lifestyle and Career
Development, which includes an understanding of career development
theories; occupational educational information sources and systems; career and
leisure counseling, guidance and education; lifestyle and career decision
making; and career development program planning, resources, and
evaluation.
(VI)
Appraisal/Assessment of Individuals, which includes an
understanding of psychometric theories and approaches to appraisal/assessment;
validity and reliability; psychometric statistics; the selection,
administration, scoring and interpretation of various assessment instruments;
and the use of appraisal/assessment results in the counseling/psychotherapy
process.
(VII)
Research
Methods and Evaluation, which includes an understanding of types of
research, statistics, research report development, research implementation,
program evaluation, needs assessment, and ethical and legal considerations in
research; OR Research Statistics, which includes an understanding of the
theory, analysis and interpretation of manual or computer generated statistical
measures.
(VIII)
Professional
Orientation and Ethics, which includes an understanding of ethical and
legal standards, professional roles, responsibilities, and functions;
professional goals and objectives; professional organizations and associations;
professional history and trends; professional preparation standards; and
professional credentialing.
(IX)
Psychopathology, which includes theories, research, descriptive
characteristics, categories, dynamics, and etiology of mental, behavioral,
cognitive and personality disorders, with a focus on utilization of the
diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM) and/or
International Classification of Diseases (ICD).
(b) An applicant who holds a master's degree from a program primarily counseling in content must meet the following requirements for licensure as a Professional Counselor.
1. Education. The applicant must have earned
a master's degree from an institution which, at the time the degree was
awarded, was accredited by a regional body recognized by the Council on Higher
Education Accreditation (CHEA). After September 30, 2018 the
degree program must be accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling
and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the Council on Rehabilitation
Education (CORE) or a regionally accredited program recognized by the Council
on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The approved program must be
substantially similar in coursework and content to a CACREP or CORE accredited
program. The applicant must document graduate level coursework from such an
accredited institution in order to demonstrate that the degree program is
primarily counseling in content and meets the requirements in Rule
135-5-.02(a)11.
2. A "Masters" degree must be so
designated by the educational institution awarding the master's degree and
indicated on the official transcript.
3.
Directed Experience under
Supervision. The applicant must present evidence of four (4) years of
post-master's directed experience under supervision [see definitions in Rule
135-5-.02(a)] in the
practice of Professional Counseling in a work setting acceptable to the Board
OR three (3) years of post-master's directed experience under supervision in
the practice of Professional Counseling in a work setting acceptable to the
Board and a supervised counseling practicum or internship of at least 300 hours
which was part of the graduate degree program. After September 30, 2018,
600 practicum or internship hours will be required. A minimum of two (2)
years of the supervision must be provided by a supervisor who is a licensed
Professional Counselor and meets the requirements in Rule
135-5-.02(a)5, except
that if the supervision was acquired prior to September 23, 1993, such
supervision may have been provided by any qualified supervisor. Directed
experience sites in the contract must meet the requirements of rule
135-5-.02(a)(6)
above, the definition of "Directed Experience".
4.
Examination. To qualify for
licensure as a professional counselor, applicant must pass the required
competency examination for licensure prescribed by the Board.
(c) An applicant who holds a specialist degree from a program primarily counseling in content must meet the following requirements for licensure as a Professional Counselor.
1.
Education. The applicant
must have earned a specialist degree from an institution, which, at the time
the degree was awarded, was accredited by a regional body recognized by the
Council on Higher Education Accreditation. After September 30,
2018 the degree program must be accredited by the Council on
Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the
Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) or a regionally accredited program
recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The
approved program must be substantially similar in coursework and content to a
CACREP or CORE accredited program. The applicant must document graduate level
coursework from such an accredited institution in order to demonstrate that the
degree program is primarily counseling in content and meets the requirements in
Rule 135-5-.02(a)11.
2. A "Specialist" degree must be
so designated by the educational institution awarding the specialist degree and
indicated on the official transcript.
3.
Directed Experience under
Supervision. The applicant must present evidence of two (2) years of
post-master's directed experience under supervision [see definitions at
135-5-.02(a)] in the
practice of Professional Counseling in a work setting acceptable to the Board
and a supervised counseling practicum or internship of at least 300 hours which
was part of the graduate degree program OR three (3) years of post-master's
directed experience under supervision in the practice of Professional
Counseling in a work setting acceptable to the Board. After September 30,
2018, 600 practicum or internship hours will be required. A minimum of
one (1) year of the supervision must be provided by a supervisor who is a
licensed Professional Counselor and meets the requirements in Rule
135-5-.02(a)5, except
that if the supervision was acquired prior to September 23, 1993, such
supervision may have been provided by any qualified supervisor. Directed
experience sites in the contract must meet the requirements of rule
135-5-.02(a)(6)
above, the definition of "Directed Experience".
4.
Examination. To qualify for
licensure as a professional counselor, applicant must pass the required
competency examination for licensure prescribed by the
Board.
(d) An applicant who holds a doctoral degree from a program primarily counseling in content must meet the following requirements for licensure as a Professional Counselor.
1.
Education.
The applicant must have earned a doctoral degree from an institution which, at
the time the degree was awarded, was accredited by a regional body recognized
by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. After September 30,
2018 the degree program must be accredited by the Council on
Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the
Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) or a regionally accredited program
recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The
approved program must be substantially similar in coursework and content to a
CACREP or CORE accredited program. The applicant must document graduate level
coursework from such an accredited institution in order to demonstrate that the
degree program is primarily counseling in content and meets the requirements in
Rule 135-5-.02(a)11.
2. A "Doctoral" degree must be so
designated by the educational institution awarding the doctoral degree and
indicated on the official transcript.
3.
Directed Experience under
Supervision. The applicant must present evidence of one (1) year of
supervised counseling internship of at least seven hundred fifty (750) hours
during the doctorate degree program in a work setting acceptable to the Board
OR one (1) year of post master's directed experience under supervision [see
definitions in Rule
135-5-.02(a)] in the
practice of Professional Counseling in a work setting acceptable to the Board.
A minimum of half of the one year of supervision must be provided by a
supervisor who is a licensed Professional Counselor and meets the requirements
in Rule 135-5-.02(a)5, except
that if the supervision was acquired prior to September 23, 1993, such
supervision may have been provided by any qualified supervisor. Directed
experience sites in the contract must meet the requirements of rule
135-5-.02(a)(6)
above, the definition of "Directed Experience".
4.
Examination. To qualify for
licensure as a professional counselor, applicant must pass the required
competency examination for licensure prescribed by the Board.
(e) An applicant who is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor must meet the following requirements for licensure as a Professional Counselor.
1.
Education. The applicant must
have earned a master's degree from a rehabilitation counseling program which,
at the time the degree was awarded, was accredited by the Council on
Rehabilitation Education OR a master's degree from an institution which, at the
time the degree was awarded, was accredited by a regional body recognized by
the Council on Higher Education Accreditation with documented graduate level
coursework demonstrating that the degree program is primarily counseling in
content and meets the requirements in Rule
135-5-.02(a)11.
After September 30, 2018 the degree program must be accredited by
the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
(CACREP), the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) or a regionally
accredited program recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation
(CHEA). The approved program must be substantially similar in coursework and
content to a CACREP or CORE accredited program.
2. A "masters" degree must be so designated
by the educational institution awarding the master's degree and indicated on
the official transcript.
3.
Directed Experience under Supervision. The applicant must present
evidence of three (3) years of post-master's directed experience providing
rehabilitation services in a rehabilitation setting acceptable to the Board
under the supervision [see definitions in Rule
135-5-.02(a)] of a
Certified Rehabilitation Counselor or other qualified supervisor OR two (2)
years of post- master's directed experience providing rehabilitation services
in a rehabilitation setting acceptable to the Board under the supervision [see
definitions in Rule
135-5-.02(a)] of a
Certified Rehabilitation Counselor or other qualified supervisor and a
supervised counseling practicum or internship of at least 300 hours which was
part of the graduate degree program. After September 30, 2018, 600
practicum or internship hours will be required. A minimum of one (1)
year of the supervision must be provided by a Certified Rehabilitation
Counselor or a supervisor who is a licensed Professional Counselor and meets
the requirements in Rule
135-5-.02(a)5.
Directed experience sites in the contract must meet the requirements of rule
135-5-.02(a)(6)
above, the definition of "Directed Experience".
4.
Certification. The applicant
must hold the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor designation.
5.
Examination. To qualify for
licensure as a professional counselor, applicant must pass the required
competency examination for licensure prescribed by the Board.
(f) An applicant who holds a master's degree in psychology must meet the following requirements for licensure as a Professional Counselor.
1.
Education. The applicant must
have earned a master's degree in a program of applied psychology from an
institution, which, at the time the degree was awarded, was accredited by a
regional body recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.
After September 30, 2018 the degree program must be accredited by
the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
(CACREP), the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) or a regionally
accredited program recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation
(CHEA). The approved program must be substantially similar in coursework and
content to a CACREP or CORE accredited program. The applicant must document
graduate level coursework from such an accredited institution in order to
demonstrate that the degree program is a program of applied psychology. The
degree program must meet the requirements in Rule
135-5-.02(a)11.
2. A "Masters" degree must be so
designated by the educational institution awarding the master's degree and
indicated on the official transcript.
3.
Directed Experience under
Supervision. The applicant must present evidence of four (4) years of
post-master's directed experience under supervision [see definitions in Rule
135-5-.02(a)] in the
practice of Professional Counseling in a work setting acceptable to the Board
OR three (3) years of post-master's directed experience under supervision in
the practice of Professional Counseling in a work setting acceptable to the
Board and a supervised counseling or applied psychology practicum or internship
of at least 300 hours which was part of the graduate degree program. A minimum
of two (2) years of the supervision must be provided by a supervisor who is a
licensed Professional Counselor who meets the requirements in Rule
135-5-.02(a)5, or a
licensed Psychologist, except that if the supervision was acquired prior to
January 1, 2004, such supervision may have been provided by a person with a
master's degree from an accredited educational institution in a program of
applied psychology. Directed experience sites in the contract must meet the
requirements of rule
135-5-.02(a)(6)
above, the definition of "Directed Experience".
4.
Examination. To qualify for
licensure as a professional counselor, applicant must pass the required
competency examination for licensure prescribed by the
Board.
O.C.G.A. §§ 43-1-24, 43-1-25, 43-10A-3, 43-10A-5, 43-10A-6, 43-l 0A-8, 43-10A-9, 43-10A-10, 43-10A-11.
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