Code of Maine Rules
02 - DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL REGULATION
514 - BOARD OF COUNSELING PROFESSIONALS LICENSURE
Chapter 3 - LICENSED CLINICAL PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS
Section 514-3-2 - Education

Universal Citation: 02 ME Code Rules ยง 514-3-2

Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024

1. Qualifying Degree

The applicant shall provide documented proof of a master's degree or a doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution that consists of a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours or quarter-hour equivalent and meets the criteria of paragraph A, B or C below:

A. A counseling degree from a program that was accredited by CACREP as a mental health counseling program at the time the degree was awarded (subject to the 60 semester hour minimum);

B. A counseling degree from a program that consisted of a minimum of 60 semester hours or quarter-hour equivalent as an organized sequence of study that includes curricular experiences and demonstrated knowledge that substantially satisfies each of the 10 core areas of study described in subparagraphs (1) through (10) below and 9 semester hours from at least two additional areas of study described in subparagraphs (11) through (18) below;

[NOTE: Nontraditional or specialized counseling programs such as art therapy and dance movement therapy must also satisfy the 10 core areas and two additional areas of study.]

Except for internship, full area credit will be recognized for a three semester hour course in the designated area or the number of semester hours specified, as the case may be. Except for practicum and internship, partial area credit will be recognized for a course that contains components or significant aspects of an area, and area requirements other than practicum and internship may be satisfied by academic work completed in one or more separate courses. In determining whether a course pertains to an area, the board will consider the content of the course as set forth in course descriptions, catalogs, syllabi, lesson plans, assignment lists, reading lists, or other contemporaneous documents; completed coursework produced by the applicant; any reliable information furnished by the applicant, the instructor who taught the course, a member of the academic department which offered the course, or a senior administrative official of the institution; and the title of the course. No one course will be recognized as satisfying more than one area of study.

In evaluating the applicant's academic credentials, the board shall consider the unavailability of the foregoing materials due to passage of time. In the event of a denial hearing, the board shall give due regard to the credibility of the applicant in evaluating any testimony of the applicant relating to course content, provided that the applicant has first demonstrated to the board a good faith effort to obtain the documentation described in the preceding paragraph.

(1) Human Growth and Development. Studies that provide an understanding of the nature and needs of individuals at different developmental levels throughout the life span.

(2) Helping Relationships. Studies that provide an understanding of philosophic bases of helping processes, counseling theories and their applications, basic and advanced counseling skills, consultation theories and skills, self-understanding and self-development, and facilitation of client or consultee change.

(3) Groups. Studies that provide an understanding of group development, dynamics, group counseling theories, group leadership styles, and group counseling methods and skills.

(4) Measurement. Studies that provide an understanding of group and individual educational and psychometric theories and approaches to measurement, data and information-gathering methods, validity, reliability, psychometric statistics, factors influencing measurements, and use of measurement results in the helping process.

(5) Research and Evaluation. Studies that provide an understanding of the types of research, basic statistics, research report development, research implementation, program evaluation, needs assessment, and ethical and legal considerations associated with research and evaluation.

(6) Diagnosis and Treatment. Studies that provide an understanding of psychopathology, the diagnosis and statistical manual and its use in counseling, psychopathology, the development of treatment plans and the use of related services, and the role of assessment, intake interviews, and reports.

(7) Professional Orientation. Studies that provide an understanding of professional roles and functions, professional organizations and associations, history and trends within the profession, ethical and legal standards, and professional preparation standards and professional credentialing.

(8) Social and Cultural Foundations. Studies that provide an understanding of the development of multicultural awareness, cultural foundations of human growth and development, and cultural values and traditions covering the life span.

(9) Practicum. A course of clinical instruction that provides practical experience in counseling for the purpose of developing individual and group counseling skills. These experiences allow students to perform, on a limited basis, some of the counseling activities that a regularly employed licensed clinical professional counselor would be expected to perform.

(10) Internship. A full academic year of supervised clinical counseling experience consisting of at least 900 clock hours, including a minimum of 360 clock hours of direct client contact. The internship provides an opportunity for the student to perform all the activities that a regularly employed licensed clinical professional counselor would be expected to perform.

Alternative Experience. In lieu of subparagraphs (9) and 10) above, an applicant may provide documentation of 1,000 hours of lawfully obtained supervised clinical counseling. At least 400 hours must consist of direct clinical contact hours. Documentation must include supervisor affidavits and a copy of the applicant's final evaluation.

Additional course work must include at least nine semester hours of study in the following:

(11) Lifestyle and Career Development. Studies that provide an understanding of career development theories, occupational and educational information services, career counseling, and career decision-making.

(12) Marriage and Family Counseling. Up to six semester hours of study that provide an understanding of the structure and dynamics of the family, and methods of marital and family intervention and counseling.

(13) Human Sexuality for Counselors. Studies that provide an understanding of human sexual function and dysfunction, the relationship between sexuality, self-esteem, sex roles and life styles over the life cycle, and counseling treatment approaches and techniques.

(14) Supervision. Studies that provide an understanding of approaches and conceptual models, individual and group supervision, clinical evaluation, and ethical and legal considerations.

(15) Consultation. Studies that provide an understanding of consultation skills, evaluation of organizational structure and individual client management, and theoretical orientation.

(16) Crisis Intervention. Studies that provide an understanding of the theory and practice of crisis intervention, short-term crisis counseling strategies, and the responsibilities of all those involved in the intervention.

(17) Addictive Disorders. Up to six semester hours of study that provide an understanding of the stages, processes, and effects of addictions, social and psychological dynamics of chemical dependency, and the professional's role in prevention, intervention, and aftercare.

(18) Treatment Modalities. Up to six semester hours of studies that provide an understanding of specific treatment approaches (for example, cognitive, client-centered, expressive therapy, feminist).

An applicant who has not completed an internship that meets the requirements of subparagraph (10) above, but has completed an internship consisting of at least 600 clock hours of supervised clinical counseling experience and has fulfilled all other requirements of Section 2(1)(B) of this chapter, will be deemed to have a qualifying degree for purposes of Section 2(1)(B) of this chapter. Such an applicant must complete additional supervised experience as set forth in Section 4(2) of this chapter.

C. A psychology degree from a program that at the time the degree was awarded was accredited by the American Psychological Association or Canadian Psychological Association in clinical psychology or counseling psychology at the doctoral level.

2. Nonconforming Counseling Degree Until January 1, 2009

Until January 1, 2009, an applicant without a qualifying degree as described in Section 2(1) of this chapter may meet the educational requirement for licensure by providing documented proof of:

A. A master's degree from a mental health counseling program at a regionally-accredited institution that was awarded on the basis of at least 48 semester hours of study;

OR

B.
(1) A master's degree from a mental health counseling program at a regionally accredited institution that was awarded on the basis of at least 36 but less than 48 semester hours of study; and

(2) Supplemental graduate level coursework in a mental health counseling program at a regionally accredited institution sufficient in amount to equal or exceed 48 semester hours overall, provided that the master's degree and supplemental coursework include curricular experiences and demonstrated knowledge that substantially satisfies each of the 10 core areas of study described in Section 2(1)(B)(1) through (10) of this chapter and 9 semester hours from at least two additional areas of study described in Section 2(1)(B)(11) through (18) of this chapter.

3. Nonconforming Counseling Degree After January 1, 2009

After January 1, 2009, an applicant without a qualifying degree as described in Section 2(1) of this chapter may meet the educational requirement for licensure by providing documented proof of:

A. A master's degree from a mental health counseling program at a regionally accredited institution that was awarded on the basis of at least 36 but less than 60 semester hours of study; and

B. Supplemental graduate level coursework in a mental health counseling program at a regionally accredited institution sufficient in amount to equal or exceed 60 semester hours overall, provided that the master's degree and supplemental coursework include curricular experiences and demonstrated knowledge that substantially satisfy each of the 10 core areas of study described in Section 2(1)(B)(1) through (10) of this chapter and 9 semester hours from at least two additional areas of study chosen from those described in Section 2(1)(B)(11) through (18) of this chapter.

[NOTE: The board strongly recommends that prospective applicants review the educational requirements of this chapter with their academic advisor before taking supplemental graduate level coursework.]

An applicant applying under Section 2(1)(B) of this chapter who completed 60 semester hours or quarter-hour equivalent, but whose curricular experiences and demonstrated knowledge do not substantially satisfy the required areas of study, may meet the educational requirement for licensure by completing such supplemental graduate level coursework as the board deems necessary to satisfy the deficiencies found.

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