Pennsylvania Code
Title 55 - HUMAN SERVICES
Part VII - Mental Health Manual
Subpart D - Nonresidential Agencies/Facilities/Services
Chapter 5240 - INTENSIVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
INDIVIDUAL SERVICES
Section 5240.71 - Staff qualifications for individual services

Universal Citation: 55 PA Code ยง 5240.71

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024

(a) Except as set forth in subsection (b), individuals who provide individual services through behavior consultation services must meet one of the following:

(1) Be licensed in this Commonwealth as a behavior specialist.

(2) Have a certification as a BCBA or other graduate-level certification in behavior analysis that is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or the American National Standards Institute.

(3) Have a graduate degree in ABA from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or have an equivalent degree from a foreign college or university that has been evaluated by the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. The Department will accept a general equivalency report from the listed evaluator agencies to verify a foreign degree or its equivalency.

(4) Have a minimum of 1 year of full-time experience in providing mental health direct services to children, youth or young adults and a graduate degree in psychology, social work, education, or counseling from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or an equivalent degree from a foreign college or university that has been evaluated by the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. The Department will accept a general equivalency report from the listed evaluator agencies to verify a foreign degree or its equivalency.

(5) Completed a clinical or mental health direct service practicum and have a graduate degree in psychology, social work, education, counseling or a related field from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or have an equivalent degree from a foreign college or university that has been evaluated by the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. The Department will accept a general equivalency report from the listed evaluator agencies to verify a foreign degree or its equivalency.

(b) Individuals who provide behavior consultation services to children diagnosed with ASD for the treatment of ASD shall be licensed in this Commonwealth as a psychologist, professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, clinical social worker, social worker, behavior specialist, certified registered nurse practitioner or a professional with a scope of practice that includes overseeing the provision of ABA services.

(c) Individuals who provide individual services through mobile therapy services shall meet one of the following:

(1) Be licensed in this Commonwealth as a psychologist, professional counselor, marriage and family therapist or clinical social worker.

(2) Be licensed in this Commonwealth as a social worker or a behavior specialist and have a graduate degree that required a clinical or mental health direct service practicum from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or have an equivalent degree from a foreign college or university that has been evaluated by the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. The Department will accept a general equivalency report from the listed evaluator agencies to verify a foreign degree or its equivalency.

(3) Have a minimum of 1 year of full-time experience in providing mental health direct services to children, youth or young adults and a graduate degree with at least nine credits specific to clinical practice in psychology, social work or counseling from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or an equivalent degree from a foreign college or university that has been evaluated by the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. The Department will accept a general equivalency report from the listed evaluator agencies to verify a foreign degree or its equivalency.

(4) Completed a clinical or mental health direct service practicum and have a graduate degree with a least nine credits specific to clinical practice in psychology, social work, education, counseling or a related field from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or have an equivalent degree from a foreign college or university that has been evaluated by the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. The Department will accept a general equivalency report from the listed evaluator agencies to verify a foreign degree or its equivalency.

(d) By January 1, 2021, individuals who provide individual services through BHT services shall meet one of the following:

(1) Have a certification as a BCaBA.

(2) Have a certification as an RBT.

(3) Have a certification as a BCAT.

(4) Have a behavior health certification or behavior analysis certification from an organization that is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or the American National Standards Institute.

(5) Have a high school diploma or the equivalent of a high school diploma and have completed a 40-hour training covering the RBT Task List as evidenced by a certification that includes the name of the responsible trainer, who is certified as a BCBA or BCaBA.

(6) Have a minimum of 2 years of experience in the provision of behavioral health services.

This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 5240.72 (relating to supervision of staff who provide individual services); 55 Pa. Code § 5240.91 (relating to staff requirements and qualifications for group services); and 55 Pa. Code § 5240.93 (relating to training requirements for staff who provide group services).

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