§ 90-336.  Title and qualifications for licensure.

(a) Each person desiring to be a licensed clinical mental health counselor associate, licensed clinical mental health counselor, or licensed clinical mental health counselor supervisor shall make application to the Board upon such forms and in such manner as the Board shall prescribe, together with the required application fee.

(b) The Board shall issue a license as a "licensed clinical mental health counselor associate" to an applicant who applies on or before March 1, 2016, and meets all of the following criteria:

(1) Has earned a specified minimum of credit hours of graduate training as defined by the Board, including (i) a master's degree in counseling or a related field from an institution of higher education that is regionally accredited or accredited by an organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and (ii) the applicant meets one of the following criteria:

a. If the applicant enrolled in the master's program before July 1, 2009, a minimum of 48 semester hours or a minimum of 72 quarter credit hours.

b. If the applicant enrolled in the master's program before July 1, 2013, but after June 30, 2009, a minimum of 54 semester hours or 81 quarter credit hours.

c. If the applicant enrolled in the master's program after June 30, 2013, a minimum of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter credit hours.

(2) Repealed by Session Laws 2009-367, s. 6, effective October 1, 2009.

(3) Has passed an examination in accordance with rules adopted by the Board.

(b1) The Board shall issue a license as a "licensed clinical mental health counselor associate" to an applicant who applies after March 1, 2016, through June 30, 2022, and meets all of the following criteria:

(1) Has earned a specified minimum of credit hours of graduate training as defined by the Board, including (i) a master's degree in counseling or related field from an institution of higher education that is either regionally accredited or accredited by an organization both recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs and (ii) the applicant meets one of the following criteria:

a. If the applicant enrolled in the master's program before July 1, 2009, a minimum of 48 semester hours or a minimum of 72 quarter credit hours.

b. If the applicant enrolled in the master's program before July 1, 2013, but after June 30, 2009, a minimum of 54 semester hours or 81 quarter credit hours.

c. If the applicant enrolled in the master's program after June 30, 2013, a minimum of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter credit hours.

(2) Has passed an examination in accordance with rules adopted by the Board.

(b2) The Board shall issue a license as a "licensed clinical mental health counselor associate" to an applicant who applies on or after July 1, 2022, and meets all of the following criteria:

(1) Has earned a minimum of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate training as defined by the Board, including a master's degree in counseling or related field from an institution of higher education that is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

(2) Has passed an examination in accordance with rules adopted by the Board.

(c) The Board shall issue a license as a "licensed clinical mental health counselor" to an applicant who meets all of the following criteria:

(1) Has met all of the requirements under subsection (b), (b1), or (b2) of this section, as applicable.

(2) Has completed a minimum of 3,000 hours of supervised clinical mental health practice as determined by the Board.

(d) A licensed clinical mental health counselor may apply to the Board for recognition as a "licensed clinical mental health counselor supervisor" and receive the credential "licensed clinical mental health counselor supervisor" upon meeting all of the following criteria:

(1) Has met all of the requirements under subsection (c) of this section.

(2) Has one of the following:

a. At least five years of full-time licensed clinical mental health counseling experience, including a minimum of 2,500 hours of direct client contact;

b. At least eight years of part-time licensed clinical mental health counseling experience, including a minimum of 2,500 hours of direct client contact; or

c. A combination of full-time and part-time clinical mental health counseling experience, including a minimum of 2,500 hours of direct client contact as determined by the Board.

(3) Has completed minimum education requirements in clinical supervision as approved by the Board.

(4) Has an active license in good standing as a licensed clinical mental health counselor approved by the Board. (1983, c. 755, s. 1; 1993, c. 514, s. 1; 2009-367, s. 6; 2015-279, s. 1; 2019-240, s. 2(a).)