ENROLLED SENATE
BILL NO. 1398	By:	Griffin of the Senate

			and

		Nelson and Pittman of the House

An Act relating to professional counselors qualifications; amending 59 O.S. 2011, Section 1876, as amended by Section 2, Chapter 87, O.S.L. 2012 (59 O.S. Supp. 2013, Section 1876), which relates to the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors Act; granting authority to recognize certain foreign qualifications; amending 59 O.S. 2011, Section 1906, as amended by Section 7, Chapter 229, O.S.L. 2013 (59 O.S. Supp. 2013, Section 1906), which relates to the Licensed Professional Counselors Act; granting authority to recognize certain foreign qualifications; amending 59 O.S. 2011, Section 1935, as amended by Section 29, Chapter 229, O.S.L. 2013 (59 O.S. Supp. 2013, Section 1935), which relates to the Licensed Behavioral Practitioner Act; granting authority to recognize certain foreign qualifications; and providing an effective date.

SUBJECT:  Professional counselors qualifications

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     59 O.S. 2011, Section 1876, as amended by Section 2, Chapter 87, O.S.L. 2012 (59 O.S. Supp. 2013, Section 1876), is amended to read as follows:

Section 1876.  A.  Unless exempt pursuant to Section 1872 of this title, any person wishing to practice alcohol and drug counseling in this state shall obtain a certificate or license to practice pursuant to the provisions of the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors Act.

B.  An application for a certificate or license to practice as a certified or licensed alcohol and drug counselor shall be made to the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors in writing.  Such application shall be on a form and in a manner prescribed by the Board.  The application shall be accompanied by the fee required by the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors Act, which shall be retained by the Board and not returned to the applicant.

C.  Each applicant for a certificate or license to practice as a certified or licensed alcohol and drug counselor shall:

1.  Be possessed of good moral character;

2.  Pass an examination based on standards established by the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium, any successor organization to the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium or another national or international organization recognized by the Board to have similar standards equal to or higher than the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium;

3.  Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age;

4.  Not have engaged in, nor be engaged in, any practice or conduct which would be grounds for denying, revoking or suspending a license pursuant to the provisions of the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors Act; and

5.  Otherwise comply with the rules promulgated by the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors Act.

D.  In addition to the qualifications specified by the provisions of subsection C of this section, an applicant for a license to practice as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor shall:

1.  Have at least a master's degree in alcohol and substance abuse counseling or other clinical counseling field recognized by the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors that includes, at a minimum, the following knowledge areas and graduate credit hours from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education:

a.	three courses in foundational knowledge, including one course in alcohol and drug addiction, one course in drug and alcohol counseling theory, and one course in the pharmacology of drugs and abuse,

b.	three courses in assessment and treatment of behavioral health problems, which may include group dynamics, individual and family counseling skills, specific counseling approaches, assessment methods, community resources and referral, or other courses primarily related to the assessment and treatment of behavioral health problems,

c.	one course in human development,

d.	one course in psychopathology,

e.	one course in multicultural and cultural competency issues,

f.	one course in family systems theory,

g.	one course in addiction in the family theory,

h.	one course in addiction in the family counseling,

i.	one course in ethics, which includes established ethical conduct for alcohol and drug counselors,

j.	one course in research methods, and

k.	one three-hour practicum/internship in the field of drug and alcohol counseling of at least three hundred (300) clock hours.

All courses shall be graduate level courses and shall be three (3) semester hours or four (4) quarter credit hours which shall include a minimum of forty-five (45) class hours for each course;

2.  Have successfully completed at least one (1) year of full-time supervised work experience providing behavioral health services.  For the purpose of the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors Act, one (1) year of full-time work experience shall mean two thousand (2,000) hours of work experience, of which at least one thousand (1,000) hours shall consist of direct client contact; or

3.  Be a licensed mental health professional as defined in Section 1-103 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes and have completed a minimum of fifteen (15) hours in master's level substance abuse specific coursework, including, but not limited to, chemical addiction, counseling, alcohol/drug counseling theory, pharmacology of drugs and abuse, assessment and treatment of alcohol and drug problems, theories in family addiction, and/or family addiction counseling.

E.  The scope of practice of a licensed alcohol and drug counselor who meets the educational requirements set forth in paragraph 1 of subsection D of this section may include the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health disorders.  Licensees who have been determined by the Board to meet these requirements shall have the designation "licensed alcohol and drug counselor/mental health" or "LADC/MH" noted on their license and wallet card.

F.  The scope of practice of a licensed alcohol and drug counselor who made application for license or who was licensed prior to the effective date of the educational requirements set forth in paragraph 1 of subsection D of this section shall not include the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health disorders unless:

1.  The licensed alcohol and drug counselor holds a master's degree that meets the educational requirements for licensure in the following behavioral health professions:

a.	licensed professional counselor as defined in Section 1902 of Title 59 of the Oklahoma Statutes this title,

b.	licensed clinical social worker as defined in Section 1250.1 of Title 59 of the Oklahoma Statutes this title,

c.	licensed marital and family therapist as defined in Section 1925.2 of Title 59 of the Oklahoma Statutes this title, or

d.	licensed behavioral practitioner as defined in Section 1931 of Title 59 of the Oklahoma Statutes this title; or

2.  The licensed alcohol and drug counselor holds a valid Co-Occurring Disorders Certification based on standards established by the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium, any successor organization to the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium, or any other national or international organization recognized by the Board to have similar standards equal to or higher than the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium.

G.  In addition to the qualifications specified in subsection C of this section, each applicant for a certificate to practice as a certified alcohol and drug counselor shall have:

1.  At a minimum, a bachelor's degree in a behavioral science field that is recognized by the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors as appropriate to practice as a certified drug and alcohol counselor in this state;

2.  Successfully completed at least two (2) years of full-time supervised work experience.  For the purpose of the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors Act, "two years of full-time work experience" shall be defined as four thousand (4,000) hours of work experience of which at least two thousand (2,000) hours shall consist of providing alcohol and drug counseling services to an individual and/or the individual's family;

3.  Successfully completed at least two hundred seventy (270) clock hours of education related to alcohol and drug counseling subjects, theory, practice or research;

4.  Successfully completed, as part of or in addition to the education requirements established in paragraph 3 of this subsection, a minimum of forty-five (45) clock hours of specialized training approved by the Board in identifying co-occurring disorders and making appropriate referrals for treatment of co-occurring disorders; and

5.  Successfully completed at least three hundred (300) hours of supervised practicum experience in the field of drug and alcohol counseling.

H.  Any licensed or certified alcohol and drug counselor wishing to be certified for co-occurring disorders in this state may obtain such certification pursuant to the provisions of the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors Act.

I.  An application by a licensed or certified alcohol and drug counselor for certification for co-occurring disorders shall be made to the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors in writing.  Such application shall be on a form and in a manner prescribed by the Board.  The application shall be accompanied by the fee required by Section 1884 of this title, which shall be retained by the Board and not returned to the applicant.

J.  Each applicant for certification for co-occurring disorders shall:

1.  Be possessed of good moral character;

2.  Be a licensed or certified alcohol and drug counselor in good standing with the Board;

3.  Meet the requirements promulgated by the Board to establish the applicant's competency to include treatment of co-occurring disorders within his or her scope of practice;

4.  Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age;

5.  Not have engaged in, nor be engaged in, any practice or conduct which would be grounds for denying, revoking or suspending a license pursuant to the provisions of the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors Act; and

6.  Otherwise comply with the rules promulgated by the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors Act.

K.  Applicants with degrees from schools outside the United States may qualify with Board approval by providing the Board with an acceptable comprehensive evaluation of the degree performed by a foreign credential evaluation service that is acceptable to the Board, and any other requirement the Board deems necessary.

SECTION 2.     AMENDATORY     59 O.S. 2011, Section 1906, as amended by Section 7, Chapter 229, O.S.L. 2013 (59 O.S. Supp. 2013, Section 1906), is amended to read as follows:

Section 1906.  A.  Applications for a license to practice as a licensed professional counselor shall be made to the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure in writing.  Such applications shall be on a form and in a manner prescribed by the Board.  The application shall be accompanied by the fee required by the Licensed Professional Counselors Act, which shall be retained by the Board and not returned to the applicant.

B.  Each applicant for a license to practice as a licensed professional counselor shall:

1.  Be possessed of good moral character;

2.  Pass an examination based on standards promulgated by the Board pursuant to the Licensed Professional Counselors Act;

3.  Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age;

4.  Not have engaged in, nor be engaged in, any practice or conduct which would be grounds for denying, revoking or suspending a license pursuant to this title; and

5.  Otherwise comply with the rules promulgated by the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Licensed Professional Counselors Act.

C.  In addition to the qualifications specified by the provisions of subsection B of this section, an applicant for a license to practice as a licensed professional counselor shall have:

1.  Successfully completed at least sixty (60) graduate semester hours (ninety (90) graduate quarter hours) of counseling-related course work.  These sixty (60) hours shall include at least a master's degree in a counseling field.  All courses and degrees shall be earned from a regionally accredited college or university.  The Board shall define what course work qualifies as "counseling-related" and what degrees/majors qualify as a "counseling field"; and

2.  Three (3) years of supervised full-time experience in professional counseling subject to the supervision of a licensed professional counselor pursuant to conditions established by the Board.  One (1) or two (2) years of experience may be gained at the rate of one (1) year for each thirty (30) graduate semester hours earned beyond the master's degree, provided that such hours are clearly related to the field of counseling and are acceptable to the Board.  The applicant shall have no less than one (1) year of supervised full-time experience in counseling.

D.  Applicants with degrees from schools outside the United States may qualify with Board approval by providing the Board with an acceptable comprehensive evaluation of the degree performed by a foreign credential evaluation service that is acceptable to the Board, and any other requirement the Board deems necessary.

SECTION 3.     AMENDATORY     59 O.S. 2011, Section 1935, as amended by Section 29, Chapter 229, O.S.L. 2013 (59 O.S. Supp. 2013, Section 1935), is amended to read as follows:

Section 1935.  A.  Applications for a license to practice as a licensed behavioral practitioner shall be made to the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure in writing.  Such applications shall be on a form and in a manner prescribed by the Board.  The application shall be accompanied by the fee required by the Licensed Behavioral Practitioner Act, which shall be retained by the Board and not returned to the applicant.

B.  Each applicant for a license to practice as a licensed behavioral practitioner shall:

1.  Be possessed of good moral character;

2.  Pass an examination based on standards promulgated by the Board pursuant to the Licensed Behavioral Practitioner Act;

3.  Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age;

4.  Not have engaged in, nor be engaged in, any practice or conduct which would be grounds for denying, revoking, or suspending a license pursuant to the Licensed Behavioral Practitioner Act; and

5.  Otherwise comply with the rules promulgated by the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Licensed Behavioral Practitioner Act.

C.  In addition to the qualifications specified by the provisions of subsection B of this section, an applicant for a license to practice as a licensed behavioral practitioner shall have:

1.  Successfully completed at least forty-five (45) graduate semester hours (sixty (60) graduate quarter hours) of behavioral science-related course work.  These forty-five (45) hours shall include at least a master's degree from a program in psychology.  All course work and degrees shall be earned from a regionally accredited college or university.  The Board shall define what course work qualifies as "behavioral science-related";

2.  On or after January 1, 2008, successfully completed at least sixty (60) graduate semester hours (ninety (90) graduate quarter hours) of behavioral science-related course work.  These sixty (60) hours shall include at least a master's degree from a program in psychology.  All courses shall be earned from a regionally accredited college or university.

The Board shall define what course work qualifies as "behavioral science-related"; and

3.  Three (3) years of supervised full-time experience in professional behavioral health services subject to the supervision of a licensed mental health professional pursuant to conditions established by the Board.  One (1) or two (2) years of experience may be gained at the rate of one (1) year for each thirty (30) graduate semester hours earned beyond the master's degree, provided that such hours are clearly related to the field of psychology or behavioral sciences and are acceptable to the Board.  The applicant shall have no less than one (1) year of supervised full-time experience in behavioral science.

D.  Applicants with degrees from schools outside the United States may qualify with Board approval by providing the Board with an acceptable comprehensive evaluation of the degree performed by a foreign credential evaluation service that is acceptable to the Board, and any other requirement the Board deems necessary.

SECTION 4.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2014.

Passed the Senate the 21st day of May, 2014.

	
	Presiding Officer of the Senate

Passed the House of Representatives the 21st day of May, 2014.

	
	Presiding Officer of the House
	of Representatives

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________ day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _________ day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.

	_________________________________
	Governor of the State of Oklahoma

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________ day of __________________, 20 _______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________