CA Bus & Prof Code Section 4999.54

(a)

Notwithstanding Section 4999.50, the board may issue a license to any person who submits an application for a license between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2011, provided that all documentation is submitted within 12 months of the board’s evaluation of the application, and provided he or she meets one of the following sets of criteria:

(1)

He or she meets all of the following requirements:

(A)

Has a master’s or doctoral degree from a school, college, or university as specified in Section 4999.32, that is counseling or psychotherapy in content. If the person’s degree does not include all the graduate coursework in all nine core content areas as required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.32, a person shall provide documentation that he or she has completed the required coursework prior to licensure pursuant to this chapter. Except as specified in clause (ii), a qualifying degree must include the supervised practicum or field study experience as required in paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.32.

(i)

A counselor educator whose degree contains at least seven of the nine required core content areas shall be given credit for coursework not contained in the degree if the counselor educator provides documentation that he or she has taught the equivalent of the required core content areas in a graduate program in counseling or a related area.

(ii)

Degrees issued prior to 1996 shall include a minimum of 30 semester units or 45 quarter units and at least six of the nine required core content areas specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.32 and three semester units or four and one-half quarter units of supervised practicum or field study experience. The total number of units shall be no less than 48 semester units or 72 quarter units. (iii)Degrees issued in 1996 and after shall include a minimum of 48 semester units or 72 quarter units and at least seven of the nine core content areas specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.32.

(B)

Has completed all of the coursework or training specified in subdivision (e) of Section 4999.32.

(C)

Has at least two years, full-time or the equivalent, of postdegree counseling experience, that includes at least 1,700 hours of experience in a clinical setting supervised by a licensed marriage and family therapist, a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed psychologist, a licensed physician and surgeon specializing in psychiatry, a professional clinical counselor or a person who is licensed in another state to independently practice professional clinical counseling, as defined in Section 4999.20, or a master’s level counselor or therapist who is certified by a national certifying or registering organization, including, but not limited to, the National Board for Certified Counselors or the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.

(D)

Has a passing score on the following examinations:

(i)

The National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification or the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Examination.

(ii)

The National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination. (iii)A California jurisprudence and ethics examination, when developed by the board.

(2)

Is currently licensed as a marriage and family therapist in the State of California, meets the coursework requirements described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1), and passes the examination described in subdivision (b).

(3)

Is currently licensed as a clinical social worker in the State of California, meets the coursework requirements described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1), and passes the examination described in subdivision (b).

(b)

(1)The board and the Office of Professional Examination Services shall jointly develop an examination on the differences, if any differences exist, between the following:

(A)

The practice of professional clinical counseling and the practice of marriage and family therapy.

(B)

The practice of professional clinical counseling and the practice of clinical social work.

(2)

If the board, in consultation with the Office of Professional Examination Services, determines that an examination is necessary pursuant to this subdivision, an applicant described in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) shall pass the examination as a condition of licensure.

(c)

Nothing in this section shall be construed to expand or constrict the scope of practice of professional clinical counseling, as defined in Section 4999.20.