Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists and Psycho-Educational Specialists

Message To LLR Stakeholders About Regulatory Review Process

Authority to Assess and Treat Serious Problems

Authority for Counselors licensed prior to 7/01/98 to assess and treat serious problems.

Professional Counselors licensed prior to 07/01/98 are required to file an application by 05/25/02 for designation to assess and treat serious problems if they wish to continue to do so in their practice. Serious problems are defined in standard diagnostic nomenclature (DSM- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). The Board understands that this means all problems, other than adjustment disorders and V codes. If an application for designation has been filed by 05/25/02, the licensee may continue to assess and treat serious problems until 05/25/04. Licensees whose practices do not involve the assessment and treatment of serious problems are not affected by this change in the law.

Licensees who are engaged in assessment and treatment of serious problems must complete or show proof of completion of a three (3) graduate semester hour course in psychopathology and a three (3) graduate semester hour course in diagnostics of psychopathology by 05/25/04. In addition to coursework requirements, each licensee must exercise professional judgement to recognize their individual competency to assess and treat serious problems and act accordingly. If challenged, licensees must be able to defend their expertise in any area in which they practice. No licensee should practice outside of their individual competency. See Reg. 36-19(A)(6).

After 07/01/98, all candidates for licensure must have these two courses to become licensed. This is the minimum requirement for a license, and it includes authority to assess and treat serious problems.