Pennsylvania Act 2012-17 — SOCIAL WORKERS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS AND PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS ACT - QUALIFICATIONS FOR LICENSE

Act text

Session of 2012

No. 2012-17

HB 816

AN ACT

Amending the act of July 9, 1987 (P.L.220, No.39), entitled "An act licensing and regulating the practice of social work; providing penalties; and making an appropriation," further providing for qualifications for license.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 7(d), (e) and (f) of the act of July 9, 1987 (P.L.220, No.39), known as the Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act, amended December 21, 1998 (P.L.1017, No.136) and July 9, 2008 (P.L.929, No.68), are amended to read:

Section 7. Qualifications for license.

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(d) Clinical social work license.--An applicant shall be qualified for a license to hold oneself out as a licensed clinical social worker if the applicant submits proof satisfactory to the board that all of the following apply:

(1) The applicant is of good moral character.

(2) The applicant has successfully met both of the following requirements:

(i) Holds a master's degree in social work or social welfare or a doctoral degree in social work from an accredited school of social work as recognized by the board.

(ii) Is licensed under this act as a social worker.

(3) The applicant has completed at least [three years or] 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience or holds an Academy of Certified Social Workers certificate issued prior to January 1, 2001, by the National Association of Social Workers or otherwise meets the supervision expectation in a fashion acceptable to the board as determined by regulation after completion of the master's degree in social work.

(4) The applicant has passed a clinical social work examination adopted by the board.

(5) The applicant has submitted an application accompanied by the application fee.

(6) The applicant has not been convicted of a felony under The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act or of an offense under the laws of another jurisdiction which, if committed in this Commonwealth, would be a felony under The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act unless:

(i) at least ten years have elapsed from the date of conviction;

(ii) the applicant satisfactorily demonstrated to the board that the applicant has made significant progress in personal rehabilitation since the conviction such that licensure of the applicant should not be expected to create a substantial risk of harm to the health and safety of clients or the public or a substantial risk of further criminal violations; and

(iii) the applicant otherwise satisfies the qualifications contained in or authorized by this act.

As used in this paragraph, the term "convicted" includes a judgment, an admission of guilt or a plea of nolo contendere.

(e) Marriage and family therapist license.--An applicant shall be qualified to hold oneself out as a licensed marriage and family therapist if the applicant submits proof satisfactory to the board that all of the following apply:

(1) The applicant is of good moral character.

(2) The applicant has successfully met one of the following educational requirements:

(i) [Within five years after the board has promulgated final regulations, has] Has successfully completed a planned program of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate coursework which is closely related to marriage and family therapy, including a master's degree granted on or before June 30, 2009, in marriage and family therapy from an accredited educational institution or a master's degree granted on or before June 30, 2009, in a field determined by the board by regulation to be closely related to the practice of marriage and family therapy from an accredited educational institution, with graduate level coursework in marriage and family therapy acceptable to the board from an accredited educational institution or from a program recognized by a national accrediting agency.

(ii) Has successfully completed a planned program of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate coursework which is closely related to marriage and family therapy, including a 48-semester-hour or 72-quarter-hour master's degree in marriage and family therapy from an accredited educational institution or a 48-semester-hour or 72-quarter-hour master's degree in a field determined by the board by regulation to be closely related to the practice of marriage and family therapy from an accredited educational institution, with graduate level coursework in marriage and family therapy acceptable to the board from an accredited educational institution or from a program recognized by a national accrediting agency.

(iii) holds a doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from an accredited educational institution or holds a doctoral degree in a field determined by the board by regulation to be closely related to the practice of marriage and family therapy from an accredited educational institution with graduate level coursework in marriage and family therapy acceptable to the board from an accredited educational institution or from a program recognized by a national accrediting agency.

(3) The applicant has complied with the experience requirement as follows:

(i) An individual meeting the educational requirements of paragraph (2)(i) or (ii) must have completed at least [three years or 3,600] 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience, acceptable to the board as determined by regulation, obtained after the completion of 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours of graduate coursework.

(ii) An individual meeting the educational requirements of paragraph (2)(iii) must have completed at least [two years or] 2,400 hours of supervised clinical experience, acceptable to the board as determined by regulation, [one year or] 1,200 hours of which was obtained subsequent to the granting of the doctoral degree.

(4) The applicant has passed an examination adopted by the board.

(5) The application has been accompanied by the application fee.

(6) The applicant has not been convicted of a felony under The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act or of an offense under the laws of another jurisdiction which if committed in this Commonwealth would be a felony under the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act unless:

(i) at least ten years have elapsed from the date of conviction;

(ii) the applicant satisfactorily demonstrates to the board that the applicant has made significant progress in personal rehabilitation since the conviction such that licensure of the applicant should not be expected to create a substantial risk of harm to the health and safety of clients or the public or a substantial risk of further criminal violation; and

(iii) the applicant otherwise satisfies the qualifications contained in or authorized by this act.

As used in this paragraph, the term "convicted" includes a judgment, an admission of guilt or a plea of nolo contendere.

(f) Professional counselors license.--An applicant is qualified for a license to hold oneself out as a licensed professional counselor if the applicant submits proof satisfactory to the board that all of the following apply:

(1) The applicant is of good moral character.

(2) The applicant has successfully met one of the following educational requirements:

(i) [Within five years after the board has promulgated final regulations, has] Has successfully completed a planned program of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate coursework in counseling or a field determined by the board by regulation to be closely related to the practice of professional counseling, including a master's degree granted on or before June 30, 2009, in counseling or a field determined by the board by regulation to be closely related to the practice of professional counseling, from an accredited educational institution.

(ii) Has successfully completed a planned program of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate coursework in counseling or a field determined by the board by regulation to be closely related to the practice of professional counseling, including a 48-semester-hour or 72-quarter-hour master's degree in counseling or a field determined by the board by regulation to be closely related to the practice of professional counseling, from an accredited educational institution.

(iii) Holds a doctoral degree in counseling from an accredited educational institution or holds a doctoral degree in a field determined by the board by regulation to be closely related to the practice of professional counseling from an accredited educational institution.

(3) The applicant has complied with the experience requirements as follows:

(i) An individual meeting the educational requirements of paragraph (2)(i) or (ii) must have completed at least [three years or 3,600] 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience, acceptable to the board as determined by regulation, obtained after the completion of 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours of graduate coursework.

(ii) An individual meeting the educational requirements of paragraph (2)(iii) must have completed at least [two years or] 2,400 hours of supervised clinical experience, acceptable to the board as determined by regulation, [one year or] 1,200 hours of which was obtained subsequent to the granting of the doctoral degree.

(4) The applicant has passed an examination adopted by the board.

(5) The application has been accompanied by the application fee.

(6) The applicant has not been convicted of a felony under The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act or of an offense under the laws of another jurisdiction which if committed in this Commonwealth would be a felony under the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act unless:

(i) at least ten years have elapsed from the date of conviction;

(ii) the applicant satisfactorily demonstrates to the board that the applicant has made significant progress in personal rehabilitation since the conviction such that licensure of the applicant should not be expected to create a substantial risk of harm to the health and safety of clients or the public or a substantial risk of further criminal violations; and

(iii) the applicant otherwise satisfies the qualifications contained in or authorized by this act.

As used in this paragraph, the term "convicted" includes a judgment, an admission of guilt or a plea of nolo contendere.

Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

APPROVED--The 14th day of March, A.D. 2012.

TOM CORBETT