Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 255-X-2 — Definitions and Clarification of Terms

255 Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.01 Practice Of Counseling

(1) Unless specifically exempt by Code of Ala. 1975, §34-8A-3, no person shall engage in the private practice of counseling in the state of Alabama without a valid license issued through due process by the Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling. The issuance of a license by the Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling authorizes a licensee to engage in the private practice of counseling in the State of Alabama only.

(2) The private practice of counseling shall mean rendering or offering to render to individuals, groups, organizations or the general public counseling services, in settings of individual or group practice, for a fee, salary, or other compensation, involving the application of principles, methods or procedures of the counseling profession which include, but are not restricted to:

(a) COUNSELING. To render evaluation and therapy that includes, but is not limited to, providing individual counseling, family counseling, martial counseling, group therapy, school counseling, play therapy, rehabilitation counseling, art therapy, human growth and development counseling, couples counseling, chemical abuse or dependency counseling, career counseling, and vocational disability counseling. The use of specific methods, techniques, or modalities within the practice of a Licensed Professional Counselor is restricted to counselors appropriately trained in the use of three methods, techniques, or modalities. A licensed professional counselor or associate licensed counselor may diagnose and develop treatment plans but shall not attempt to diagnose, prescribe for, treat, or advise a client with reference to problems or complaints falling outside the boundaries of counseling services.

(b) APPRAISAL ACTIVITIES. Selecting, administering scoring and interpreting instruments designed to assess an individual’s aptitudes, attitudes, abilities, achievements, interests and personal characteristics, but shall not include the use of projective techniques in the assessment of personality.

(c) COUNSELING, GUIDANCE AND PERSONNEL CONSULTING. Interpreting or reporting upon scientific fact or theory in counseling, guidance and personnel services to provide assistance in solving some current or potential problems of individuals, groups or organizations.

(d) REFERRAL ACTIVITIES. The evaluating of data to identify problems and to determine advisability of referral to other specialists.

(e) RESEARCH ACTIVITIES. The designing, conducting and interpreting of research with human subjects.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-8A-1, et seq.
• Filed September 30, 1982. Amended: Filed September 25, 2000; effective October 30, 2000. Amended: Filed November 9, 2006, effective December 14, 2006. Amended: Filed September 28, 2009; effective November 2, 2009. Amended: Filed July 14, 2016; effective August 28, 2016.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.02 Licensed Professional Counselor

Any person who represents to the public by any title or description of services incorporating the words “licensed professional counselor” or “licensed counselor”; and who offers to render professional counseling services in private practice to individuals, groups, organizations, corporations, institutions, government agencies, or the general public in settings of individual or group practice for a fee, salary or other compensation, implying licensure and training, experience, or expertise in counseling, and who holds a current, valid license to engage in the private practice of counseling, with the exception of those practitioners listed in Code of Ala. 1975, §34-8A-7, and who holds a current, valid license to engage in the private practice of counseling, with the exception of those practitioners listed in Code of Ala. 1975, §34-8A-3.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-8A-2(4).
• Filed September 30, 1982. Amended: Filed November 9, 2006; effective December 14, 2006. Amended (Statutory Authority changed only): Filed July 25, 2017; effective September 8, 2017.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.03 Associate Licensed Counselor

Any person who meets the qualifications set forth in Code of Ala. 1975, §34-8A-8, and who has been licensed to offer counseling services while under the supervision of a Board approved supervisor. An ALC license is only available for six (6) continuous years from the original issue date. Any ALC license will permanently expire after six (6) years from the initial date of issue, and the licensee will be required to reapply under the current regulations for initial ALC licensure, with forfeiture of all previous accrued supervision hours.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-8A-2(1).
• Filed September 30, 1982. Amended: Filed September 25, 2000; effective October 30, 2000. Amended (Statutory Authority changed only): Filed July 25, 2017; effective September 8, 2017. Amended: Published August 31, 2022; effective October 15, 2022.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.04 Board Approved Supervision

This phrase shall mean supervision of an Associate Licensed Counselor by a Licensed Professional Counselor who meets the supervision criteria set out in section 255-X-3-.03 or 255-X-3-.05 and whose name appears on the ALC’s license.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-8A-8.
• Filed September 30, 1982. Amended: March 30, 1993; effective May 4, 1993. Amended: Filed November 26, 1996; effective December 31, 1996. Amended: Filed September 25, 2000; effective October 30, 2000. Amended: Filed May 30, 2003; effective July 4, 2003.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.05 Supervising Counselor

Supervising counselors shall be Licensed Professional Counselors and shall have adequate training, knowledge and skill to render competent clinical supervision. Supervising counselors shall meet the supervision criteria set out in section 255-X-3-.03.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-8A-7.
• Filed September 30, 1982. Amended: March 30, 1993; effective May 4, 1993. Amended: Filed November 26, 1996; effective December 31, 1996.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.06 Privileged Communication

This phrase shall mean any communication between client and counselor, given in confidence and not intended to be disclosed to third persons other than those to whom disclosure is made in the furtherance of the rendition of professional services to the client. The confidential relations and communications between the licensed professional counselor or associate licensed counselor and the client are placed on the same basis as those provided by law between attorney and client, and nothing in Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-8A-1, et seq., shall be construed to require any such privileged communication to be disclosed.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-8A-21.
• Filed September 30, 1982. Amended: Filed September 25, 2000; effective October 30, 2000.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.07 Resident Of The State Of Alabama (Repealed 12/14/2006)

Resident Of The State Of Alabama (Repealed 12/14/2006)

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-8A-7.
• Filed September 30, 1982. Repealed: Filed November 9, 2006; effective December 14, 2006.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.08 Citizen Of The United States (Repealed 12/14/2006)

Citizen Of The United States (Repealed 12/14/2006)

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-8A-7.
• Filed September 30, 1982. Repealed: Filed November 9, 2006; effective December 14, 2006.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.09 Good Moral Character

This phrase shall mean any individual who is highly regarded in personal character and professional ethics.

(1) Applicants and licensees are required to disclose to the Board any instance of censure, consent agreement, or disciplinary action; refused licensure or certification; voluntary surrender of licensure or certification; or license or certification suspension or revocation by any counseling or mental health related regulatory Board, or any counseling or mental health related professional organization within thirty (30) days of the action or disciplinary event.

(2) Applicants and licensees are required to disclose to the Board any arrests or convictions resulting from the suspected violation of any Federal, State, Municipal, or Local laws and ordinances, including pleas of nolo contendere, within thirty (30) days of the arrest, conviction, or plea agreement.

History

• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-8A-7.
• Filed September 30, 1982. Amended: Published August 31, 2022; effective October 15, 2022.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.10 Supervised Experience In Professional Counseling

This phrase shall mean counseling activities which are not part of a practicum, internship or any other academic course work necessary to meet the requirements of 255-X-3-.01(b)(1-11). These activities must be supervised by a Supervising Counselor who assumes responsibility for services rendered by the Associate Licensed Counselor.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-8A-7.
• Filed September 30, 1982. Amended: March 30, 1993. Amended: Filed November 26, 1996; effective December 31, 1996. Amended: Filed September 25, 2000; effective October 30, 2000. Amended: Filed May 16, 2001, effective June 20, 2001. Amended: Filed November 9, 2006; effective December 14, 2006.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.11 Relevant Professional Or Continued Educational Experience

This phrase shall mean documented training, workshops, institutes, seminars, etc., primarily counseling in content, as set forth in 255-X-7-.03(f)2.

History

• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-8A-1, et seq.
• Filed September 30, 1982. Amended: Filed March 30, 1993.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.12 Supervising Associate (Repealed 4/14/22)

Supervising Associate (Repealed 4/14/22)

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-8A-7.
• New Rule: Filed September 22, 1997; effective October 27, 1997. Amended: Filed September 25, 2000; effective October 30, 2000. Repealed: Published February 28, 2022; effective April 14, 2022.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.13 Indirect Counseling Service

Activities concerning client care that do not qualify as direct service. In general, the term is used to refer to time spent in management, administration, or other aspects of counseling service ancillary to direct service. The following would be considered indirect service: (1) observing others providing counseling or related services, (2) record keeping, (3) administrative duties (4) clinical and/or administration supervision.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-8A-7.
• New Rule: Filed May 30, 2003; effective July 4, 2003. Amended: Published February 28, 2022; effective April 14, 2022.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.14 Direct Counseling Service

Interaction with clients that includes supervised use of counseling, consultation, or related professional skills with actual clients (can be individuals, couples, families, or groups) for the purpose of fostering social, cognitive, behavioral, and/or affective change. These activities must involve interaction with others and may include: (1) assessment, (2) counseling, (3) psycho-educational activities, and (4) consultation on specific client issues.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-8A-7.
• New Rule: Filed May 30, 2003; effective July 4, 2003. Amended: Published February 28, 2022; effective April 14, 2022.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.15 Provisional License

A one-year, temporary licensure status equal to that of a licensed professional counselor or associate licensed counselor with specified stipulations for establishing substantial equivalency according to subdivision (4) of Section 34-8A-7 and Chapter 255-X-3.01(2)(a) and 255-X-3.01(2)(b)1-11.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-8A-15.
• New Rule: Filed November 9, 2006; effective December 14, 2006.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.16 Contact Clock Hours

The number of actual clock hours spent in direct interactive participation between learner and instructor or facilitator.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-8A-5.
• New Rule: Filed August 4, 2010; effective September 8, 2010. Amended: Published February 28, 2022; effective April 14, 2022.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.17 Continuing Education Unit

One (1) continuing education unit (CEU) is equivalent to ten (10) continuing education (CE) clock hours. To use graduate coursework for continuing education, one (1) graduate semester hours is equivalent to 12.5 CE’s, and one (1) graduate quarter hour is equivalent to 8.3 CE’s.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-8A-5.
• New Rule: Filed August 4, 2010; effective September 8, 2010. Amended: Published February 28, 2022; effective April 14, 2022.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.18 Relevant Professional And Continuing Educational Experience

A professional program, seminar, workshop, or formal graduate course work in a regionally accredited institution, consisting of at least one (1) contact hour focused on increasing knowledge and use of skills in the private practice of counseling in one or more of the following areas: counseling theory and practice, human growth and development, social and multicultural foundations, helping relationships, group dynamics, lifestyle and career development, appraisal of individuals, research and evaluation, or professional orientation. Formal graduate course work utilized as continuing education for licensure renewal cannot also be utilized as a substitute for supervised experience required to become a Licensed Professional Counselor. Formal graduate course work used as a substitution for supervised experience to become a Licensed Professional Counselor cannot also be utilized as continuing education for licensure renewal.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-8A-5.
• New Rule: Filed August 4, 2010; effective September 8, 2010. Amended: Filed July 14, 2016; effective August 28, 2016.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.19 Concurrent Supervision

All supervision of an ALC providing direct service to clients is to be provided by the Supervising Counselor identified on the license of the ALC. Concurrent supervision is supervision of the direct service provided by an ALC by more than one supervisor for the same clients in order to meet licensure or certification requirements of an entity other than the Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling. Concurrent supervision of an ALC’s service to the same clients by more than one supervisor is prohibited by the Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-8A-5.
• New Rule: Filed July 14, 2016; effective August 28, 2016.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.20 Practicum

Graduate level academic course work that provides for the development of individual and group counseling skills under supervision. The practicum must be taken through a regionally accredited institution, for a total of one hundred (100) clock hours. A minimum of forty (40) clock hours must be direct service work with clients. At least 80% of the direct service work with clients in the practicum must be in counseling sessions with clients. Assessment activities with clients may not account for more than 20% of the direct services in the practicum. A minimum of one (1) clock hours per week must be of individual supervision by program faculty, and a minimum of one and one-half (1½) clock hours per week must be group supervision.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-8A-5.
• New Rule: Filed July 14, 2016; effective August 28, 2016.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.21 Internship

Graduate level academic course work that provides an opportunity for the student to perform all the activities that a regularly employed staff member in the setting would be expected to perform. The internship must be taken through a regionally accredited institution for a total of six hundred (600) clock hours. A minimum of two hundred and forty (240) clock hours must be direct service work with clients. At least 80% of the direct service work with clients in the internship must be in counseling sessions with clients. Assessment activities with clients may not account for more than 20% of the direct services in the internship. A minimum of one (1) clock hours per week must be of individual supervision by program faculty, and a minimum of one and one-half (1½) clock hours per week must be group supervision.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-8A-5.
• New Rule: Filed July 14, 2016; effective August 28, 2016.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.22 Active Duty Military

This phrase shall refer to persons who are in active service in a branch of the armed forces of the United States (Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Marine Crops), a reserve unit for a branch of the armed forces of the United States, or the Alabama military forces. Verification of active duty military status must accompany a request for Military Exceptions related to initial licensure as an Associate Licensed Counselor or Licensed Professional Counselor, licensure endorsement from another state, renewal of an active or lapsed license, or requests for inactivation or reactivation of an inactive license.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-8A-5.
• New Rule: Filed July 25, 2017; effective September 8, 2017.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.23 Direct Supervision

The “Direct Supervision” component for licensure supervision by an ABEC-approved LPC-S requires that the supervision occur as individual, in-person, one-to-one, real-time, primarily focusing on client care (utilizing virtual formats if the LPC-S has the virtual supervision certificate).

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-8A-5.
• New Rule: Published August 31, 2022; effective October 15, 2022. Amended: Published April 30, 2025; effective June 14, 2025.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.24 Other Supervision

“Other Supervision” is other methods/techniques and hours of supervision.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-8A-5.
• New Rule: Published August 31, 2022; effective October 15, 2022. Amended: Published April 30, 2025; effective June 14, 2025.