CHAPTER 8.5. MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS
IC 25-23.6-8.5
Chapter 8.5. Mental Health Counselors
IC 25-23.6-8.5-1
Mental health counselor application requirements
Sec. 1. An individual who applies for a license as a mental healthcounselor must meet the following requirements:
(1) Furnish satisfactory evidence to the board that the individualhas:
(A) received a master's or doctor's degree in an area relatedto mental health counseling from:
(i) an eligible postsecondary educational institution thatmeets the requirements under section 2 of this chapter; or
(ii) a foreign school that has a program of study that meetsthe requirements under section 2 of this chapter;
(B) completed the educational requirements under section 3of this chapter; and
(C) completed the experience requirements under section 4of this chapter.
(2) Furnish satisfactory evidence to the board that theindividual:
(A) except as provided in section 1.7 of this chapter, holdsa mental health counselor associate, in good standing, issuedunder section 7 of this chapter; or
(B) is licensed or certified to practice as a mental healthcounselor in another state and is otherwise qualified underthis chapter.
(3) Furnish satisfactory evidence to the board that the individualdoes not have a conviction for a crime that has a direct bearingon the individual's ability to practice competently.
(4) Furnish satisfactory evidence to the board that the individualhas not been the subject of a disciplinary action by a licensingor certification agency of another state or jurisdiction on thegrounds that the individual was not able to practice as a mentalhealth counselor without endangering the public.
(5) Pass an examination provided by the board.
(6) Pay the fee established by the board.
As added by P.L.147-1997, SEC.71. Amended by P.L.2-2007,SEC.340; P.L.84-2010, SEC.58.
IC 25-23.6-8.5-1.5
Mental health counselor associate application requirements
Sec. 1.5. An individual who applies for a license as a mentalhealth counselor associate must meet the following requirements:
(1) Furnish satisfactory evidence to the board that the individualhas:
(A) received a master's or doctor's degree in mental healthcounseling therapy or in a related area as determined by theboard from an institution of higher education that meets therequirements under section 2 of this chapter or from a
foreign school that has a program of study that meets therequirements under section 2(3)(A) or 2(3)(B) of thischapter; and
(B) completed the educational requirements under section 3of this chapter.
(2) Furnish satisfactory evidence to the board that the individualdoes not have a conviction for a crime that has a direct bearingon the individual's ability to practice competently.
(3) Furnish satisfactory evidence to the board that the individualhas not been the subject of a disciplinary action by a licensingor certification agency of another state or jurisdiction on thegrounds that the individual was not able to practice as a mentalhealth counselor associate without endangering the public.
(4) Pay the fee established by the board.
(5) Pass an examination provided by the board.
As added by P.L.84-2010, SEC.59.
IC 25-23.6-8.5-1.7
Requirements while in doctoral program
Sec. 1.7. An individual who receives a master's degree and entersa doctoral program may do either of the following:
(1) Apply for a mental health counselor associate license undersection 1.5 of this chapter by meeting the requirements of thischapter.
(2) Elect not to apply for a mental health counselor associatelicense under section 1.5 of this chapter, accrue the clinicalexperience required under section 4 of this chapter, and applyfor a mental health counselor license at the conclusion of thedoctoral program.
As added by P.L.84-2010, SEC.60.
IC 25-23.6-8.5-2
Requirements for institution attended by applicant
Sec. 2. An applicant for a mental health counselor license undersection 1 of this chapter or a mental health counselor associatelicense under section 1.5 of this chapter must have received amaster's or doctor's degree in an area related to mental healthcounseling from an eligible postsecondary educational institutionthat meets the following requirements:
(1) If the institution was located in the United States or aterritory of the United States, at the time of the applicant'sgraduation the institution was accredited by a regionalaccrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognitionof Postsecondary Accreditation.
(2) If the institution was located in Canada, at the time of theapplicant's graduation the institution was a member in goodstanding with the Association of Universities and Colleges ofCanada.
(3) If the institution was located in a foreign country other thanCanada, at the time of the applicant's graduation the institution: (A) was recognized by the government of the country wherethe school was located as a program to train in the practiceof mental health counseling or psychotherapy counseling;and
(B) maintained a standard of training substantiallyequivalent to the standards of institutions accredited by aregional accrediting body recognized by the Commission onRecognition of Postsecondary Accreditation.
As added by P.L.147-1997, SEC.71. Amended by P.L.2-2007,SEC.341; P.L.84-2010, SEC.61.
IC 25-23.6-8.5-3
Educational requirements
Sec. 3. An applicant as a mental health counselor under section 1of this chapter or a mental health counselor associate under section1.5 of this chapter must complete the following educationalrequirements:
(1) Complete sixty (60) semester hours of graduate course workin counseling that must include either a master's degree thatrequired not less than forty-eight (48) semester hours or adoctor's degree in counseling. The graduate course work mustinclude the following content areas:
(A) Human growth and development.
(B) Social and cultural foundations of counseling.
(C) Helping relationship, including counseling theory andpractice.
(D) Group dynamics, processes, counseling, andconsultation.
(E) Lifestyle and career development.
(F) Assessment and appraisal of individuals.
(G) Research and program evaluation.
(H) Professional orientation and ethics.
(I) Foundations of mental health counseling.
(J) Contextual dimensions of mental health counseling.
(K) Knowledge and skills for the practice of mental healthcounseling and psychotherapy.
(L) Clinical instruction.
(2) Not less than one (1) supervised clinical practicum,internship, or field experience in a counseling setting, whichmust include a minimum of one thousand (1,000) clock hoursconsisting of one (1) practicum of one hundred (100) hours, one(1) internship of six hundred (600) hours, and one (1) advancedinternship of three hundred (300) hours with at least onehundred (100) hours of face to face supervision. Thisrequirement may be met by a supervised practice experiencethat took place away from an eligible postsecondary educationalinstitution but that is certified by an official of the eligiblepostsecondary educational institution as being equivalent to aclinical mental health graduate level practicum or internshipprogram at an institution accredited by an accrediting agency
approved by the United States Department of Education or theAssociation of Universities and Colleges of Canada.
As added by P.L.147-1997, SEC.71. Amended by P.L.2-2007,SEC.342; P.L.84-2010, SEC.62.
IC 25-23.6-8.5-4
Clinical experience requirements
Sec. 4. (a) As used in this section, "first available examination"means the first examination after the date of an individual's:
(1) graduation; or
(2) moving into Indiana;
that has an application deadline that is at least thirty (30) days afterthe date of graduation or the date of moving into Indiana, unless theindividual chooses to meet a deadline that is less than thirty (30) daysafter either of those events.
(b) The applicant must have at least three thousand (3,000) hoursof post-graduate clinical experience over a two (2) year period. Theclinical experience must consist of one hundred (100) hours of faceto face supervision under the supervision of a licensed mental healthcounselor or an equivalent supervisor, as determined by the board.
(c) A doctoral internship may be applied toward the supervisedwork experience requirement.
(d) Except as provided in subsection (e), the clinical experiencerequirement may be met by work performed at or away from thepremises of the supervising mental health counselor.
(e) The clinical work requirement may not be performed awayfrom the supervising mental health counselor's premises if:
(1) the work is the independent private practice of mental healthcounseling; and
(2) the work is not performed at a place that has the supervisionof a licensed mental health counselor or an equivalentsupervisor, as determined by the board.
(f) If an individual applies for, takes, and passes the first availableexamination, the individual may not count more than one thousandfive hundred (1,500) hours of the postdegree clinical experience thatis:
(1) required under subsection (b); and
(2) accumulated before taking the examination toward licensureas a mental health counselor.
(g) If an individual does not pass the first available examination,the individual may:
(1) retain the hours accumulated before taking the examination;
(2) continue working; and
(3) not accumulate any additional hours toward licensure as amental health counselor until passing the examination.
(h) If an individual does not take the first available examination,the individual may not begin accumulating any postdegree clinicalexperience hours toward licensure as a mental health counselor untilthe individual passes the examination.
As added by P.L.147-1997, SEC.71. Amended by P.L.84-2010,
SEC.63.
IC 25-23.6-8.5-5
Eligibility for examination
Sec. 5. An individual who satisfies the requirements of:
(1) section 1 or 1.5 of this chapter; and
(2) section 2 of this chapter;
may take the examination provided by the board.
As added by P.L.147-1997, SEC.71. Amended by P.L.84-2010,SEC.64.
IC 25-23.6-8.5-6
Examination; times and places
Sec. 6. The board shall provide for examinations to be given atleast once each year at times and places established by the board.
As added by P.L.147-1997, SEC.71.
IC 25-23.6-8.5-7
Issuance of license
Sec. 7. (a) The board shall issue a license to an applicant as amental health counselor under section 1 of this chapter or a mentalhealth counselor associate under section 1.5 of this chapter who:
(1) achieves a passing score, as determined by the board, on theexamination provided under this chapter; and
(2) is otherwise qualified under this article.
(b) A person issued a license under this section may engage in thepractice of mental health counseling.
As added by P.L.147-1997, SEC.71. Amended by P.L.84-2010,SEC.65.
IC 25-23.6-8.5-8
Duration of mental health counselor license; renewal
Sec. 8. (a) A mental health counselor license issued by the boardis valid for the remainder of the renewal period in effect on the datethe license was issued.
(b) An individual may renew a mental health counselor license by:
(1) paying a renewal fee on or before the expiration date of thelicense; and
(2) completing at least twenty (20) hours of continuingeducation per licensure year.
(c) If an individual fails to pay a renewal fee on or before theexpiration date of a mental health counselor license, the licensebecomes invalid.
As added by P.L.147-1997, SEC.71. Amended by P.L.84-2010,SEC.66.
IC 25-23.6-8.5-8.5
Duration of mental health counselor associate license; renewal
Sec. 8.5. (a) A mental health counselor associate license issued bythe board is valid for the remainder of the renewal period in effect on
the date the license was issued.
(b) An individual may renew a mental health counselor associatelicense two (2) times by:
(1) paying a renewal fee on or before the expiration date of thelicense; and
(2) completing at least twenty (20) hours of continuingeducation per licensure year.
(c) The board may renew a mental health counselor associatelicense for additional periods based on circumstances determined bythe board.
(d) If an individual fails to pay a renewal fee on or before theexpiration date of a mental health counselor associate license, thelicense becomes invalid.
As added by P.L.84-2010, SEC.67.
IC 25-23.6-8.5-9
Reinstatement of invalid license
Sec. 9. (a) The board may reinstate an invalid mental healthcounselor license up to three (3) years after the expiration date of thelicense if the individual holding the invalid license meets therequirements under IC 25-1-8-6.
(b) If more than three (3) years have elapsed since the date amental health counselor license expired, the individual holding thelicense may reinstate the invalid license by satisfying therequirements for reinstatement established by the board and meetingthe requirements under IC 25-1-8-6.
(c) The board may reinstate an invalid mental health counselorassociate license up to one (1) year after the expiration date of thelicense if the individual holding the invalid license meets therequirements under IC 25-1-8-6. A mental health counselor associatelicense that has been expired for more than one (1) year may not bereinstated under IC 25-1-8-6.
As added by P.L.147-1997, SEC.71. Amended by P.L.269-2001,SEC.23; P.L.84-2010, SEC.68.
IC 25-23.6-8.5-10
Temporary permit
Sec. 10. (a) The board may issue a temporary permit to anindividual to profess to be a mental health counselor if the individualpays a fee and the individual:
(1) has a valid license or certificate to practice from anotherstate and the individual has applied for a license from the board;
(2) is practicing in a state that does not license or certify mentalhealth counselors, but is certified by a national associationapproved by the board and the individual has applied for alicense from the board; or
(3) has been approved by the board to take the examination andhas graduated from a school or program approved by the boardand the individual has completed any experience requirement.
(b) A temporary permit expires the earlier of: (1) the date the individual holding the permit is issued a licenseunder this article; or
(2) the date the board disapproves the individual's licenseapplication.
(c) The board may renew a temporary permit if the individualholding the permit was scheduled to take the next examination andthe individual:
(1) did not take the examination; and
(2) shows good cause for not taking the examination.
(d) A permit renewed under subsection (c) expires on the date theindividual holding the permit receives the results from the nextexamination given after the permit was issued.
As added by P.L.147-1997, SEC.71.
IC 25-23.6-8.5-11
Notification of retirement from practice
Sec. 11. (a) An individual who is licensed under this article shallnotify the board in writing when the individual retires from practice.
(b) Upon receipt of the notice, the board shall:
(1) record the fact the individual is retired; and
(2) release the individual from further payment of renewal feesand continuing education requirements.
As added by P.L.147-1997, SEC.71.
IC 25-23.6-8.5-12
Exemption from examination requirement
Sec. 12. An individual who applies for a license under this articlemay be exempted by the board from the examination requirementunder this chapter if the individual:
(1) is licensed or certified to practice as a mental healthcounselor in another state; or
(2) has engaged in the practice of mental health counseling fornot less than three (3) of the previous five (5) years;
(3) has passed a licensing examination substantially equivalentto the licensing examination required under this article;
(4) has passed an examination pertaining to the mental healthcounseling laws and rules of this state; and
(5) has not committed any act or is not under investigation forany act that constitutes a violation of this article;
and is otherwise qualified under sections 1 and 2 of this chapter andpays an additional fee.
As added by P.L.147-1997, SEC.71.
IC 25-23.6-8.5-13
Transition provisions for person who receives degree before July1, 2010
Sec. 13. (a) An individual who, before July 1, 2010, receives amaster's or doctoral degree described in IC 25-23.6-8.5-1(1)(A) orIC 25-23.6-8.5-1.5(1)(A) and who seeks licensure underIC 25-23.6-8.5 may do either of the following: (1) Seek a mental health counselor associate license by:
(A) applying for a mental health counselor associate licenseunder IC 25-23.6-8.5 if the individual meets therequirements under IC 25-23.6-8.5; and
(B) taking the required examination.
Notwithstanding IC 25-23.6-8.5-4(f), any postdegree clinicalexperience that the individual obtained before July 1, 2010,counts toward the requirements of IC 25-23.6-8.5.
(2) Seek a mental health counselor license by applying for amental health counselor license under IC 25-23.6-8.5, if theindividual meets the requirements under IC 25-23.6-8.5.
(b) This SECTION expires June 30, 2015.
As added by P.L.84-2010, SEC.69.