LICENSURE PORTABILITY: An Update American Association of State Counseling Boards (AASCB) April 2, Montreal, CA

What are the ideal standards? How many credits should a Master’s degree in counseling contain? How many supervised clinical hours after the Master’s degree should a licensure candidate complete? What exam should be used for licensing? What title should be used for licensing? What degree(s) should qualify for counselor licensing? What professional degree/field should supervisors hold? Should the supervisor have certification?

A problem - Standards (2004) Academic Credits Academic Credits 19 states require 60 graduate credits 19 states require 60 graduate credits 12 states require 48 graduate credits 12 states require 48 graduate credits 15 states require a “Master’s” degree 15 states require a “Master’s” degree Clinical Experience Clinical Experience 2 states require 4,000-4,500 hours 2 states require 4,000-4,500 hours 3 states require around 3,500 3 states require around 3, states require 2,000-2,400 hours 11 states require 2,000-2,400 hours 1 state requires 1,800 hours 1 state requires 1,800 hours 1 state requires 1,000 hours 1 state requires 1,000 hours

Standards (continued) Supervision Supervision All states require supervision All states require supervision Most states agree that a supervisor must be licensed Most states agree that a supervisor must be licensed Qualifications vary Qualifications vary Type of license Type of license Years of experience Years of experience Some require specific training in supervisory skills Some require specific training in supervisory skills

Most important issues (re:licensing standards) facing the profession? Findings Findings Counselor identity Counselor identity Portability Portability Variance in licensing requirements Variance in licensing requirements Psychologists’ restricting scope Psychologists’ restricting scope Implications Implications Identity is less clear now than in last decade Identity is less clear now than in last decade AASCB spearhead: AASCB spearhead: a movement of all “entities” to develop a new model for licensing standards (including the title) a movement of all “entities” to develop a new model for licensing standards (including the title) Development of a portability plan Development of a portability plan Portability is tied to common standards & identity Portability is tied to common standards & identity Convene a major summit of ACA, divisions, AASCB, CACREP, NBCC to provide a unified future direction Convene a major summit of ACA, divisions, AASCB, CACREP, NBCC to provide a unified future direction

Specific problems identified Licensing board complaints & discipline data unavailable from AASCB & states Licensing board complaints & discipline data unavailable from AASCB & states Counselors adhering to laws while ignoring professional codes of ethics Counselors adhering to laws while ignoring professional codes of ethics Methods of reporting & sharing legal & ethical violations are flawed Methods of reporting & sharing legal & ethical violations are flawed Wide variation of state licensing standards threatens true portability Wide variation of state licensing standards threatens true portability Continued calls for higher standards without strong research Continued calls for higher standards without strong research Mascari (2004)

Why we need a Credentials Bank? The credentials bank is a convenient way of maintaining important licensure information in one location. The credentials bank is a convenient way of maintaining important licensure information in one location. Occasionally the original information sources are no longer available: Occasionally the original information sources are no longer available: Supervisors Supervisors Move Move Deceased Deceased Education Institutions Education Institutions No longer exists!!! No longer exists!!!

What belongs in the Credentials Bank? College transcript College transcript Supervision documentation Supervision documentation Letters of recommendation Letters of recommendation Current Current Certification(s) Certification(s) Licensure information Licensure information Resume Resume Continuing Education Continuing Education

Who should store materials? Students Students Recent graduates Recent graduates Licensed professionals Licensed professionals Any of the above who think they may want to: Any of the above who think they may want to: move and take their license with them (ever) move and take their license with them (ever) access credentials at a later time access credentials at a later time apply for an additional credential or certification apply for an additional credential or certification

The Portability Model Purpose of the Model Purpose of the Model Problems inherent in any portability model for our profession Problems inherent in any portability model for our profession How did we get to this particular model? How did we get to this particular model?

Specifics of Portability Only available to those who have been granted initial licensure in a member state Only available to those who have been granted initial licensure in a member state Two groups of registrants reflect current differences in licensing standards Two groups of registrants reflect current differences in licensing standards Two groups reflect the qualifications of the registrants credentials Two groups reflect the qualifications of the registrants credentials Five years of work experience. Five years of work experience. Why is this a requirement? Why is this a requirement?

Portability (continued) Accommodating current differences in testing requirements Accommodating current differences in testing requirements Purposes of “equivalencies” Purposes of “equivalencies”

Eligibility Requirements A current active License to practice counseling at the independent level from an AASCB member state A current active License to practice counseling at the independent level from an AASCB member state No disciplinary action taken No disciplinary action taken 5 years post license counseling experience 5 years post license counseling experience

Qualifications for Group I 48 graduate semester hours including a Masters degree in counseling or related field 48 graduate semester hours including a Masters degree in counseling or related field Coursework to include specific content that is consistent with CACREP guidelines Coursework to include specific content that is consistent with CACREP guidelines 3,000 clock hours of post master’s supervision hours direct client contact 3,000 clock hours of post master’s supervision hours direct client contact 100 Hours of clinical supervision 100 Hours of clinical supervision Successful passage of a licensure examination recognized by a member state Successful passage of a licensure examination recognized by a member state

Qualifications for Group II 60 graduate semester hours including a master’s degree in counseling or related field 60 graduate semester hours including a master’s degree in counseling or related field Coursework the same as group I, with additional coursework in specific treatment modalities Coursework the same as group I, with additional coursework in specific treatment modalities 4,000 hours of post master’s supervision. 2,500 hours direct client contact 4,000 hours of post master’s supervision. 2,500 hours direct client contact 100 hours of clinical supervision 100 hours of clinical supervision The 5 years of counseling experience must be in clinical counseling The 5 years of counseling experience must be in clinical counseling Successful passage of a licensure examination recognized by a member state Successful passage of a licensure examination recognized by a member state

Use of Equivalencies Use of equivalencies is at the discretion of each state board Use of equivalencies is at the discretion of each state board Additional years of counseling experience and continuing education may be accepted to replace deficiencies in: Additional years of counseling experience and continuing education may be accepted to replace deficiencies in: coursework coursework supervision hours supervision hours additional testing requirements, etc. additional testing requirements, etc.

The Future Criteria for acceptance as a registrant will change over time Criteria for acceptance as a registrant will change over time testing (e.g.,AASCB protocol) testing (e.g.,AASCB protocol) Coursework criteria Coursework criteria reflects changes in the profession over time reflects changes in the profession over time

Roles in the Portability Process The Bank- The Bank- Validate credentials Validate credentials Determine deficiencies for group status Determine deficiencies for group status Make information available to state boards Make information available to state boards

Licensed Professional Counselors - the future is ours