The department shall register as a clinical social worker intern, marriage and family therapist intern, or mental health counselor intern each applicant who the board certifies has: Completed the application form and remitted a nonrefundable application fee not to exceed $200, as set by board rule; Completed the education requirements as specified in s. 491.005(1)(c), (3)(c), or (4)(c) for the profession for which he or she is applying for licensure, if needed; and. 15, 19, ch. The definition of clinical social work contained in this subsection includes all services offered directly to the general public or through organizations, whether public or private, and applies whether payment is requested or received for services rendered. All documents considered in connection with an action must be identified in such minutes. 97-103; s. 18, ch. During your journey to become a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), you likely experienced many exams that tested your knowledge and Under current law, Mental Health Counselors are required to be competent in diagnosis but are not allowed to provide diagnoses for people in need of mental health services. The applicant has passed an examination required by the department for this purpose. (2)DEFAULT, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND TERMINATION.. A current member of the licensing board at the time of appointment, who is a licensed professional counselor or public member; or. (8)Encumbered license means a license in which an adverse action restricts the practice of licensed professional counseling by the licensee and said adverse action has been reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank. (3)Encourage the cooperation of member states in regulating multistate practice of licensed professional counselors. OVERSIGHT; DEFAULT, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE,AND TERMINATION; DISPUTE RESOLUTION;AND ENFORCEMENT. (a)The executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government in each member state shall enforce the compact and take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate the compacts purposes and intent. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1)(b), coursework which was taken at a baccalaureate level shall not be considered toward completion of education requirements for licensure unless an official of the graduate program certifies in writing on the graduate schools stationery that a specific course, which students enrolled in the same graduate program were ordinarily required to complete at the graduate level, was waived or exempted based on completion of a similar course at the baccalaureate level. Table of Contents show. (17)Licensing board means the agency of a state, or equivalent, that is responsible for the licensing and regulation of licensed professional counselors. ss. All applicable provisions of chapter 456 relating to activities of regulatory boards shall apply to the board. Rules and amendments become binding as of the date specified in each rule or amendment. Dual licensure as a marriage and family therapist. WebThe Florida State Board can issue the LMHC License based on reciprocity provided that: Youve held an equivalent LMHC license and have actively practiced for at least three of I of the State Constitution unless the state that originally reported the information to the data system authorizes the disclosure of such information by law. (f)Meet any continuing education requirements established by the home state. Practice mental health counseling in this state for compensation, unless the person holds a valid, active license to practice mental health counseling issued pursuant to this chapter or is an intern registered pursuant to s. 491.0045. Such impairment may include, but is not limited to, alcohol or drug dependence, mental health conditions, and neurological or physical conditions. 94-310; s. 10, ch. (2)Enhance the member states ability to protect the publics health and safety. (h)Report to the commission any adverse action, encumbrance, or restriction on a license taken by any nonmember state within 30 days after the action is taken. Clinical social work may be rendered to individuals, including individuals affected by the termination of marriage, and to marriages, couples, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Any such person shall submit a copy of the academic training from the Foreign Equivalency Determination Service of the Council on Social Work Education. It is unlawful and a violation of this chapter for any person to: Use the following titles or any combination thereof, unless she or he holds a valid, active license as a clinical social worker issued pursuant to this chapter: Use the following titles or any combination thereof, unless she or he holds a valid, active license as a marriage and family therapist issued pursuant to this chapter: Licensed marriage and family therapist.. 5. 19, 20, ch. (7)Once an encumbered license in the licensees home state is restored to good standing, the licensee may obtain a privilege to practice in any remote state if he or she meets the requirements of subsection (1). This type of work can be done for a prolonged period of time throughout the individuals life or in crisis situations when immediate assessment and treatment are required. 90-263; s. 4, ch. (4)The compact may not be construed to invalidate or prevent any professional counseling licensure agreement or other cooperative arrangement between a member state and a nonmember state which does not conflict with the compact. Delegating professional responsibilities to a person. (4)The home state shall complete any pending investigations of a licensed professional counselor who changes primary state of residence during the course of the investigations. (a)The commission, in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, shall enforce the provisions and rules of the compact. WebOur LMHC License Guide. (b)On the website of each member states professional counseling licensing board or other publicly accessible platform or in the publication in which each state would otherwise publish proposed rules. (5)Counseling Compact Commission or commission means the national administrative body whose membership consists of all states that have enacted the compact. The compact is designed to achieve the following purposes and objectives: (1)Facilitate interstate practice of licensed professional counseling to increase public access to professional counseling services by providing for the mutual recognition of other member state licenses. (1)To exercise the privilege to practice under the terms and provisions of the compact, the licensee must meet all of the following criteria: (b)Have a valid United States social security number or national provider identifier. The terms diagnose and treat, as used in this chapter, when considered in isolation or in conjunction with the rules of the board, may not be construed to permit the performance of any act that marriage and family therapists are not educated and trained to perform, including, but not limited to, admitting persons to hospitals for treatment of the foregoing conditions, treating persons in hospitals without medical supervision, prescribing medicinal drugs as defined in chapter 465, authorizing clinical laboratory procedures or radiological procedures or the use of electroconvulsive therapy. Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling. No provision of this chapter shall be construed to limit the performance of activities of a rabbi, priest, minister, or member of the clergy of any religious denomination or sect, or use of the terms Christian counselor or Christian clinical counselor when the activities are within the scope of the performance of his or her regular or specialized ministerial duties and no compensation is received by him or her, or when such activities are performed, with or without compensation, by a person for or under the auspices or sponsorship, individually or in conjunction with others, of an established and legally cognizable church, denomination, or sect, and when the person rendering service remains accountable to the established authority thereof. Sexual misconduct by a psychotherapist; penalties. ss. Menu . 98-403; s. 171, ch. 2000-160. WebDiagnostic ability not allowed in state No data currently available Licensed professional counselors (LPCs) and other non-physician mental health professionals (c)The executive committee shall meet at least annually. 90-263; s. 4, ch. If the masters degree is earned from a program related to the practice of mental health counseling which is not accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, then the coursework and practicum, internship, or fieldwork must consist of at least 60 semester hours or 80 quarter hours and meet all of the following requirements: Thirty-three semester hours or 44 quarter hours of graduate coursework, which must include a minimum of 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours of graduate-level coursework in each of the following 11 content areas: counseling theories and practice; human growth and development; diagnosis and treatment of psychopathology; human sexuality; group theories and practice; individual evaluation and assessment; career and lifestyle assessment; research and program evaluation; social and cultural foundations; substance abuse; and legal, ethical, and professional standards issues in the practice of mental health counseling. 2017-3; s. 48, ch. Any rule that has been previously adopted by the commission has the full force and effect of law on the day the compact becomes law in that state. 90-263; s. 4, ch. A certified master social worker is exempt from the continuing education requirements for the first renewal of the certificate. Any registration issued after March 31, 2017, expires 60 months after the date it is issued. (d)Meet and take actions that are consistent with the compact and bylaws. 91-429. OBTAINING A NEW HOME STATE LICENSEBASED ON A PRIVILEGE TO PRACTICE. 2008-154; s. 103, ch. (o)Appoint committees, including standing committees consisting of commission members, state regulators, state legislators or their representatives, and consumer representatives, and such other interested persons as may be designated in the compact and bylaws. The licensee, registered intern, or certificateholder against whom the petition is filed may not be named or identified by initials in any public court records or documents, and the proceedings shall be closed to the public. 97-264; s. 4, ch. Online Education diagnose problems and help guide those clients to find a solution and/or growth that addresses their problems. What is an LMHC? An LMHC, or licensed mental health counselor, is an individual who uses various psychotherapy techniques and methods to assist those with mental health issues. Upon assessing their client's needs, they design a therapy plan as part of the recovery process. No provision of this chapter shall be construed to limit the practice of physicians licensed pursuant to chapter 458 or chapter 459, or psychologists licensed pursuant to chapter 490, so long as they do not unlawfully hold themselves out to the public as possessing a license, provisional license, registration, or certificate issued pursuant to this chapter or use a professional title protected by this chapter. Any person who holds a masters degree in social work from institutions outside the United States may apply to the department for certification if the academic training in social work has been evaluated as equivalent to a degree from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. 12, 19, 20, ch. (9)If a hearing is held on the proposed rule or amendment, the commission must publish the place, time, and date of the scheduled public hearing. (26)Unencumbered license means a license that authorizes a licensed professional counselor to engage in the full and unrestricted practice of professional counseling. (1)In addition to the other powers conferred by state law, a remote state has the authority, in accordance with existing state due process law, to do any of the following: (a)Take adverse action against a licensed professional counselors privilege to practice within that member state. Employees providing social work services under administrative supervision in long-term care facilities licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration. The Legislature further finds that, since such services assist the public primarily with emotional survival, which in turn affects physical and psychophysical survival, the practice of clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, and mental health counseling by persons not qualified to practice such professions presents a danger to public health, safety, and welfare. The practice of clinical social work includes, but is not limited to, psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, and sex therapy. Is a salaried employee of a private, nonprofit organization providing counseling services to children, youth, and families, if such services are provided for no charge, if such employee is performing duties for which he or she was trained and hired, so long as the employee is not held out to the public as a clinical social worker, mental health counselor, or marriage and family therapist. Subpoenas issued by a licensing board in a member state for the attendance and testimony of witnesses or the production of evidence from another member state must be enforced in the latter state by any court of competent jurisdiction, according to the practice and procedure of that court applicable to subpoenas issued in proceedings pending before it. A meeting or a portion of a meeting of the Counseling Compact Commission, established in Article IX of s. 491.017, or the executive committee or other committees of the commission, at which matters specifically exempted from disclosure by federal or state statute are discussed is exempt from s. 286.011 and s. 24(b), Art. The use of specific methods, techniques, or modalities within the practice of marriage and family therapy is restricted to marriage and family therapists appropriately trained in the use of such methods, techniques, or modalities. (3)For purposes of the compact, the practice of professional counseling occurs in the state where the client is located at the time of the counseling services. (b)Require licensees to pass a nationally recognized exam approved by the commission. Revisions are subject to challenge by any person for a period of 30 days after posting. WebThe State of Florida's Online Resource for Clinical Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists and Mental Health Counselor Licensing, Renewals and Information. If the licensee, registered intern, or certificateholder refuses to comply with such order, the departments order directing the examination may be enforced by filing a petition for enforcement in the circuit court in the circuit in which the licensee, registered intern, or certificateholder resides or does business. 7. 15, 20, ch. If judicial enforcement is necessary, the prevailing party must be awarded all costs of such litigation, including reasonable attorney fees. A disclosure of confidential communications by a person licensed or certified under this chapter when communicating a threat pursuant to this subsection may not be the basis of any legal action or criminal or civil liability against such person. An applicant who graduated from a program at a university or college outside of the United States or Canada must present documentation of the equivalency determination from the council in order to qualify. The required masters degree must have been received in an institution of higher education that, at the time the applicant graduated, was fully accredited by an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or its successor organization or was a member in good standing with Universities Canada, or an institution of higher education located outside the United States and Canada which, at the time the applicant was enrolled and at the time the applicant graduated, maintained a standard of training substantially equivalent to the standards of training of those institutions in the United States which are accredited by an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or its successor organization. Has held a valid, active license for at least 3 years. Beginning July 1, 2025, an applicant must have a masters degree from a program that is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council, or an equivalent accrediting body which consists of at least 60 semester hours or 80 quarter hours to apply for licensure under this paragraph. 91-429; s. 515, ch. Therapeutic deception means a representation to the client that sexual contact by the psychotherapist is consistent with or part of the treatment of the client. When the patient or client agrees to the waiver, in writing, or, when more than one person in a family is receiving therapy, when each family member agrees to the waiver, in writing. 2018-106. The applicant submits proof satisfactory to the department that the applicant has received a doctoral degree in social work, or a masters degree with a major emphasis or specialty in clinical practice or administration, including, but not limited to, agency administration and supervision, program planning and evaluation, staff development, research, community organization, community services, social planning, and human service advocacy. (p)Provide information to, receive information from, and cooperate with law enforcement agencies. The practice of mental health counseling may also include clinical research into more effective psychotherapeutic modalities for the treatment and prevention of such conditions. For mental health counseling, a minimum of seven of the courses required under s. 491.005(4)(b)1.a.-c. A provisional licensee must work under the supervision of a licensed mental health professional, as defined by the board, until the provisional licensee is in receipt of a license or a letter from the department stating that he or she is licensed as a clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or mental health counselor. (d)Have not had any encumbrance or restriction against any license or privilege to practice within the preceding 2 years. (b)All meetings must be open to the public, and public notice of meetings must be given in the same manner as required under the rulemaking provisions in Article XI. In addition, this definition may not be construed to permit any person licensed, provisionally licensed, registered, or certified pursuant to this chapter to describe or label any test, report, or procedure as psychological, except to relate specifically to the definition of practice authorized in this subsection. 95-279; s. 512, ch.