Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-3-.03

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 255-X-3-.03 - Supervising Counselor

(1) General. Supervising Counselors shall be licensed professional counselors and shall have adequate training, knowledge and skill to render competent clinical supervision.

(2) To be able to provide virtual supervision for licensure, the Supervising Counselor must complete, in the Supervising Counselor training or in other independent CE trainings, two (2) continuing education contact hours in the practices and ethics of providing virtual supervision. This two (2) hour training requirement must only be completed ONCE to be able to offer distance/virtual supervision as an LPC-S.

(3) Licensed professional counselors applying for supervising counselor status must comply with the following requirements.

(a) Experience. Document one of the following:

1. A minimum of five (5) years of full time (20+ hours per week) clinical practice as an ABEC approved Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

(b) Training. Document successful completion of an ABEC approved supervisory training programs completed not more than three (3) years prior to submitting the application for Supervising Counselor status.

The applicant must complete:

Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling (ABEC) approved supervisory training event, for a minimum of twenty-four (24) contact hours. This training must include a review of the theoretical approaches to supervision in mental health services, the practical application of such supervision, a review of ABEC licensure requirements and application processes, and a thorough inclusion and focus on the ABEC Codes, Rules and Code of Ethics in supervision for licensure. This training must also include, at least two (2) continuing education contact hours in the practices and ethics of providing virtual supervision.

Board approval for training events by the training provider must be requested ninety (90) or more days prior to the scheduled training event, and must be accompanied by an overall program description, a detailed curriculum outline, and qualifications of the instructor.

(c) Theoretical Foundation. Present a statement satisfactory to the Board, in typed form, discussing the philosophy and models of supervision, and the applicant's strengths and weaknesses as a potential supervisor. This statement should adequately demonstrate familiarity with the significant legal, ethical, and clinical issues relevant to the supervisory relationship.

(d) Peer Recommendations. The applicant must present to the Board peer recommendations from three (3) LPCs who have a current Alabama license, indicating their views on the applicant's strengths and weaknesses as a potential supervisor.

(e) Limitations of Supervision Practice. No Supervising Counselor may exceed a total of five (5) supervisees currently in supervision for ABEC licensure.

(f) Continuing Education Credit. One (1) contact hour of continuing education credit may be earned for each ten (10) clock hours of supervision of an associate licensed counselor. Up to, but no more than, ten (10) contact hours of continuing education credit may be earned by providing one hundred (100) clock hours of supervision of an associate licensed counselor. A Supervising Counselor may earn up to, but no more than, one (1) contact hour of continuing education credit for each ten (10) clock hours of supervision provided to a licensee who requires supervision of counseling practice as a result of a disciplinary action taken by the board. A Supervising Counselor may earn a maximum of ten (10) contact hours of continuing education credit during a two-year period for supervision provided under this regulation.

(g) Fees. There will be a non-refundable $150.00 fee for the application process for approved supervisors.

(h) Recertification. Recertification/renewal of the LPC-S certification will be a part of the LPC license the LPC-S is based upon. A separate renewal of the LPC-s is not necessary. Maintenance of the Supervisor status shall require that that the LPC-S accrue a minimum of five (5) formal contact clock hours of relevant professional and continued education devoted to supervision during each two-year renewal cycle of the accompanying LPC License. These five (5) hours cannot be from the Continuing Education Credit for LPC-Supervisors. These five (5) hours can count as a part of the required forty (40) hours of continuing education for LPC licensure renewal.

LPC's who fail to renew their LPC license each two-year period with required five (5) hours devoted to supervision content must reapply to the Board of Supervising Counselor status.

Review of LPC-S's compliance for continuing education in supervision will be a part of the LPC audit process.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-3-.03

New Rule: Filed March 21, 1995; effective April 25, 1995. Amended: Filed September 22, 1997; effective October 27, 1997. Amended: Filed March 1, 2000; effective April 5, 2000. Amended: Filed September 25, 2000; effective October 30, 2000. Amended: Filed May 16, 2001; effective June 20, 2001. Amended: Filed March 22, 2002; effective April 26, 2002. Amended: Filed November 9, 2006; effective December 14, 2006. Amended: Filed September 25, 2012; effective October 30, 2012.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIV, Issue No. 10, July 29, 2016, eff. 8/28/2016.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XL, Issue No. 05, February 28, 2022, eff. 4/14/2022.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XL, Issue No. 05, February 28, 2022, eff. 10/15/2022.

Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-8A-1, et seq.