Individuals who offer volunteer pastoral, marriage and family therapy or counseling services are exempt from licensure requirements as long as their services are authorized and supervised by the local congregation/church, synagogue, denominational institution, agency, or organization for which the service is rendered. Volunteers must abide by the same requirements as the authorizing congregation/church, synagogue, denominational institution, agency or organization.
ARKANSAS CODE ANNOTATED § 17-27-101 et esq.
A LAC/LAMFT may acquire the required 1000 CCH hours in direct and indirect services with the minimum of 25 hours of supervision in the required ratio of one hour of supervision for each 40 hours of CCH. The indirect service hours may not exceed 300 CCH of the total 1000 CCH.
OR
The LAC/LAMFT may choose to take the NCMHCE option:
The National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) option is available for the Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) or Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT) who petitions for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) license upon completion of the required supervised Client Contact Hours (CCH) as a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) or Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT).
When the passing score on the NCMHCE, all supervised CCH's are completed and documented, revised Statement of Intent and LPC/LMFT license fee are received, the LPC/LMFT License may be issued and supervision may cease.
If the LAC/LAMFT has completed the NCMHCE option, has met the supervision and course requirements for the Arkansas Clinical Mental Health Counselor License, that specialization license may be issued.
Test dates for the NCMHCE will be the same as the dates established for the NCE and all examinations will be administered by NBCC. The candidate will send test application and test fee directly to NBCC.
122.00.07 Ark. Code R. 001