216 R.I. Code R. 216-RICR-40-05-11.3

Current through December 26, 2024

Section 216-RICR-40-05-11.3 - Professional Licensing Requirements

11.3.1Qualifications of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associates and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors

In addition to the requirements of R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-63.2-9, an applicant for licensure shall submit to the Board written evidence on forms furnished by the Department that said applicant has followed an approved pathway for licensure.

11.3.2Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate

A. A license as a "clinical mental health counselor associate" shall be issued to an applicant who meets the following qualifications:

1. Has completed the following degree requirements:

a. Has received a master's or higher level degree from a program accredited by CACREP; or an equivalent accrediting agency approved by both the board and by the cognizable national or regional certifying authority OR

b. Has received a master's degree or certificate in advanced graduate studies or a doctoral degree in mental health counseling from a recognized educational institution, or a graduate degree in an allied field from a recognized educational institution and a graduate level course work that is equivalent to a master's degree in mental health counseling. Coursework must include the required components of the Core Curriculum as indicated in §11.5.1 of this Part AND

c. Has completed sixty (60) semester credit hours or ninety (90) quarter hours within their graduate counseling/therapy program or post graduate program. The sixty (60) semester credit hours or ninety (90) quarter hours must be received prior to beginning post graduate experience and supervised case work hours.

2. Has completed the following educational practicum and internship requirements:

a. Completed requisite CACREP expectations for internship and practicum; OR

b. Twelve (12) semester credit hours or eighteen (18) quarter hours of supervised practicum and a minimum of one (1) calendar year of supervised internship consisting of twenty (20) hours per week deemed equivalent by the Board but in no case less than six hundred (600) hours.

11.3.3Clinical Mental Health Counselor

A. A license as a "clinical mental health counselor" shall be issued to an applicant who has met the qualifications of a clinical mental health counselor associate as above and also meets the following qualifications:

1. Is of good character;

2. Has completed a minimum of two (2) years of relevant postgraduate experience, including at least two thousand (2,000) hours of direct client contact offering clinical or counseling or therapy services with emphasis in mental health counseling subsequent to being awarded a master's degree, certificate of advanced graduate study, or doctorate;

3. Has a minimum of one hundred (100) hours of post-degree supervised case work spread over a two-year (2) period; provided, that the supervision was provided by a person who, at the time of rendering the supervision, was recognized by the board as an approved supervisor;

4. Successfully completes the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination of the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) or other examination approved by the Board to determine the applicant's qualification for licensure as a clinical mental health counselor or is applying for licensure under the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-63.2-15.

B. An approved supervisor has completed post graduate experience and supervised case work hours as required in R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-63.2-9 by a person who at the time of rendering the supervision is recognized by the Board as an approved supervisor under the following requirements:

1. Must be a licensed clinical mental health counselor, a licensed psychiatrist, a licensed psychologist, a licensed marriage and family therapist, or a licensed independent clinical social worker, who has been licensed in good standing for at least five (5) years and has at least five (5) years of clinical experience as a licensee AND:

2. Has successfully completed one graduate course in supervision in counseling, taken at an institution of higher learning OR

3. Is approved by the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination of the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) as a certified supervisor; OR

4. Has at least two (2) years' experience supervising clinical staff in a mental health setting

11.3.4Qualifications of Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associates and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists

In addition to the requirements of R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-63.2-10, an applicant for licensure shall submit to the Board written evidence on forms furnished by the Department that said applicant.

11.3.5Marriage and Family Therapist Associate

A. A license as a "marriage and family therapist associate" shall be issued to an applicant who meets the following qualifications:

1. Is of good character;

2. Has completed the following degree requirements:

a. Has completed a master's degree or certificate in advanced graduate studies or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a recognized educational institution, or a graduate degree in an allied field from a recognized educational institution and graduate level course work that is equivalent to a master's degree in marriage and family therapy and must include the required components of the Core Curriculum as indicated in §11.5.2 of this Part AND

b. Has completed sixty (60) semester credit hours or ninety (90) quarter hours within their graduate degree or post-graduate degree program specializing in marital and family therapy.

3. Has completed the following educational practicum and internship requirements:

a. Has completed a minimum of twelve (12) semester credit hours or eighteen (18) quarter hours of supervised practicum AND

b. Has completed a one (1) calendar year of supervised internship consisting of twenty (20) hours per week deemed equivalent by the Board.

11.3.6Marriage and Family Therapist

A. A license as a "marriage and family therapist" shall be issued to an applicant who has met the qualifications of a marriage and family therapist associate as above and also meets the following qualifications:

1. Has had a minimum of two (2) years of relevant postgraduate experience, including at least two thousand (2,000) hours of direct client contact offering clinical or counseling or therapy services with emphasis in marriage and family therapy subsequent to being awarded a master's degree or doctorate; and

2. Has had a minimum of one hundred (100) hours of post-degree supervised case work spread over two years (2); provided, that the supervision was provided by a person who, at the time of rendering the supervision, was recognized by the board as an approved supervisor; and

3. Has passed to the satisfaction of the board an examination conducted by it to determine the applicant's qualifications for licensure as a marriage and family therapist or is applying for licensure under the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-63.2-15.

4. Successfully completes the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB) or other examination approved by the Board to determine the applicant's qualification for licensure as a marriage and family therapist or is applying for licensure under the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-63.2-15.

B. An approved supervisor has completed post graduate experience and supervised case work hours as required in R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-63.2-10 by a person who at the time of rendering the supervision is recognized by the Board as an approved supervisor under the following requirements:

1. Is duly certified as a supervisor by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT); OR

2. Is a licensed marriage and family therapist who has been licensed in good standing for at least five (5) years and has at least five (5) years of clinical experience as a licensee; AND

3. Has successfully completed one graduate-level course in MFT supervision; OR

4. Has successfully completed one (1) MFT supervision course taken through the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)/Rhode Island Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (RIAMFT).

11.3.7Application for Licensure and Fees

A. Application for license to practice as a clinical mental health counselor or a marriage and family therapist shall be made on forms provided by the Department, which shall be completed and submitted to the Board thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled date of the Board meeting at which they are to be reviewed.

B. Such application shall be accompanied by the following:

A non-refundable application fee as set forth in the rules and regulations Pertaining to the Fee Structure for Licensing, Laboratory and Administrative Services Provided by the Department of Health (216-RICR- 10-05-2). In no case shall said fee be returned. Applicants requiring reexamination shall submit a fee as set forth in 216-RICR- 10-05-2 for each reexamination.

11.3.8Examination of Applicants

Examination requirements are stated in R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-63.2-14.

11.3.9Endorsement for Licensure

In addition to the requirements in R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-63.2-15, an applicant who is a licensed clinical mental health counselor in another state whose qualifying degree is awarded by a CACREP accredited program in clinical mental health counseling totaling sixty (60) or more semester hours shall be considered equivalent to the requirement established pursuant to the Act.

11.3.10Expiration and Renewal of License

A. Licensed clinical mental health counselor or licensed marriage and family therapists shall abide by all expiration and renewal of licensure requirements in R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-63.2-17.

B. Every clinical mental health counselor and marriage and family therapist who desires to continue licensure as a licensed clinical mental health counselor or licensed marriage and family therapist shall attest to the Department that the licensed clinical mental health counselor or licensed marriage and family therapist has completed a prescribed course of continuing education in accordance with the requirements of §11.3.12 of this Part.

C. Licenses for Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associates and Marriage and Family Therapist Associates shall expire three (3) years from the date of issuance. However, for good cause shown, a one (1) year extension of the Associate license may be granted to complete all postgraduate requirements, as approved by the Board in its discretion.

11.3.11Transfer to Inactive Lists - Reinstatement

A licensed clinical mental health counselor and/or licensed marriage and family therapist whose name has been transferred to the inactive list pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-63.2-19 who wishes to be reinstated must, in addition to the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-63.2-19, submit an application and fees to the Department, attesting to the completion of the continuing education requirements in accordance with §11.3.12 of this Part within the immediate two (2) years prior to the applicant's request for licensure reactivation, unless the license has been suspended or revoked.

11.3.12Continuing Education Requirements

A. The application for license renewal shall include satisfactory evidence of completion of forty (40) credits of continuing education relevant to the practice of clinical mental health counseling or marriage and family therapy practice, completed over the two (2) year period preceding re-licensure. Furthermore, a minimum of twenty (20) of the forty (40) credits of continuing education shall be completed within Category 1 of §11.3.12(C) of this Part.

B. Continuing education programs sponsored or approved by the following organizations are deemed to be approved by the Board: American Counseling Association (ACA), American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA),

National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. (NBCC), American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), Rhode Island Mental Health Counselors Association (RIMHCA), Rhode Island Counseling Association (RICA), Rhode Island Association for Marriage and Family Therapist (RIAMFT), National Association of Social Workers (NASW), American Psychological Association (APA), American Medical Association (AMA) or such other nationally-recognized organizations, as approved by the Board.

C. Categories of Continuing Education Programs and Credits:

1. The Board recognizes the following categories of continuing education programs and/or activities and established credit hours.

Category I: Formal continuing education program that may consist of graduate or post-graduate courses, workshops, and/or institutes, including web-based offerings.

Credit: 1 credit per hour; minimum twenty (20) credits per two (2) year cycle.

Category II: Exceptional contributions to professional development that may consist of: a written publication in a peer-reviewed journal, teaching a relevant, semester-long course in an accredited institution, serving as an elected officer on national or international organizations (e.g., ACA, NBCC, AAMFT). Participation by duly appointed members of the Board in regular Board meetings and investigating committee meetings shall be considered acceptable on an hours served basis for Category II credit.

Credit: ten (10) credits for each publication or formal lecture twenty (20) credits for national or international contribution.

D. An extension of time to complete the continuing education requirements may be granted to a clinical mental health counselor or marriage and family therapist solely at the discretion of the Board for reasons of hardship or other extenuating circumstances.

E. It shall be the sole responsibility of the individual clinical mental health counselor or marriage and family therapist to obtain documentation from the approved sponsoring or co-sponsoring organization, agency, or institution of his/her participation in a continuing education program and/or activity that shall include no less than the date, time, subject matter, name of lecturer or teacher, or such other data, and the number of credits earned. Those documents shall be retained by each licensee for no less than four (4) years (i.e., from the date of license renewal) and are subject to random audit by the Department.

F. A license shall be denied to any applicant who fails to provide satisfactory evidence of continuing education relevant to counseling/family studies as required in this Part.

G. Clinical mental health counselors or marriage and family therapists initially licensed by examination after the July 1st renewal date shall be exempt from the continuing education requirements stated herein until the date of the next renewal cycle (i.e., June 30th of the next even-numbered year).

H. A clinical mental health counselor or marriage and family therapist whose license has been revoked for failing to satisfy the continuing education requirements of this Part shall be required to complete such additional continuing education credits as may be required by the Board for the preceding two (2) year cycle.

I. Failure to comply with any provisions of this section shall be subject to the sanctions set forth in the Act.

11.3.13Privileged Communications

The provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws Chapters 9-17 and 5-37.3, shall apply to persons licensed pursuant to the Act and the rules and regulations herein.

216 R.I. Code R. 216-RICR-40-05-11.3

Amended effective 5/15/2023