The American Association for State Counseling boards is comprised of state government agencies that are responsible for the licensing of counselors. For over six years the delegates at the annual meeting have discussed the difficulties for counselors in trying to move between states and to become licensed in a new jurisdiction. Licensing requirements differ greatly from state to state, often requiring counselors with years of valid experience to go back to school or find additional supervision in order to be licensed in another state. AASCB realized that not having portability created undue hardships on individuals seeking the ability to practice in a new state and this was a dilemma that needed to be solved. AASCB has adopted a Portability Plan and will begin the establishment of a Credentials Bank to facilitate the movement of competent counselors between states.

The Portability Plan is a two-phased model: The first phase begins with the establishment of the Credentials Bank, which will begin its operations July 1, 2005. The purpose of the Bank is to provide a storage facility for all the documentation required by state licensing boards. For a fee, counselors will be able to store documentation of coursework, supervision reports, continuing competency hours, recommendations, and work history as they proceed to accumulate them throughout their careers. Whenever a counselor needs to access this information in order to move, it will be available to be sent by the bank to any AASCB member state as part of a licensing application. Documents will be verified as they are accepted into the Bank so that receiving states will have valid information.

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The second part of the model is the plan for portability. Licensed counselors who have been working in the field for a minimum of 5 years may apply for registrant status. Registrants will be placed in one of two groups depending on the credentials they bring to the Bank. Registrant placement in either group I or II is based solely on the individual registrant’s credentials. All registrants must have as a baseline:

States will have the ability to use valid work experience as "equivalent" in order to substitute for deficiencies between a registrant’s package of credentials and a states particular state license requirement. For example, if a registrant from Group I is moving to a state (who accepts group I registrants), but the normal licensing procedures might require going back to school to take a particular course, a state could accept work experience, or continuing education in lieu of that requirement. Individuals with significant work experience would essentially be given "credit" for that experience instead of being required to return to school, take another examination, or get additional supervision. How each state board might chose to use the equivalency concept would be at their discretion, but the portability plan encourages states to be as flexible as possible in recognizing work experience as an important predictor of clinical competence.

Licensed counselors with significant experience should be given more latitude in being divergent from current licensing criteria, particularly since criteria for licenses have changed as the profession has grown. Many long-term counselors were licensed under very different standards, but have work experience that has kept their skills and knowledge current.

Similarly, state licensing tests requirements have varied over the years and only recently have most states adopted one of the two NBCC national exams. It does not make sense to require an experienced counselor to sit for another exam when they have been practicing competently in another jurisdiction. The NCR will encourage states, for a period of time, to accept any licensing exam as valid.

AASCB and The Credential Bank Committee are committed to working with state boards to assist them in whatever way they can to adopt the model. The model is respectful of the right of state Boards to maintain their own licensing regulations, but is asking for a second path for very experienced licensed counselors to come to their states and be licensed without unreasonable additional requirements.

As of July 1, there will be a Credentials Bank web site where application forms and information materials will be available for downloading by interested counselors. Application materials will be accepted into the Bank as of September 1. As states complete their process of developing a path for portability, this information will be available on the web site. The link to the web site will be on the AASCB web site at www.aascb.org.

BOARD ACTION

As of December 31, 2005 there were:

LPCs 1790 LMFTs 936

Counselor Interns 692 MFT Interns 175

95 LPC Applications Reviewed 45 LMFT Applications Reviewed

27 LPCs Approved for Licensure 37 LMFTs Approved for Licensure

50 Counselor Interns Registered for Supervision 5 MFT Interns registered for Supervision

13 Counselor Interns Changed Supervisors 3 MFT Interns Changed Supervisors

DISCIPLINE REPORT

Ten complaints filed in FY 02/03, four remain under investigation.

Eleven complaints have been filed in FY 03/04. None remain under investigation.

Ten complaints have been filed in FY 04/05. Seven remain under investigation

Seven complaints have been filed in FY 05/06. Seven remain under investigation

Cheryl Lorio #2046 Consent Agreement - licensed suspended for two years with stipulations outlined in the consent order for violation of LAC 46.LX.2103A.1, 2103A.2, 2103E.1, 2103F.1 and 2103G.2. effective October 28, 2005.

SUPERVISOR’S TRAINING INSTITUTE FOR LMFT/LPC

June 2 - 3, 2006 (Friday and Saturday)

July 14 - 15, 2006 (Friday and Saturday)

(Specific times will be announced later)

Our Lady of Holy Cross College in New Orleans is conducting a combination LPC and MFT Supervision training series. The 30-hour LMFT workshop is AAMFT-Approved and designed to meet the educational requirements toward becoming a Louisiana LMFT Supervisor. The LPC Approved supervisor training requires only 25 hours of contact and would conclude at the end of Friday, July 14, 2006 for attendees aiming solely for that designation.

There is no partial registration allowed. Participants must register for and attend the complete workshop schedule (i.e., 25 hours for LPC or 30 hours for LMFT – or dual LMFT/LPC). The cost is $275 for the 25-hour LPC-only supervision training, and $325 for the full 30-hour LMFT (or dual LMFT/LPC) supervision training.

Space is limited. If you are planning to attend, please make your reservations now. For more information, contact Dr. Tim Dwyer at Our Lady of Holy Cross College at tdwyer@olhcc.edu or Susan Wetwiski at suwetwiski@olhcc.edu or call (504) 398-2168.

BOARD MEMBERS AND MFT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Brenda Roberts, EdD, LPC, LMFT

Chair

Paul Ceasar, EdD, LPC, LMFT

Vice Chair

Gloria Bockrath, PhD, LPC, LMFT

Secretary

June Williams, PhD, LPC, LMFT

Board Member

Roxane L Dufrene, PhD, LPC, LMFT

Board Member

Anthony Williams, MA, LPC, LMFT

Board Member

Anna Cole, MS, LMFT

Board Member

MFT Advisory Committee Chair

Tom Moore, MA, LPC, LMFT

Board Member

MFT Advisory Committee Secretary

Lynn Pearlmutter, PHD, LCSW, LMFT

Board Member

MFT Advisory Committee Vice Chair

Board Meeting Dates for 2006

May 12, 2006

June 16 2006

July 21, 2006

August 25, 2006

September 15, 2006

October 27, 2006

November 17, 2006

December 15, 2006

NCE INFORMATION FOR 2006

Exam Date Deadline to Register Exam Location

July 22, 2006 June 2, 2006 New Orleans

October 21,2006 September 1, 2006 Baton Rouge/Monroe

Exam registration forms can be obtained by calling the LPC Board office at 225/765-2515.

Fee $120.00 make checks payable to NBCC.

Questions about the Exam: Tel: 336/547-0607 FAX: 336/547-0017

E-mail: nbcc@nbcc.org