Quarterly Newsletter, December 2004, Vol. 13 No.4

PRIVILEGING REVISITED

(Reprint from 12/2001)

There seems to be some confusion regarding the qualifications and methods of documenting qualifications in order to be legally allowed to use assessment instruments. We hope the following will help those wishing to become privileged to use assessment instruments.

There are five GRADUATE content areas statistics, sampling theory, test construction, test and measurements, and individual differences. An applicant must have had a GRADUATE and/or POST-GRADUATE practicum using assessment instruments and also a supervised practice with appraisal instruments.

Sometimes the course name will suffice and that is all one must place on the application. For example, Stat. 567 Statistics is all that is needed for the Statistic requirement. Any course with statistics in its title will do. The Sampling Theory requirement can also be satisfied with a statistics course.

One’s thesis and/or dissertation will not count for any of the required content areas.

The Test Construction requirement can be satisfied with a graduate course in assessment techniques such as Analysis of the Individual, Test and Measurement or any course that is focused on testing only.

The Test and Measurement requirement can be satisfied by any course that focuses on the study of assessment instruments and their use.

The Individual Differences requirement must be the study of abnormal behavior such as Abnormal Psychology, Psychopathology, etc. If you took a course that satisfies this requirement, but the title of the course is not self explanatory you must send the course description from the university catalog.

In order to fulfill the practicum with appraisal instruments and the requirement for supervised practice there must be proof that you employed appraisal instruments during your practicum and also you had supervised experience administering these instruments.

Simply stating that you completed a practicum course and in internship during your graduate studies will not suffice unless you can send documentation that the administration and interpretation of appraisal instruments were part of the course.

A letter from the instructor or someone else qualified to write such a letter can be the documentation.

For more detailed information, please visit our website at www.lpcboard.org.

What is a Formal Reprimand?

 by Ted Remley

            When this board receives a complaint that a licensee (either an LPC or an LMFT) has violated our code of ethics that is included in our regulations, the question is asked, “If this allegation were true, might it constitute a violation of the code of ethics?”   

If the board answers, “no,” to that question, the complaint is dismissed and the person who has filed the complaint is notified.  The licensee is not notified and the complaint does not become a part of his or her record with the board.

 If the board answer, “yes,” which means the allegation, if true, might constitute a violation of the code of ethics, then an investigation is initiated.  The investigation might  involve a paid investigator talking with the complainants or witnesses who have information related to the allegation.  Public records related to the complaint also might be gathered.

             Once enough information has been obtained regarding the complaint, the licensee who has been complained about is formally notified and is required to respond in writing to the complaint within a specified time period.  After the response of the licensee is received, additional materials may be gathered, or additional witnesses may be contacted.

             If the board determines that a licensee has not violated the code of ethics, the case is dismissed at that point and the person who made the complaint and licensee is notified, and the complaint and the resolution of the matter does not become a part of the licensee’s record with the board.

             If the board determines that a licensee has violated the code of ethics, the board must then sanction the licensee in some way.  There are four levels of sanctions which include the following:  a formal reprimand; probation for a specified period of time; suspension of the license for a specified period or time; or revocation of the license.  All findings of violations of the code of ethics and all sanctions are reported to the public through the LPC Board newsletter.  A formal reprimand is the lowest level sanction and revocation of the license is the most severe sanction. 

            If a licensee’s license is revoked, he or she may no longer practice counseling or therapy in Louisiana.  To be reinstated, a person’s whose license is revoked would be required to apply for a license at some future point, and the revocation would be considered by the board members who would consider whether to issue a license to the individual.  Rarely would a license be issued to an individual whose license had been previously revoked.

             If a licensee’s license is suspended, he or she may not practice counseling during the period of suspension.  At the end of the suspension period, the individual may apply to be reinstated and the board may reinstate the individual’s license at that point. 

            If a licensee is put on probation because of an ethical violation, then, if that licensee is found guilty of another violation of the code of ethics during that time period, the original case that resulted in probation may be reopened and additional sanctions may be imposed (such as a suspension or revocation). 

            If a licensee is given a formal reprimand by the board for violating the code of ethics, the letter becomes a part of the licensee’s permanent file with the board and the reprimand is reported to the public through the LPC Board newsletter.  In addition, if additional complaints are filed with the board, the fact that the individual had been found guilty of an ethical violation in the past will be considered in evaluating the new complaint and in imposing sanctions if it is determined that the licensee has once again been found guilty of violating the code of ethics.

             If a complaint is filed against a licensee alleging that he or she has violated the code of ethics and the case is dismissed, it does not become a part of the licensee’s record, and in most cases, only the board members who are on the Discipline Committee are aware that a complaint has even been filed.  On that other hand, all findings that a licensee has violated the code of ethics and all sanctions that may be imposed (including letters of reprimand) have a seriously negative effect on the licensee’s practice and on his or her standing with the LPC Board. 

             For detailed information regarding the processing of ethical complaints against licensees, see the board regulations available on the board’s website. 

RETIREMENT OF EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

We would like to extend our congratulations to Lin Falcon, Executive Secretary, who, as of January 31, 2005 will be retiring from our office. Eddye Boeneke, the current Administrative Assistant will be taking over Lin’s position as Executive Secretary at the that time. Melissa Wright, the newest Administrative Assistant to the office, will be taking over Eddye's position. We wish Lin the best of luck in retirement and thank her for over eleven years of dedicated service.

SUPERVISOR’S TRAINING INSTITUTE FOR LPC/LMFT

OUR LADY OF HOLY CROSS COLLEGE

May 12-13, 2005 (Thursday and Friday)

June 17-18, 2005 (Friday and Saturday)

Our Lady of Holy Cross College is planning to do a combination LPC and MFT workshop. Specific times will be announced later.

The workshop will be 25 hours for LPC's and 30 hours for LMFT's.

The cost will be $250/$300. For more information, contact Dr. Tim Dwyer at Our Lady of Holy Cross College at tdwyer@olhcc.edu 504/398-2168 or Susan Wetwiski 504/398-2168.

ADDRESS CHANGES FOR: LPC/COUNSELOR INTERNS/LMFT/MFT INTERNS

BOARD ACTION