Sec. 20-195dd. Qualifications. (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of
this section, an applicant for a license as a professional counselor shall submit evidence
satisfactory to the Commissioner of Public Health of having: (1) Completed sixty graduate semester hours deemed to be in or related to the discipline of professional counseling
by the National Board for Certified Counselors, or its successor organization, at a regionally accredited institution of higher education, which included the core and clinical
curriculum of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational
Programs and preparation in principles of etiology, diagnosis, treatment planning and
prevention of mental and emotional disorders and dysfunctional behavior, and has
earned, from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a major deemed
to be in the discipline of professional counseling by the National Board for Certified
Counselors or its successor organization, either (A) a master's degree of at least forty-two graduate semester hours or a master's degree and a sixth-year degree, or (B) a
doctoral degree; (2) acquired three thousand hours of postgraduate-degree-supervised
experience in the practice of professional counseling, performed over a period of not
less than one year, that included a minimum of one hundred hours of direct supervision
by (A) a physician licensed pursuant to chapter 370 who has obtained certification in
psychiatry from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, (B) a psychologist
licensed pursuant to chapter 383, (C) an advanced practice registered nurse licensed
pursuant to chapter 378 and certified as a clinical specialist in adult psychiatric and
mental health nursing with the American Nurses Credentialing Center, (D) a marital
and family therapist licensed pursuant to chapter 383a, (E) a clinical social worker
licensed pursuant to chapter 383b, (F) a professional counselor licensed, or prior to
October 1, 1998, eligible for licensure, pursuant to section 20-195cc, or (G) a physician
certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, psychologist, advanced practice registered nurse certified as a clinical specialist in adult psychiatric and mental health nursing with the American Nurses Credentialing Center, marital
and family therapist, clinical social worker or professional counselor licensed or certified
as such or as a person entitled to perform similar services, under a different designation,
in another state or jurisdiction whose requirements for practicing in such capacity are
substantially similar to or higher than those of this state; and (3) passed an examination
prescribed by the commissioner.
(b) Prior to December 30, 2001, an applicant for a license as a professional counselor
may, in lieu of the requirements set forth in subsection (a) of this section, submit evidence
satisfactory to the commissioner of having: (A) Earned at least a thirty-hour master's
degree, sixth-year degree or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution of
higher education with a major in social work, marriage and family therapy, counseling,
psychology or forensic psychology; (B) practiced professional counseling for a minimum of two years within a five-year period immediately preceding application; and (C)
passed an examination prescribed by the commissioner.
(c) An applicant for licensure by endorsement shall present evidence satisfactory
to the commissioner that the applicant is licensed or certified as a professional counselor,
or as a person entitled to perform similar services under a different designation, in
another state or jurisdiction whose requirements for practicing in such capacity are
substantially similar to or higher than those of this state and that there are no disciplinary
actions or unresolved complaints pending.
(P.A. 97-311, S. 4; P.A. 98-43, S. 2; P.A. 99-126, S. 4, 5; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-4, S. 14, 58; P.A. 02-89, S. 47.)
History: P.A. 98-43 inserted reference to subsection (b) in Subsec. (a) and deleted reference to "January 1, 1999",
modified degree requirements in Subsec. (a)(1)(A), divided Subsec. (a)(2) into subparagraphs, added Subparas. (C) and
(G), added "or prior to October 1, 1998, eligible for licensure" in new Subpara. (F), changed "Except as provided in
subsection (c) of this section, prior to January 1, 1999" to "Prior to July 1, 1999" in Subsec. (b), changed "shall" to "may,
in lieu of the requirements set forth in subsection (a) of this section" in Subsec. (b), changed practice requirement in Subsec.
(b)(2) from two years "immediately preceding October 1, 1997" to two years "within a five-year period immediately
preceding application" and made gender-neutral technical changes in Subsecs. (a),(b) and (c); P.A. 99-126 amended Subsec.
(b) by deleting requirement of completion of an examination prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health, effective
June 8, 1999; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-4 amended Subsec. (b) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1), designating
existing Subdivs. (1) and (2) therein as Subparas. (A) and (B), and adding new Subdiv. (2) re license requirements in lieu
of Subsec. (a) prior to December 30, 2001, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 02-89 deleted as obsolete Subsec. (b)(1) authorizing
an applicant in lieu of the requirements of Subsec. (a) to submit prior to July 1, 1999, satisfactory evidence of earning any
of certain educational degrees, practicing professional counseling for a minimum of two years in the preceding five years
and passing an examination prescribed by the commissioner and redesignated existing Subsec. (b)(2) as Subsec. (b).
Sec. 20-195ee. Disciplinary action. Grounds. The Commissioner of Public
Health may take any disciplinary action set forth in section 19a-17 against a professional
counselor for any of the following reasons: (1) Failure to conform to the accepted standards of the profession; (2) conviction of a felony; (3) fraud or deceit in obtaining or
seeking reinstatement of a license to practice professional counseling; (4) fraud or deceit
in the practice of professional counseling; (5) negligent, incompetent or wrongful conduct in professional activities; (6) physical, mental or emotional illness or disorder resulting in an inability to conform to the accepted standards of the profession; (7) alcohol
or substance abuse; (8) wilful falsification of entries in any hospital, patient or other
record pertaining to professional counseling; or (9) violation of any provision of sections
20-195aa to 20-195dd, inclusive, or any regulation adopted pursuant to section 20-195ff.
The commissioner may order a license holder to submit to a reasonable physical or
mental examination if his physical or mental capacity to practice safely is the subject
of an investigation. The commissioner may petition the superior court for the judicial
district of Hartford to enforce such order or any action taken pursuant to said section
19a-17. The commissioner shall give notice and an opportunity to be heard on any
contemplated action under said section 19a-17.
(P.A. 88-230, S. 10, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 7, 8; P.A. 95-220, S. 4-6; P.A. 97-311, S. 5.)
History: (Revisor's note: P.A. 88-230, 90-98, 93-142 and 95-220 authorized substitution of "judicial district of Hartford"
for "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" in public and special acts of 1997, effective September 1, 1998).
Sec. 20-195ff. Regulations. The Commissioner of Public Health may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to further the purposes of subdivision (18) of subsection (c) of section 19a-14, subsection (e) of section 19a-88, subdivision (15) of section 19a-175, subsection (b) of section 20-9, sections 20-195aa to 20-195ff, inclusive, and sections 20-206jj to 20-206oo, inclusive.
(P.A. 97-311, S. 6; P.A. 02-89, S. 48.)
History: P.A. 02-89 deleted reference to Subsec. (c) of Sec. 20-195c.