PRINTER'S NO. 2213
No. 1498 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY WAUGH, WASHINGTON, PUNT, STOUT, RAFFERTY AND FUMO,
JUNE 19, 2008
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
JUNE 19, 2008
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of July 9, 1987 (P.L.220, No.39), entitled "An
2 act licensing and regulating the practice of social work;
3 providing penalties; and making an appropriation," further
4 providing for qualifications for license.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Section 7(d), (e) and (f) of the act of July 9,
8 1987 (P.L.220, No.39), known as the Social Workers, Marriage and
9 Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act, amended
10 December 21, 1998 (P.L.1017, No.136), are amended to read:
11 Section 7. Qualifications for license.
12 * * *
13 (d) Clinical social work license.--An applicant shall be
14 qualified for a license to hold oneself out as a licensed
15 clinical social worker if the applicant submits proof
16 satisfactory to the board that all of the following apply:
17 (1) The applicant is of good moral character.
18 (2) The applicant has successfully met both of the
1 following requirements:
2 (i) Holds a master's degree in social work or social
3 welfare or a doctoral degree in social work from an
4 accredited school of social work as recognized by the
5 board.
6 (ii) Is licensed under this act as a social worker.
7 (3) The applicant has completed at least [three years
8 or] 3,600 hours of supervised clinical experience acceptable
9 to the board as determined by regulation after completion of
10 the master's degree in social work.
11 (4) The applicant has passed a clinical social work
12 examination adopted by the board.
13 (5) The applicant has submitted an application
14 accompanied by the application fee.
15 (6) The applicant has not been convicted of a felony
16 under The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act
17 or of an offense under the laws of another jurisdiction which
18 if committed in this Commonwealth would be a felony under The
19 Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act unless:
20 (i) at least ten years have elapsed from the date of
21 conviction;
22 (ii) the applicant satisfactorily demonstrated to
23 the board that the applicant has made significant
24 progress in personal rehabilitation since the conviction
25 such that licensure of the applicant should not be
26 expected to create a substantial risk of harm to the
27 health and safety of clients or the public or a
28 substantial risk of further criminal violations; and
29 (iii) the applicant otherwise satisfies the
30 qualifications contained in or authorized by this act.
20080S1498B2213 - 2 -
1 As used in this paragraph, the term "convicted" includes a
2 judgment, an admission of guilt or a plea of nolo contendere.
3 (e) Marriage and family therapist license.--An applicant
4 shall be qualified to hold oneself out as a licensed marriage
5 and family therapist if the applicant submits proof satisfactory
6 to the board that all of the following apply:
7 (1) The applicant is of good moral character.
8 (2) The applicant has successfully met one of the
9 following educational requirements:
10 (i) [Within five years after the board has
11 promulgated final regulations,] On or before June 30,
12 2008, has successfully completed a planned program of 60
13 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate coursework
14 which is closely related to marriage and family therapy,
15 including a master's degree in marriage and family
16 therapy from an accredited educational institution or a
17 master's degree in a field determined by the board by
18 regulation to be closely related to the practice of
19 marriage and family therapy from an accredited
20 educational institution, with graduate level coursework
21 in marriage and family therapy acceptable to the board
22 from an accredited educational institution or from a
23 program recognized by a national accrediting agency.
24 (ii) Has successfully completed a planned program of
25 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate
26 coursework which is closely related to marriage and
27 family therapy, including a 48-semester-hour or 72-
28 quarter-hour master's degree in marriage and family
29 therapy from an accredited educational institution or a
30 48-semester-hour or 72-quarter-hour master's degree in a
20080S1498B2213 - 3 -
1 field determined by the board by regulation to be closely
2 related to the practice of marriage and family therapy
3 from an accredited educational institution, with graduate
4 level coursework in marriage and family therapy
5 acceptable to the board from an accredited educational
6 institution or from a program recognized by a national
7 accrediting agency.
8 (iii) holds a doctoral degree in marriage and family
9 therapy from an accredited educational institution or
10 holds a doctoral degree in a field determined by the
11 board by regulation to be closely related to the practice
12 of marriage and family therapy from an accredited
13 educational institution with graduate level coursework in
14 marriage and family therapy acceptable to the board from
15 an accredited educational institution or from a program
16 recognized by a national accrediting agency.
17 (3) The applicant has complied with the experience
18 requirement as follows:
19 (i) An individual meeting the educational
20 requirements of paragraph (2)(i) or (ii) must have
21 completed at least [three years or] 3,600 hours of
22 supervised clinical experience, acceptable to the board
23 as determined by regulation, obtained after the
24 completion of 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours of
25 graduate coursework.
26 (ii) An individual meeting the educational
27 requirements of paragraph (2)(iii) must have completed at
28 least [two years or] 2,400 hours of supervised clinical
29 experience, acceptable to the board as determined by
30 regulation, [one year or] 1,200 hours of which was
20080S1498B2213 - 4 -
1 obtained subsequent to the granting of the doctoral
2 degree.
3 (4) The applicant has passed an examination adopted by
4 the board.
5 (5) The application has been accompanied by the
6 application fee.
7 (6) The applicant has not been convicted of a felony
8 under The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act
9 or of an offense under the laws of another jurisdiction which
10 if committed in this Commonwealth would be a felony under the
11 Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act unless:
12 (i) at least ten years have elapsed from the date of
13 conviction;
14 (ii) the applicant satisfactorily demonstrates to
15 the board that the applicant has made significant
16 progress in personal rehabilitation since the conviction
17 such that licensure of the applicant should not be
18 expected to create a substantial risk of harm to the
19 health and safety of clients or the public or a
20 substantial risk of further criminal violation; and
21 (iii) the applicant otherwise satisfies the
22 qualifications contained in or authorized by this act.
23 As used in this paragraph, the term "convicted" includes a
24 judgment, an admission of guilt or a plea of nolo contendere.
25 (f) Professional counselors license.--An applicant is
26 qualified for a license to hold oneself out as a licensed
27 professional counselor if the applicant submits proof
28 satisfactory to the board that all of the following apply:
29 (1) The applicant is of good moral character.
30 (2) The applicant has successfully met one of the
20080S1498B2213 - 5 -
1 following educational requirements:
2 (i) [Within five years after the board has
3 promulgated final regulations,] On or before June 30,
4 2008, has successfully completed a planned program of 60
5 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate coursework
6 in counseling or a field determined by the board by
7 regulation to be closely related to the practice of
8 professional counseling, including a master's degree in
9 counseling or a field determined by the board by
10 regulation to be closely related to the practice of
11 professional counseling, from an accredited educational
12 institution.
13 (ii) Has successfully completed a planned program of
14 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate
15 coursework in counseling or a field determined by the
16 board by regulation to be closely related to the practice
17 of professional counseling, including a 48-semester-hour
18 or 72-quarter-hour master's degree in counseling or a
19 field determined by the board by regulation to be closely
20 related to the practice of professional counseling, from
21 an accredited educational institution.
22 (iii) Holds a doctoral degree in counseling from an
23 accredited educational institution or holds a doctoral
24 degree in a field determined by the board by regulation
25 to be closely related to the practice of professional
26 counseling from an accredited educational institution.
27 (3) The applicant has complied with the experience
28 requirements as follows:
29 (i) An individual meeting the educational
30 requirements of paragraph (2)(i) or (ii) must have
20080S1498B2213 - 6 -
1 completed at least [three years or] 3,600 hours of
2 supervised clinical experience, acceptable to the board
3 as determined by regulation, obtained after the
4 completion of 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours of
5 graduate coursework.
6 (ii) An individual meeting the educational
7 requirements of paragraph (2)(iii) must have completed at
8 least [two years or] 2,400 hours of supervised clinical
9 experience, acceptable to the board as determined by
10 regulation, [one year or] 1,200 hours of which was
11 obtained subsequent to the granting of the doctoral
12 degree.
13 (4) The applicant has passed an examination adopted by
14 the board.
15 (5) The application has been accompanied by the
16 application fee.
17 (6) The applicant has not been convicted of a felony
18 under The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act
19 or of an offense under the laws of another jurisdiction which
20 if committed in this Commonwealth would be a felony under the
21 Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act unless:
22 (i) at least ten years have elapsed from the date of
23 conviction;
24 (ii) the applicant satisfactorily demonstrates to
25 the board that the applicant has made significant
26 progress in personal rehabilitation since the conviction
27 such that licensure of the applicant should not be
28 expected to create a substantial risk of harm to the
29 health and safety of clients or the public or a
30 substantial risk of further criminal violations; and
20080S1498B2213 - 7 -
1 (iii) the applicant otherwise satisfies the
2 qualifications contained in or authorized by this act.
3 As used in this paragraph, the term "convicted" includes a
4 judgment, an admission of guilt or a plea of nolo contendere.
5 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
E21L35JS/20080S1498B2213 - 8 -