THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY GROVE, DENLINGER, BOYD, D. COSTA, GINGRICH, MILLER, MOUL, REICHLEY AND ROCK, FEBRUARY 24, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, FEBRUARY 24, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending the act of July 9, 1987 (P.L.220, No.39), entitled "An

act licensing and regulating the practice of social work;

providing penalties; and making an appropriation," further

providing for qualifications for license.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 7(d), (e) and (f) of the act of July 9,

1987 (P.L.220, No.39), known as the Social Workers, Marriage and

Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act, amended

December 21, 1998 (P.L.1017, No.136) and July 9, 2008 (P.L.929,

No.68), are amended to read:

Section 7.  Qualifications for license.

* * *

(d)  Clinical social work license.--An applicant shall be

qualified for a license to hold oneself out as a licensed

clinical social worker if the applicant submits proof

satisfactory to the board that all of the following apply:

(1)  The applicant is of good moral character.

(2)  The applicant has successfully met both of the

following requirements:

(i)  Holds a master's degree in social work or social

welfare or a doctoral degree in social work from an

accredited school of social work as recognized by the

board.

(ii)  Is licensed under this act as a social worker.

(3)  The applicant has completed at least [three years

or] 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience acceptable

to the board as determined by regulation after completion of

the master's degree in social work.

(4)  The applicant has passed a clinical social work

examination adopted by the board.

(5)  The applicant has submitted an application

accompanied by the application fee.

(6)  The applicant has not been convicted of a felony

under The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act

or of an offense under the laws of another jurisdiction

which, if committed in this Commonwealth, would be a felony

under The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act

unless:

(i)  at least ten years have elapsed from the date of

conviction;

(ii)  the applicant satisfactorily demonstrated to

the board that the applicant has made significant

progress in personal rehabilitation since the conviction

such that licensure of the applicant should not be

expected to create a substantial risk of harm to the

health and safety of clients or the public or a

substantial risk of further criminal violations; and

(iii)  the applicant otherwise satisfies the

qualifications contained in or authorized by this act.

As used in this paragraph, the term "convicted" includes a

judgment, an admission of guilt or a plea of nolo contendere.

(e)  Marriage and family therapist license.--An applicant

shall be qualified to hold oneself out as a licensed marriage

and family therapist if the applicant submits proof satisfactory

to the board that all of the following apply:

(1)  The applicant is of good moral character.

(2)  The applicant has successfully met one of the

following educational requirements:

(i)  [Within five years after the board has

promulgated final regulations,] On or before June 30,

2009, has successfully completed a planned program of 60

semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate coursework

which is closely related to marriage and family therapy,

including a master's degree in marriage and family

therapy from an accredited educational institution or a

master's degree in a field determined by the board by

regulation to be closely related to the practice of

marriage and family therapy from an accredited

educational institution, with graduate level coursework

in marriage and family therapy acceptable to the board

from an accredited educational institution or from a

program recognized by a national accrediting agency.

(ii)  Has successfully completed a planned program of

60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate

coursework which is closely related to marriage and

family therapy, including a 48-semester-hour or 72-

quarter-hour master's degree in marriage and family

therapy from an accredited educational institution or a

48-semester-hour or 72-quarter-hour master's degree in a

field determined by the board by regulation to be closely

related to the practice of marriage and family therapy

from an accredited educational institution, with graduate

level coursework in marriage and family therapy

acceptable to the board from an accredited educational

institution or from a program recognized by a national

accrediting agency.

(iii)  holds a doctoral degree in marriage and family

therapy from an accredited educational institution or

holds a doctoral degree in a field determined by the

board by regulation to be closely related to the practice

of marriage and family therapy from an accredited

educational institution with graduate level coursework in

marriage and family therapy acceptable to the board from

an accredited educational institution or from a program

recognized by a national accrediting agency.

(3)  The applicant has complied with the experience

requirement as follows:

(i)  An individual meeting the educational

requirements of paragraph (2)(i) or (ii) must have

completed at least [three years or] 3,600 hours of

supervised clinical experience, acceptable to the board

as determined by regulation, obtained after the

completion of 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours of

graduate coursework.

(ii)  An individual meeting the educational

requirements of paragraph (2)(iii) must have completed at

least [two years or] 2,400 hours of supervised clinical

experience, acceptable to the board as determined by

regulation, [one year or] 1,200 hours of which was

obtained subsequent to the granting of the doctoral

degree.

(4)  The applicant has passed an examination adopted by

the board.

(5)  The application has been accompanied by the

application fee.

(6)  The applicant has not been convicted of a felony

under The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act

or of an offense under the laws of another jurisdiction which

if committed in this Commonwealth would be a felony under the

Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act unless:

(i)  at least ten years have elapsed from the date of

conviction;

(ii)  the applicant satisfactorily demonstrates to

the board that the applicant has made significant

progress in personal rehabilitation since the conviction

such that licensure of the applicant should not be

expected to create a substantial risk of harm to the

health and safety of clients or the public or a

substantial risk of further criminal violation; and

(iii)  the applicant otherwise satisfies the

qualifications contained in or authorized by this act.

As used in this paragraph, the term "convicted" includes a

judgment, an admission of guilt or a plea of nolo contendere.

(f)  Professional counselors license.--An applicant is

qualified for a license to hold oneself out as a licensed

professional counselor if the applicant submits proof

satisfactory to the board that all of the following apply:

(1)  The applicant is of good moral character.

(2)  The applicant has successfully met one of the

following educational requirements:

(i)  [Within five years after the board has

promulgated final regulations,] On or before June 30,

2009, has successfully completed a planned program of 60

semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate coursework

in counseling or a field determined by the board by

regulation to be closely related to the practice of

professional counseling, including a master's degree in

counseling or a field determined by the board by

regulation to be closely related to the practice of

professional counseling, from an accredited educational

institution.

(ii)  Has successfully completed a planned program of

60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate

coursework in counseling or a field determined by the

board by regulation to be closely related to the practice

of professional counseling, including a 48-semester-hour

or 72-quarter-hour master's degree in counseling or a

field determined by the board by regulation to be closely

related to the practice of professional counseling, from

an accredited educational institution.

(iii)  Holds a doctoral degree in counseling from an

accredited educational institution or holds a doctoral

degree in a field determined by the board by regulation

to be closely related to the practice of professional

counseling from an accredited educational institution.

(3)  The applicant has complied with the experience

requirements as follows:

(i)  An individual meeting the educational

requirements of paragraph (2)(i) or (ii) must have

completed at least [three years or] 3,600 hours of

supervised clinical experience, acceptable to the board

as determined by regulation, obtained after the

completion of 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours of

graduate coursework.

(ii)  An individual meeting the educational

requirements of paragraph (2)(iii) must have completed at

least [two years or] 2,400 hours of supervised clinical

experience, acceptable to the board as determined by

regulation, [one year or] 1,200 hours of which was

obtained subsequent to the granting of the doctoral

degree.

(4)  The applicant has passed an examination adopted by

the board.

(5)  The application has been accompanied by the

application fee.

(6)  The applicant has not been convicted of a felony

under The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act

or of an offense under the laws of another jurisdiction which

if committed in this Commonwealth would be a felony under the

Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act unless:

(i)  at least ten years have elapsed from the date of

conviction;

(ii)  the applicant satisfactorily demonstrates to

the board that the applicant has made significant

progress in personal rehabilitation since the conviction

such that licensure of the applicant should not be

expected to create a substantial risk of harm to the

health and safety of clients or the public or a

substantial risk of further criminal violations; and

(iii)  the applicant otherwise satisfies the

qualifications contained in or authorized by this act.

As used in this paragraph, the term "convicted" includes a

judgment, an admission of guilt or a plea of nolo contendere.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.