Bill Text: PA SB1121 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Further providing for qualifications for license.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-06-10 - Referred to CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE [SB1121 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-SB1121-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 1316
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1121 Session of2011
INTRODUCED BY WAUGH, FONTANA, SOLOBAY AND RAFFERTY, JUNE 10, 2011
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, JUNE 10, 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
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(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,
2008, 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
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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] 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
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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
20110SB1121PN1316 - 5 -
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,
2008, 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
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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
20110SB1121PN1316 - 7 -
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.
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