00               SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 343(RLS)                                                             
01 "An Act extending the termination date of the Board of Professional Counselors; and                                     
02 relating to licensing of professional counselors."                                                                      
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1.  AS 08.03.010(c)(17) is amended to read:                                                              
05                 (17)  Board of Professional Counselors (AS 08.29.010) -- June 30,                                       
06       2005 [2002];                                                                                                  
07    * Sec. 2.  AS 08.29.110(a) is amended to read:                                                                     
08            (a)  The board shall issue a professional counselor license to a person who                                  
09       applies for the license, submits the required fee, submits two letters of                                         
10       recommendation from professional counselors who are familiar with the applicant's                                 
11       practice of professional counseling, and presents evidence satisfactory to the board                              
12       that the person                                                                                                   
13                 (1)  is at least 18 years of age;                                                                       
14                 (2)  is not under investigation in this or another jurisdiction for an act                              

01       that would constitute a violation of this chapter;                                                                
02                 (3)  has not had a license related to the practice of counseling,                                       
03       psychology, marital and family therapy, or social work in this or another jurisdiction                            
04       suspended, revoked, or surrendered in lieu of discipline unless the license has been                              
05       fully reinstated in that jurisdiction;                                                                            
06                 (4)  has passed a written examination as required by the board; the                                     
07       board may provide that passing a nationally recognized examination for professional                               
08       counselors is sufficient to meet the examination requirement of this paragraph;                                   
09                 (5)  has successfully completed either                                                                  
10                      (A)  an earned doctoral degree in counseling or a related                                          
11            professional field from a regionally or nationally accredited institution of                             
12            higher education approved by the board; or                                                                   
13                      (B)  an earned master's degree in counseling or a related                                          
14            professional field, from a regionally or nationally accredited institution of                                
15            higher education approved by the board, and [CONSISTING OF] at least 60                              
16            [48 SEMESTER HOURS AND AT LEAST 12 OTHER] graduate semester                                                  
17            hours in counseling during or after earning the master's degree [, FOR A                                     
18            TOTAL OF AT LEAST 60 HOURS]; and                                                                             
19                 (6)  has, after earning the degree required under [COMPLETING                                       
20       THE REQUIREMENT OF] either (5)(A) or (B) of this subsection, had at least 3,000                                   
21       hours of supervised experience in the practice of professional counseling performed                               
22       over a period of at least two years under the supervision of a supervisor approved                                
23       under AS 08.29.210, with at least 1,000 hours of direct counseling with individuals,                              
24       couples, families, or groups and at least 100 hours of face-to-face supervision by a                              
25       supervisor approved under AS 08.29.210 unless, under regulations of the board, the                                
26       board allows the supervision to be by telephonic or electronic means because of the                               
27       remote location of the counselor.                                                                                 
28    * Sec. 3.  AS 08.29.210 is amended to read:                                                                        
29            Sec. 08.29.210.  Supervisor certification.  (a)  The board shall approve and                               
30       certify a person as an approved counselor supervisor for the purposes of this chapter if                          
31       the person                                                                                                        

01                 (1)  is licensed [UNDER THIS CHAPTER] as a professional counselor                                       
02       or is a licensed physician, licensed advanced nurse practitioner who is certified to                              
03       provide psychiatric or mental health services, licensed clinical social worker, licensed                          
04       marital and family therapist, licensed psychologist, or licensed psychological                                    
05       associate;                                                                                                        
06                 (2)  submits an application for certification and the appropriate fee;                                  
07                 (3)  has five years of counseling experience;                                                           
08                 (4)  provides to the board for its approval or disapproval a statement                                  
09       that details the person's supervision philosophy, orientation, and experience; and                                
10                 (5)  meets other criteria that may be established by the board in                                       
11       regulations.                                                                                                      
12            (b)  Certification under (a) of this section remains in effect, without the need                             
13       for renewal of the certification, until the person's professional licensure [AS A                             
14       PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR] is revoked, suspended, or otherwise lapses.