AB 2435 Summary

• Requires psychologists, clinical social workers, professional clinical counselors, and marriage and family therapists to complete training in child abuse assessment and reporting, and encourages inclusion of elder and dependent adult abuse assessment and reporting in that training.

• Mandates that applicants for licensure in these professions complete a minimum of 10 contact hours of coursework in aging and long-term care, with instruction on assessment and reporting of elder and dependent adult abuse and neglect effective January 1, 2012.

• Expands marriage and family therapist education requirements to include coursework on abuse and neglect of older and dependent adults as part of developmental issues and life events training.

• Encourages marriage and family counselor applicants to complete hours of supervised experience working with elders and dependent adults who have physical or mental limitations.

• Applies similar elder and dependent adult abuse training and coursework requirements to professional clinical counselors beginning January 1, 2012.