AB 2198 Summary

• Requires psychologists, marriage and family therapists, educational psychologists, professional clinical counselors, and clinical social workers who began graduate study on or after January 1, 2016, to complete a minimum of 15 contact hours of coursework in suicide assessment, treatment, and management before licensure.

• Requires all currently licensed mental health professionals in these categories, and applicants who began graduate study before January 1, 2016, to complete a six-hour continuing education course in suicide assessment, treatment, and management during their first license renewal period after January 1, 2016.

• The six-hour continuing education requirement counts toward the existing 36-hour continuing education requirement for license renewal across all affected professions.

• All provisions become operative on January 1, 2016.