CT SB00405

Establishes a new licensing category for "professional counselor associates" effective January 1, 2019, requiring Commissioner of Public Health to issue licenses to applicants meeting specified requirements.

Professional counselor associate applicants must have a graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling from an accredited program, or 60+ graduate semester hours in counseling/mental health with specified coursework, plus pass a prescribed examination.

Professional counselor associates must work under supervision and complete postgraduate experience requirements to eventually become licensed professional counselors; license application fee is $315 and annual renewal fee is $195.

Removes exemption for persons earning degrees in counseling who were previously exempt from licensure while completing supervised experience; exemption previously ended upon failing the licensing exam or one year after completing supervised experience.

Renewal requirements include continuing education in cultural competency, professional ethics, and veteran mental health issues; professional counselor associates must verify supervised postgraduate experience toward full professional counselor licensure.