NC S279

Modifies educational qualifications for licensed professional counselor associate licensure with three tiers based on enrollment dates: 48-72 credit hours (before July 1, 2009), 54-81 credit hours (July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2013), or 60-90 credit hours (after June 30, 2013).

Requires institutions offering counseling master's degrees to be regionally accredited or accredited by organizations recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, with CACREP accreditation required for applications on or after July 1, 2022.

Mandates local school boards provide sex trafficking prevention and awareness instruction in reproductive health and safety education programs, including collaboration with law enforcement and development of referral protocols for high-risk students.

Expands educational basis for reproductive health instruction to include input from professionals in adolescent psychology, behavioral counseling, medicine, human anatomy, biology, ethics, and health education, not just sexual health education.

Effective dates: counseling provisions effective October 1, 2015; school sex trafficking instruction effective spring semester 2015-2016 school year and subsequent years as specified.