Source: http://regulations.delaware.gov/register/june2007/proposed/10%20DE%20Reg%201788%2006-01-07.htm
Timestamp: 2018-08-20 05:33:50
Document Index: 735815840

Matched Legal Cases: ['§3006', '§3008', '§3008', '§3008', '§2581', '§4619', '§4909', '§1717']

10 DE Reg 1788 06-01-07
The Delaware Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals, in accordance with 29 Del.C. Chapter 101 and 24 Del.C. §3006(a)(1), proposes changes to its Regulation 2.0 affecting the definition of Professional Counseling Experience. Specifically, the proposed changes clarify the definition of “Professional Counseling Experience” for the benefit of prospective applicants.
A public hearing is scheduled for Thursday, June 27, 2007 at 12:00 noon in the second floor Conference Room A of the Cannon Building, 861 Silver Lake Boulevard, Dover, Delaware 19904. The Board will receive and consider input in writing from any person concerning the proposed regulations. Written comments should be submitted to the Board care of Timothy E. Oswell at the above address. The final date to submit written comments will be at the public hearing. Anyone wishing to obtain a copy of the proposed regulations or to make comments at the public hearing should contact Timothy E. Oswell at the above address or by calling (302) 744-4530.
2.1.1.1 Certifying organizations acceptable to the Board shall include NBCC, ACMHC, and other certifying organizations that meet all of the following criteria:
2.1.1.2 Individuals licensed prior to the effective date of this Rule may maintain certification or membership in the certifying organization, acceptable to the board at the time of their initial licensure in order to qualify for renewal of their license notwithstanding that such certifying organization is no longer deemed acceptable to the board.
2.1.3 Professional Counseling Experience - Professional Counseling experience shall be defined as means the accumulation of hours spent providing face-to-face professional mental health clinical counseling services in a professional mental health clinical counseling setting, including face-to-face interaction with clients, and other matters directly related to the treatment of clients, in a setting or facility that is clearly designated to provide professional mental health clinical counseling services and is subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
2.1.3.1 Designated Objective Agent - For purposes of professional counseling experience obtained through self-employment, a designated objective agent shall be a professional colleague, supervisor or other individual with personal knowledge of the extent of the professional practice of the applicant, who certifies or attests to such professional practice. Under no circumstances shall a spouse, former spouse, parent, step-parent, grand-parent, child, step-child, sibling, aunt, uncle, cousin or in-law of the applicant be acceptable as a designated objective agent.
2.1.4.2 Direct Supervision - 1600 hours of direct supervision acceptable to the Board, for purposes of §3008(a)(2) shall mean supervision overseeing the supervisee’s application of clinical counseling principles, methods or procedures to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal and social adjustment. At least 100 of the 1600 hours of supervision shall consist of face to face consultation between the supervisor and the supervisee. Direct supervision may take place in individual and/or group settings, defined as follows:
2.1.4.3 Supervision shall be verified by the "Direct Supervision Reference Form," submitted directly to the Board by the approved clinical supervisor.
2.2.3 Determination of Substantial Similarity of Licensing Standards - The applicant shall submit a copy of the statute and rules of licensure from the state issuing his/her license. The burden of proof is upon the applicant to demonstrate that the statute and rules of the licensing state are at least equivalent to the educational, experience and supervision requirements set forth in Title 24, Delaware Code, Chapter 30. Based upon the information presented, the Board shall make a determination regarding whether the licensing requirements of the applicant's licensing state are substantially similar to those of Delaware.
2.2.4 LACMH Option - If the Board determines that the requirements of the applicant's licensing state are not equivalent with regard only to the experience requirements of §3008(a)(2), the applicant shall be eligible for licensure as a LACMH, in which case he/she shall have four (4) years to complete the supervision requirements of §3008(a)(2). The applicant shall be given full credit for such properly documented experience and/or supervised experience as was required for licensure in his/her licensing state.
2.3 Renewal of Licensure
2.3.1 Renewal Date - The LPCMH license shall be renewable biennially on September 30 of even-numbered years. License renewal may be accomplished online at http://dpr.delaware.gov.
2.3.2.1 Certification - The candidate for renewal shall hold current certification in good standing as of the date of licensure renewal in NBCC, ACMHC or other certifying organization acceptable to the board. This certification shall be verified by attestation. Attestation shall be completed electronically if the renewal is accomplished online.
2.3.2.2 Continuing Education
2.3.2.2.1 Requirement - The candidate for renewal shall have completed no less than 40 clock hours of acceptable continuing education per two (2) year licensure renewal period. Continuing education requirements for initial licensure periods of less than two (2) years shall be prorated.
2.3.2.2.2 Acceptable Continuing Education - Acceptable continuing education shall include the following:
2.3.2.2.2.1 Continuing education hours approved by a national mental health organization, such as NBCC, ACMHC, APA, shall be acceptable. Other training programs may apply for continuing education oriented towards enhancement, knowledge and practice of counseling. Hours are to be documented by a certificate signed by the presenter or by a designated official of the sponsoring organization.
2.3.2.2.3 Make-Up of Disallowed Hours - In the event that the board disallows certain continuing education clock hours, the candidate for renewal shall have three (3) months after the licensure renewal date to complete the balance of acceptable continuing education hours required.
2.3.2.3 Hardship. The board shall have the authority to make exceptions to the continuing education requirements, in its discretion, upon a showing of good cause. “Good Cause” may include, but is not necessarily limited to: disability, illness, military service, extended absence from the jurisdiction and exceptional family responsibilities. Request for hardship consideration must be submitted to the board in writing prior to the end of the licensing period, along with payment of the appropriate renewal fee. A license shall be renewed upon approval of the hardship extension by the board, but the license shall be subject to revocation if the licensee does not comply with the terms of the hardship exception established by the board.
2.3.2.4 Verification - Verification of continuing education hours shall be by Attestation shall be completed electronically if the renewal is accomplished online.
2.4 Return to Active Status - Return to active status from inactive status shall be granted upon fulfillment of the following requirements:
5 DE Reg. 2109 (05/01/02)
3.0 Licensure of Associate Counselors of Mental Health (LACMH)
3.1 Written Plan - The applicant shall submit a written plan for supervised professional experience, on the “Written Plan for Professional Counseling Experience and Supervision” form, supplied by the Board, and signed by the approved professional supervisor.
7.0 Application and Fee, Affidavit and Time Limit
7.1 Application and Fee - The applicant shall submit a completed "Application for Licensure," accompanied by a non-refundable application fee.
7.2 Affidavit - The applicant shall submit a signed, notarized "Affidavit," affirming that the applicant:
7.2.2 has not been the recipient of any administrative penalties from any jurisdiction in connection with licensure, registration or certification as a mental health provider,
7.2.3 does not have any impairment related to drugs, alcohol, or a finding of mental incompetence by a physician that would limit the applicant’s ability to safely act as a LPCMH or LACMH,
7.2.4 that he/she has not been convicted of and has no pending criminal charge(s) relating to any crime that is substantially related to the provision of mental health counseling or chemical dependency counseling;
8.0 Ethics
8.1 The Board hereby adopts the current version of National Board for Certified Counselors Code of Ethics (“Code”).
8.2 The practice of all persons licensed as an LPCMH or LAMCH shall conform to the principles of the Code. Violation of the Code shall constitute grounds for discipline.
11.1.181 Prohibited trade practices against infirm or elderly. 6 Del.C. §2581.
11.1.182 Prohibition of intimidation [under the Fair Housing Act]; 6 Del.C. §4619.
11.1.183 Auto Repair Fraud victimizing the infirm or elderly. 6 Del.C. §4909A.
11.1.184 Unauthorized Acts against a Service Guide or Seeing Eye Dog 7 Del.C. §1717.
10 DE Reg. 1788 (06/01/07) (Prop.)