An Act To Improve Professional Training for Licensed Mental Health Clinicians
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1238
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: CAIN, FREDETTE, CRAVEN, HAMPER, PATRICK, HAMANN, HERBIG, ROCHELO
Amends: 32 MRSA §3831, 32 MRSA §3835, 32 MRSA §7053, 32 MRSA §7060, 32 MRSA §13858, 32 MRSA §13860

Legislative Document 
No. 1238 
S.P. 432 
In Senate, March 27, 2013 
An Act To Improve Professional Training for Licensed Mental 
Health Clinicians 
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator CAIN of Penobscot. 
Cosponsored by Representative FREDETTE of Newport and 
Senators: CRAVEN of Androscoggin, HAMPER of Oxford, PATRICK of Oxford, 
Representatives: HAMANN of South Portland, HERBIG of Belfast, ROCHELO of Biddeford. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §3831, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. Q, §9, is 
further amended to read: 
2.  Psychologist.  A candidate for this license shall furnish the board with satisfactory 
evidence that the candidate is trustworthy and competent to practice as a psychologist in 
such manner as to safeguard the interest of the public; has received a doctorate degree 
reflecting comprehensive training in psychology from an accredited institution 
recognized by the board as maintaining satisfactory standards, at the time the degree was 
granted; has had at least 2 years of experience in psychology of a type considered by the 
board to be qualifying in nature; is competent in psychology, as shown by passing such 
examinations as the board determines necessary; is not considered by the board to be 
engaged in unethical practice; and has not within the preceding 6 months failed an 
examination.  The board shall recognize that valid comprehensive training in psychology 
must be received in or accepted by a single program, but may be obtained through a 
degree given by administrative units other than a department of psychology, including 
programs approved by the National Association of School Psychologists or the American 
Psychological Association designation program or their successors or other organizations 
approved by the board.  The board shall adopt a list of these programs.  Individuals with 
degrees from programs not on that list must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. 
Beginning January 1, 2020, a candidate for this license shall furnish the board with 
satisfactory evidence that the candidate has successfully completed a minimum of 15 
contact hours of course work in spousal or partner abuse screening and referral and 
intervention strategies, including knowledge of community resources, cultural factors, 
evidence-based risk assessment and same-gender abuse dynamics.  A candidate may 
fulfill this requirement through course work taken in fulfillment of other educational 
requirements for licensure or through separate course work.  The board shall accept 
certification from the accredited educational institution from which the applicant is a 
graduate that verifies the applicant's satisfaction of this requirement within the applicant's 
completed course curriculum. 
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §3835, first ¶, as amended by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. Q, §11, is 
further amended to read: 
Licenses issued under this chapter expire biennially or as established by the 
Commissioner of Professional and Financial Regulation.  A person licensed under this 
chapter shall submit, on or before the established expiration date, an application for 
license renewal together with the renewal fee as set under section 3833-A. Beginning 
January 1, 2020, a person that submits an application for license renewal must 
demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board successful completion of a minimum of 15 
contact hours of course work in spousal or partner abuse screening and referral and 
intervention strategies, including knowledge of community resources, cultural factors, 
evidence-based risk assessment and same-gender abuse dynamics.  The board may accept 
equivalent courses in spousal or partner abuse screening and referral and intervention 
strategies or equivalent teaching or practice experience completed prior to January 1, 
2020 in satisfaction of this requirement.  Continuing education courses taken pursuant to 
this paragraph must be applied to the licensee's required hours of continuing education. 
Sec. 3.  32 MRSA §7053, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1987, c. 735, §69, is further 
amended to read: 
1.  Licensed clinical social worker. To be qualified as a licensed clinical social 
worker, an applicant shall have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the board adherence to 
the ethics of the social work profession; shall have successfully completed the 
examination prescribed by the board; and shall have received either: 
A.    A masters or doctoral degree in social work or social welfare from an accredited 
educational institution, in a clinical concentration:  
(1)  Shall have subsequently completed 2 years of social work experience with 96 
hours of consultation in a clinical setting; or  
(2)  Shall have demonstrated 2 years of full-time clinical social work experience 
or its equivalent and have completed the graduate degree prior to January 1, 
1987, and have completed 2 years of subsequent social work experience with 96 
hours of consultation in a private setting; or 
B.    A masters or doctoral degree in social work in a nonclinical concentration from 
an accredited educational institution:  
(1)  Shall have subsequently completed 4 years of social work experience with 
hours of consultation in a clinical setting; or  
(2)  Shall have demonstrated 2 years of full-time clinical social work experience 
or its equivalent and have completed the graduate degree prior to January 1, 
1987, and have completed 4 years of subsequent social work experience with 192 
hours of consultation in a private setting. 
The board may waive up to one year of the post-master of social work, clinical 
experience requirement pursuant to this subsection for those candidates who demonstrate 
to the satisfaction of the board equivalent clinical experience prior to receiving the 
masters degree in social work. 
The board shall issue rules, in accordance with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, 
Title 5, chapter 375, defining the clinical experience required for this level of licensure. 
Beginning January 1, 2020, an applicant shall have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the 
board successful completion of a minimum of 15 contact hours of course work in spousal 
or partner abuse screening and referral and intervention strategies, including knowledge 
of community resources, cultural factors, evidence-based risk assessment and same-
gender abuse dynamics.  A candidate may fulfill this requirement through course work 
taken in fulfillment of other educational requirements for licensure or through separate 
course work.  The board shall accept certification from the accredited educational 
institution from which the applicant is a graduate that verifies the applicant's satisfaction 
of this requirement within the applicant's completed course curriculum. 
Sec. 4.  32 MRSA §7060, as amended by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. V, §15, is further 
amended by adding after the first paragraph a new paragraph to read: 
Beginning January 1, 2020, a person that submits an application for license renewal 
must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board successful completion of a minimum of 
contact hours of course work in spousal or partner abuse screening and referral and 
intervention strategies, including knowledge of community resources, cultural factors, 
evidence-based risk assessment and same-gender abuse dynamics.  The board may accept 
equivalent courses in spousal or partner abuse screening and referral and intervention 
strategies or equivalent teaching or practice experience completed prior to January 1, 
2020 in satisfaction of this requirement.  Continuing education courses taken pursuant to 
this paragraph must be applied to the licensee's required hours of continuing education. 
Sec. 5.  32 MRSA §13858, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2003, c. 542, §2, is further 
amended to read: 
2.  Licensed clinical professional counselor.  To be qualified as a licensed clinical 
professional counselor, an applicant must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board 
adherence to the ethics of the counseling profession, successfully complete the 
examination prescribed by the board and have: 
A.  A master's degree or a doctoral degree in counseling or an allied mental health 
field from an accredited institution or a program approved by the board.  Such 
schooling must include a minimum core curriculum and total credit hours as adopted 
by the board; and 
B.  Two years of experience after obtainment of a master's degree or a doctoral 
degree to include at least 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience with a 
minimum of 100 hours of personal supervision.; and 
C.  Beginning January 1, 2020, demonstrated to the satisfaction of the board 
successful completion of a minimum of 15 contact hours of course work in spousal or 
partner abuse screening and referral and intervention strategies, including knowledge 
of community resources, cultural factors, evidence-based risk assessment and same-
gender abuse dynamics.  A candidate may fulfill this requirement through course 
work taken in fulfillment of other educational requirements for licensure or through 
separate course work.  The board shall accept certification from the accredited 
educational institution from which the applicant is a graduate that verifies the 
applicant's satisfaction of this requirement within the applicant's completed course 
curriculum. 
Sec. 6.  32 MRSA §13860, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1997, c. 128, §1, is further 
amended to read: 
2.  Continuing education and supervision.  The board, by rule, may establish 
continuing education and supervision requirements.  Applicants for renewal of license 
must show proof of satisfying the continuing education requirements set forth by the 
board.  If a license lapses due to failure of the licensee to meet continuing education 
requirements, the licensee may renew the license upon completion of the required 
continuing education.  Beginning January 1, 2020,  applicants for renewal of license must 
demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board successful completion of a minimum of 15 
contact hours of course work in spousal or partner abuse screening and referral and 
intervention strategies, including knowledge of community resources, cultural factors, 
evidence-based risk assessment and same-gender abuse dynamics.  The board may accept 
equivalent courses in spousal or partner abuse screening and referral and intervention 
strategies or equivalent teaching or practice experience completed prior to January 1, 
2020 in satisfaction of this requirement.  Continuing education courses taken pursuant to 
this subsection must be applied to the licensee's required hours of continuing education. 
SUMMARY 
This bill makes changes to the laws governing the licensure requirements for 
psychologists, clinical professional counselors and clinical social workers.  It requires 
that, beginning January 1, 2020, applicants for licensure demonstrate to the satisfaction of 
their respective licensing boards that they have successfully completed a minimum of 15 
contact hours of course work in spousal or partner abuse screening and referral and 
intervention strategies, including knowledge of community resources, cultural factors, 
evidence-based risk assessment and same-gender abuse dynamics.  Applicants may fulfill 
this requirement through course work taken in fulfillment of other educational 
requirements for licensure or through separate course work.  The bill requires that the 
boards accept certification from the accredited educational institution from which the 
applicant is a graduate that verifies the applicant's satisfaction of this requirement within 
the applicant's completed course curriculum. 
The bill also makes changes to the licensure renewal requirements for psychologists, 
clinical professional counselors and clinical social workers to require that, beginning 
January 1, 2020, applicants for licensure renewal in these categories demonstrate to the 
satisfaction of their respective licensing boards successful completion of a minimum of 
contact hours of course work in spousal or partner abuse screening and referral and 
intervention strategies, including knowledge of community resources, cultural factors, 
evidence-based risk assessment and same-gender abuse dynamics.  The bill allows the 
boards to accept equivalent courses in spousal or partner abuse screening and referral and 
intervention strategies or equivalent teaching or practice experience completed prior to 
January 1, 2020 in satisfaction of this requirement.  The bill requires that continuing 
education courses taken for this purpose must be applied to the licensee's required hours 
of continuing education.