2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 12 - PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS (§§ 12-1-101 — 12-315-310) › HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS (§§ 12-170-101 — 12-315-310) › Article 245 - MENTAL HEALTH (§§ 12-245-101 — 12-245-806) › Part 6 - LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS (§§ 12-245-601 — 12-245-607) › Section 12-245-604 - [Effective 8/7/2024] Licensure - examination - licensed professional counselors

(1)
The board shall issue a license as a licensed professional counselor to each applicant who files an application in a form and manner required by the board, submits the fee required by the board pursuant to section
12-245-205
, and furnishes evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant:
(a)
Is at least twenty-one years of age;
(b)
Is not in violation of any provision of this article 245 or any rule adopted under this article 245;
(c)
Has completed a master's or doctoral degree in professional counseling from an accredited school or college or an equivalent program as determined by the board. The degree or program must include a practicum or internship in the principles and the practice of professional counseling.
(d)
(I)
Has at least two years of post-master's practice or one year of postdoctoral practice in licensed professional counseling under clinical supervision;
(II)
Has at least two thousand hours of practice in counseling, including at least one thousand five hundred hours of face-to-face direct client contact, or practice pursuant to section 12-245-603, under clinical supervision that is in person or is telesupervision; and
(III)
For each one thousand hours of supervised practice in professional counseling, has received a minimum of fifty hours of supervision. A minimum of twenty-five of the fifty hours must be individual supervision, which may be in person or through telesupervision. The remaining twenty-five of the fifty hours of supervision earned may be either triadic supervision or group supervision with a maximum ratio of one supervisor to ten supervisees. No other modes of supervision will be accepted.
(e)
Demonstrates professional competence by passing an examination in professional counseling demonstrating special knowledge and skill in licensed professional counseling as prescribed by the board and a jurisprudence examination administered by the division.
(1.5)
A licensed addiction counselor who possesses a valid, unsuspended, and unrevoked license may provide clinical supervision of an individual working toward licensure as a licensed professional counselor if the licensed addiction counselor has met the education requirements for a licensed professional counselor, or the equivalent, as specified in rules promulgated by the state board of licensed professional counselor examiners created in section 12-245-602.
(2)
The examination by the board described in subsection (1)(e) of this section shall be given not less than twice per year at such time and place and under such supervision as the board may determine.
(3)
The board or its designated representatives shall administer and determine the pass or fail status of the examination and take any actions necessary to ensure impartiality. The board shall determine the passing score for the examination based upon a level of minimum competency to engage in the practice of licensed professional counseling.
(4)
(a)
The board shall register as a licensed professional counselor candidate a person who:
(I)
Files an application for registration, accompanied by the fee as required by section
12-245-205
;
(II)
Submits evidence satisfactory to the board that the person meets the requirements of subsections (1)(a), (1)(b), and (1)(c) of this section and has passed a jurisprudence examination administered by the division.
(III)
[Repealed by 2024 Amendment.]
(b)
A licensed professional counselor candidate who registers with the board pursuant to this subsection (4) is under the jurisdiction of the board and may, but is not required to, register with the database of unlicensed psychotherapists pursuant to section
12-245-703
.
(c)
If a candidate does not meet the requirements of subsections (1)(d) and (1)(e) of this section within three years after initial registration, the candidate's registration is subject to the renewal, expiration, reinstatement, and delinquency fee provisions specified in section 12-20-202. Prior to a second or subsequent renewal of a candidate registration, the registered licensed professional counselor candidate shall complete continuing professional competency hours to maintain their registration as a registered licensed professional counselor candidate.
(d)
On or before December 31, 2024, the board shall begin the rule-making process to promulgate rules that bring the rules pertaining to licensed professional counselors into alignment with this part 6, including:
(I)
Allowance of a licensed professional counselor candidate to renew a licensed professional counselor candidate registration for four years if the candidate submits an application for renewal to the board before the expiration date of the current licensed professional counselor candidate registration;
(II)
The renewal, reinstatement, and delinquency fee provisions specified in section 12-20-202;
(III)
Allowance of a person while in the final semester of a master's or doctoral degree in professional counseling from an accredited school, college, or equivalent program to practice in accordance with section 12-245-217 (2)(g) after the person's practicum and internship are completed; and
(IV)
The continuing professional competency requirements specified in subsection (4)(c) of this section.
(5)
(a)
If an applicant has completed an equivalent program as determined by the board pursuant to subsection (1)(c) of this section, the board shall not place additional requirements, barriers, or burdens related to licensure or supervision on the applicant.
(b)
The board shall not give preference concerning licensure, supervision, or other requirements of this part 6 to an applicant who has completed a master's or doctoral degree in professional counseling from an accredited school or college pursuant to subsection (1)(c) of this section based upon the accrediting organization.
Amended by 2024 Ch. 470,§ 7, eff. 8/7/2024.
Amended by 2024 Ch. 217,§ 7, eff. 8/7/2024.
Amended by 2020 Ch. 304,§ 60, eff. 7/14/2020.
Amended by 2020 Ch. 304,§ 31, eff. 7/14/2020.
Amended by 2020 Ch. 304,§ 30, eff. 7/14/2020.
Renumbered from C.R.S. §
12-43-603
and amended by 2019 Ch. 136, § 1, eff. 10/1/2019.
Amended by 2016 Ch. 98,§ 17, eff. 1/1/2017.
Amended by 2016 Ch. 98,§ 4, eff. 1/1/2017.
L. 98: Entire part R&RE, p. 1149, § 19, effective July 1. L. 2004: (1)(e) amended, p. 917, § 20, effective July 1. L. 2007: (2), (3), and (4) amended, p. 140, § 4, effective July 1. L. 2011: IP(1), (1)(b), (1)(d), (1)(e), and (4) amended and (5) added, (SB 11 -187), ch. 285, p. 1281, § 9, effective July 1. L. 2016: (1)(c) and (5)(b) amended, (HB 16-1103), ch. 98, pp. 284, 281, §§ 17, 4, effective 1/1/2017.
This section is similar to former § 12-43-603 as it existed prior to 2019.
2024 Ch. 470, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).
2024 Ch. 217, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).
This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.