2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 104 - Professional Counselors (§§ 3241 — 3256) › § 3246 - Professional Counselors Examining Board—Functions and duties

The Board created hereby shall have the following functions and duties:
(a) Issue and renew the license to authorize the use of the title of professional counselor with provisional license and the practice of counseling, for the reasons provided in this chapter.
(b) Approve and administer an examination deemed appropriate to determine the capability of the candidates for professional counselors twice (2) each calendar year on fixed dates; to such ends, the Board shall establish through regulations, everything concerning content of the examinations, general average needed to approve the same, the number of times a candidate can take the examination, and any other pertinent data regarding the same.
(c) Establish additional criteria, that could be needed to evaluate the qualifications of the persons who apply for the license.
(d) Establish the requirements and procedures for the certification of certified mentors.
(e) Establish the requirements and procedures for the supervision and certification of the professional counselors with provisional licenses.
(f) Establish through regulations, the hours and continuing education requirements and for recertification of the professional counselors.
(g) Determine the amount of the fees for the issuing and renewal of each of the two licenses, which shall be collected by the Department of the Treasury and deposited in the Health Fund, that will be destined by the Secretary of Health for the exclusive use of the Examining Boards of the Department of Health to cover administrative and operating expenses.
(h) Deny, suspend, or revoke a license for just cause as defined in the regulations established by the Board, after conducting the corresponding administrative procedure.
(i) Establish all the regulations needed for the functioning of the Board, which will assure the implementation and compliance of the purposes of this chapter.
(j) Adopt a code of ethics that applies to the practice of licensed professional counselors and professional counselors with provisional licenses.
(k) Perform investigations related to compliance of this chapter, and investigate complaints filed for violations thereof, hear testimonies, issue summons for the appearance of witnesses and the presenting of evidence or documents at any hearing held by the Board and take oaths in connection with said hearings or investigations.
(l) Adopt an official seal for the processing of all licenses and other documents issued by the Board.
(m) Keep a current registry of all professional counselors, which shall include the name, address and date, and the license number of said professionals; which shall be published and be available upon request.
(n) Maintain an updated registry of all certified mentors and of the professional counselors with provisional licenses, as defined by this chapter under their supervision.
(o) Submit an annual report to the Governor and the Secretaries of the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico through the Secretary of Health, no later than January 31 of each year, that shall include complete information on the functioning of this chapter, the Board, and the claims filed against individuals, the resolution of these claims and the number of licenses issued, suspended, cancelled or revoked.
(p) Keep a minute book of all its proceedings in which the resolutions and actions of the Board shall be entered.
(q) Establish the requirements and mechanisms needed for the registration of the licenses granted, every three (3) years. Said registry shall consign the name of the professional counselor to whom the license is issued, the date of issue, the number and effective term thereof, and a notation in the margin of the licenses that have been recertified, suspended, revoked or cancelled.
(r) Establish the requirements and mechanisms needed for the re-certification of the professionals every three (3) years, based on continuing education and the norms provided by the Professional Regulation and Evaluation Organization.
(s) Approve norms and procedures and adopt any measure deemed necessary to attend to the requests for reasonable accommodation that may be presented by the physically disabled candidates, pursuant to the provisions of any federal or Commonwealth legislation or regulations that may apply.
(t) In addition to those herein established, perform any other procedure that may be necessary to comply with the provisions of this chapter.
History —Aug. 9, 2002, No. 147, § 7.