Arkansas Administrative Code › Agency 122 - Board of Examiners in Counseling › Rule 122.00.96-001 - Rules and Regulations

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, June, 2024
PREFACE
The Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling interprets the
			 intent of the Legislature, which passed as A.C.A.
			 17-27-101
et seq.
(an act to provide for Regulation of the Practice of
			 Counseling, Act 593, etc.) and the Governor who signed it into law, to be the
			 protection of the public welfare and in the public interest.
Therefore, the Board of Examiners in Counseling shall in all its
			 deliberations and all its adopted rules and regulations diligently pursue goals
			 most consistent with the public interest, and shall at all times apply the
			 provisions of
A.C.A.
			 17-27-101 et
seq
.
and the rules and regulations adopted from
			 time to time in a fair and impartial manner.
1.
GENERAL INFORMATION
1.1
Description of Organization
The Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling is composed, by
			 law, of seven (7) members appointed by the Governor to staggered terms of three
			 (3) years. , The composition of the Board shall include six (6) licensed or
			 licensable counselors, (three (3) practicing counselors, and three (3)
			 counselor educators or supervisors). The remaining member shall be from the
			 general public. Appointments are made from a list of qualified candidates
			 submitted to the Governor by the
Arkansas Counseling Association
no later than November 1 of each year
(A.C.A.
			 17-27-101 et
			 seq.. Section 5C).
1.2
Vacancies
(a) Expired Terms. No later than November 1,
		  of each year, the
Executive Committee
Board of
		  Directors
of the
Arkansas Counseling Association
shall
		  submit the names of qualified candidates to fill expired terms. The Governor
		  will make the appointments from this list, prior to January 2 each
		  year.
(b) Unexpired Terms. Any
		  unexphed terms shall be filled by appointment of the Governor from a list of
		  candidates, submitted within thirty (30) days of such vacancy, by the
Board of Directors
of the
Arkansas Counseling
		  Association.
The appointments shall be made within thirty (30) days
		  after the candidates names have been submitted.
1.3
Professional Ethics
The Board of Examiners in Counseling has adopted the Code of
			 Ethics of the American
Counseling Association.
(SEE APPENDIX A)
Persons holding a counseling specialization are accountable
			 to the ethical standards of the American Counseling Association and the ethical
			 standards of their specializations.
All persons licensed by the Board are prohibited from
			 sexual contact with clients and former clients for a period of two (2) years
			 subsequent to termination of the counselor-client relationship.
1.4
Purpose of
		  Organization
The Board is charged by law with the responsibility for the
			 regulation of the practice of counseling in the State of Arkansas. This
			 includes examining the qualifications of the applicants and approving each for
			 licensing, as well as revoking, suspending, and renewing licenses.
1.5
Organization of the
		  Board
The Board will meet to organize within thirty (30) days following
			 January 2 of each year. The Board shall elect a chair and a secretary and such
			 other officers as it deems necessary from its members to serve for terms of one
			 (1) year. The Board shall hold at least one (1) meeting each year and five (5)
			 members shall at all times constitute a quorum. Additional meetings may be held
			 at the discretion of the chair or upon written request of any three (3) members
			 of the Board.
1.6
Meetings
Meetings of the Board, formal or informal, shall be open to the
			 public. Dates, times, and places of meetings shall be fiinished to anyone
			 requesting the information and made available to the press in compliance with
			 the
A.C.A.
			 25-19-101 et
			 seq. (Freedom of Information Act 93 or 1967).
1.7
Records
Records of the Board shall be kept, maintained, and made
			 available for inspection in accordance with
A.C.A.
			 25-19-101 et
			 seq.
1.8
Finances
The Board shall set licensing fees and no part of any fee shall
			 be refundable under any conditions other than failure of the Board to hold
			 examinations at the time originally announced. All fees collected shall be held
			 in an Arkansas Bank, chosen by the board, with funds being disbursed in
			 accordance with current standard state accounting procedures. In addition to
			 fees collected, the Board is empowered to accept grants from foundations and
			 institutions to carry out its functions. The Board may hire such personnel as
			 necessary to carry outs its activities. The chairpersion
, the Executive
			 Director, or other boars member
shall be bonded to handle finances of
			 the Board in compliance with state regulations.
1.9
Forms and Instructions
All forms and instructions included in the application process
			 will be considered part of the rules and regulation of the Board.
1.10
Intent of the
		  Act
It is intended that the provisions of
A.C.A.
			 17-27-101
et seq
. be in accordance and consistent with
			 other licensing laws.