Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 135 - RULES OF GEORGIA COMPOSITE BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS, SOCIAL WORKERS AND MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS › Chapter 135-12 - TESTING AND ASSESSMENT › Rule 135-12-.02 - Diagnosis

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(1) Persons
			 licensed under this chapter as a professional counselor, clinical social worker
			 or marriage and family therapist who comply with this section shall be
			 authorized to diagnose and treat mental, emotional and behavioral disorders
			 through the use of current classification systems such as the Diagnostic and
			 Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and/or the International
			 Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD).
(2) On or before January 1, 2018, any person
			 licensed under O.C.G.A.
			 43-10A working with people with
			 mental illness, developmental disabilities, or substance abuse shall complete a
			 curriculum of education relating to diagnosing mental disorders, as reflected
			 on an official transcript, to be submitted to the Board upon request. Existing
			 licensees whose transcripts demonstrate completion of an acceptable three
			 semester hours or five quarter hours (forty-five clock hours) graduate level
			 course or an organized training program recognized by the Board shall be deemed
			 to have met this requirement of training and education. A graduate level
			 course, such as psychopathology, DSM or other course with similar content, by a
			 regionally accredited university or an organized training program recognized
			 and/or approved by the Board in mental disorders and diagnosing mental
			 disorders consisting of a minimum of three semester hours or five quarter hours
			 (forty-five clock hours) may satisfy this requirement. The Board recognizes
			 courses may have a variety of names depending on the course provider; the Board
			 may request additional information to determine course or program approval. The
			 Board will recognize training programs that are approved by the Georgia
			 chapters of the Licensed Professional Counselors Association (LPCA-GA), the
			 National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Georgia Society of Clinical
			 Social Work (GSCSW) and/or Georgia Marriage and Family Therapist Association
			 (GAMFT).
(3) As of April 26, 2016,
			 persons licensed under this chapter with at least ten years of experience as a
			 professional counselor, clinical social worker, or marriage and family
			 therapist working with people with mental illness, developmental disabilities,
			 or substance abuse and in good standing with the Board are exempt from this
			 requirement.
(4) Licensees who
			 complete an acceptable graduate level course consisting of three semester hours
			 or five quarter hours (forty-five clock hours), or an organized training
			 program recognized by the Board, relating to diagnosing mental disorders as
			 defined in (2) above, and which was completed between October 1, 2016 and
			 January 1, 2018 will satisfy the required 35 continuing education hours for the
			 renewal ending September 30, 2018.
O.C.G.A.
				§§
										43-1-24,
				43-1-25,
				43-10A-3,
				43-10A-5,
				43-10A-6,
				43-10A-7,
				43-10A-12,
				43-10A-13,
				43-10A-16,
				43-10A-22.