Code of Maine Rules › 02 - DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL REGULATION › 514 - BOARD OF COUNSELING PROFESSIONALS LICENSURE › Chapter 3 - LICENSED CLINICAL PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS › Section 514-3-2 - Education

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
1. Qualifying Degree
The applicant shall provide documented proof of a master's
				  degree or a doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution that
				  consists of a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours or quarter-hour equivalent
				  and meets the criteria of paragraph A, B or C below:
A. A counseling degree from a program that
				was accredited by CACREP as a mental health counseling program at the time the
				degree was awarded (subject to the 60 semester hour minimum);
B. A counseling degree from a program that
				consisted of a minimum of 60 semester hours or quarter-hour equivalent as an
				organized sequence of study that includes curricular experiences and
				demonstrated knowledge that substantially satisfies each of the 10 core areas
				of study described in subparagraphs (1) through (10) below and 9 semester hours
				from at least two additional areas of study described in subparagraphs (11)
				through (18) below;
[NOTE: Nontraditional or specialized counseling programs such
				  as art therapy and dance movement therapy must also satisfy the 10 core areas
				  and two additional areas of study.]
Except for internship, full area credit will be recognized
				  for a three semester hour course in the designated area or the number of
				  semester hours specified, as the case may be. Except for practicum and
				  internship, partial area credit will be recognized for a course that contains
				  components or significant aspects of an area, and area requirements other than
				  practicum and internship may be satisfied by academic work completed in one or
				  more separate courses. In determining whether a course pertains to an area, the
				  board will consider the content of the course as set forth in course
				  descriptions, catalogs, syllabi, lesson plans, assignment lists, reading lists,
				  or other contemporaneous documents; completed coursework produced by the
				  applicant; any reliable information furnished by the applicant, the instructor
				  who taught the course, a member of the academic department which offered the
				  course, or a senior administrative official of the institution; and the title
				  of the course. No one course will be recognized as satisfying more than one
				  area of study.
In evaluating the applicant's academic credentials, the board
				  shall consider the unavailability of the foregoing materials due to passage of
				  time. In the event of a denial hearing, the board shall give due regard to the
				  credibility of the applicant in evaluating any testimony of the applicant
				  relating to course content, provided that the applicant has first demonstrated
				  to the board a good faith effort to obtain the documentation described in the
				  preceding paragraph.
(1) Human Growth
				and Development. Studies that provide an understanding of the nature and needs
				of individuals at different developmental levels throughout the life
				span.
(2) Helping Relationships.
				Studies that provide an understanding of philosophic bases of helping
				processes, counseling theories and their applications, basic and advanced
				counseling skills, consultation theories and skills, self-understanding and
				self-development, and facilitation of client or consultee change.
(3) Groups. Studies that provide an
				understanding of group development, dynamics, group counseling theories, group
				leadership styles, and group counseling methods and skills.
(4) Measurement. Studies that provide an
				understanding of group and individual educational and psychometric theories and
				approaches to measurement, data and information-gathering methods, validity,
				reliability, psychometric statistics, factors influencing measurements, and use
				of measurement results in the helping process.
(5) Research and Evaluation. Studies that
				provide an understanding of the types of research, basic statistics, research
				report development, research implementation, program evaluation, needs
				assessment, and ethical and legal considerations associated with research and
				evaluation.
(6) Diagnosis and
				Treatment. Studies that provide an understanding of psychopathology, the
				diagnosis and statistical manual and its use in counseling, psychopathology,
				the development of treatment plans and the use of related services, and the
				role of assessment, intake interviews, and reports.
(7) Professional Orientation. Studies that
				provide an understanding of professional roles and functions, professional
				organizations and associations, history and trends within the profession,
				ethical and legal standards, and professional preparation standards and
				professional credentialing.
(8)
				Social and Cultural Foundations. Studies that provide an understanding of the
				development of multicultural awareness, cultural foundations of human growth
				and development, and cultural values and traditions covering the life
				span.
(9) Practicum. A course of
				clinical instruction that provides practical experience in counseling for the
				purpose of developing individual and group counseling skills. These experiences
				allow students to perform, on a limited basis, some of the counseling
				activities that a regularly employed licensed clinical professional counselor
				would be expected to perform.
(10)
				Internship. A full academic year of supervised clinical counseling experience
				consisting of at least 900 clock hours, including a minimum of 360 clock hours
				of direct client contact. The internship provides an opportunity for the
				student to perform all the activities that a regularly employed licensed
				clinical professional counselor would be expected to perform.
Alternative Experience. In lieu of subparagraphs (9) and 10)
				  above, an applicant may provide documentation of 1,000 hours of lawfully
				  obtained supervised clinical counseling. At least 400 hours must consist of
				  direct clinical contact hours. Documentation must include supervisor affidavits
				  and a copy of the applicant's final evaluation.
Additional course work must include at least nine semester
				  hours of study in the following:
(11) Lifestyle and Career Development.
				Studies that provide an understanding of career development theories,
				occupational and educational information services, career counseling, and
				career decision-making.
(12)
				Marriage and Family Counseling. Up to six semester hours of study that provide
				an understanding of the structure and dynamics of the family, and methods of
				marital and family intervention and counseling.
(13) Human Sexuality for Counselors. Studies
				that provide an understanding of human sexual function and dysfunction, the
				relationship between sexuality, self-esteem, sex roles and life styles over the
				life cycle, and counseling treatment approaches and techniques.
(14) Supervision. Studies that provide an
				understanding of approaches and conceptual models, individual and group
				supervision, clinical evaluation, and ethical and legal
				considerations.
(15) Consultation.
				Studies that provide an understanding of consultation skills, evaluation of
				organizational structure and individual client management, and theoretical
				orientation.
(16) Crisis
				Intervention. Studies that provide an understanding of the theory and practice
				of crisis intervention, short-term crisis counseling strategies, and the
				responsibilities of all those involved in the intervention.
(17) Addictive Disorders. Up to six semester
				hours of study that provide an understanding of the stages, processes, and
				effects of addictions, social and psychological dynamics of chemical
				dependency, and the professional's role in prevention, intervention, and
				aftercare.
(18) Treatment
				Modalities. Up to six semester hours of studies that provide an understanding
				of specific treatment approaches (for example, cognitive, client-centered,
				expressive therapy, feminist).
An applicant who has not completed an internship that meets
				  the requirements of subparagraph (10) above, but has completed an internship
				  consisting of at least 600 clock hours of supervised clinical counseling
				  experience and has fulfilled all other requirements of Section
				  2(1)(B) of this
				  chapter, will be deemed to have a qualifying degree for purposes of Section
				  2(1)(B) of this
				  chapter. Such an applicant must complete additional supervised experience as
				  set forth in Section
				  4(2) of this
				  chapter.
C. A
				psychology degree from a program that at the time the degree was awarded was
				accredited by the American Psychological Association or Canadian Psychological
				Association in clinical psychology or counseling psychology at the doctoral
				level.