Subchapter VII-A. Qualifications for Licensure to Practice Professional Counseling; Transition of Professional Counselors; Waiver of Licensure Requirements.
§ 3–1207.10. Qualifications for licensure.
(a) The Board of Professional Counseling shall license as a professional counselor a person who, in addition to meeting the requirements of subchapter V of this chapter and any requirements the Mayor may establish by rule, has satisfactorily passed the national examination adopted by the Board, possesses a master's degree in counseling or a related subject from an accredited college or university consisting of at least 60 hours of postgraduate education, and has completed 2 years of supervised counseling experience.
(b) The Board of Professional Counseling shall license as a graduate professional counselor a person who, in addition to meeting the requirements of subchapter V of this chapter and any requirements the Mayor may establish by rule, has satisfactorily completed the national examination adopted by the Board and possesses a master's degree in counseling or a related subject from an accredited college or university, consisting of at least 48 hours of graduate education.
(c) The Board of Professional Counseling may license, by endorsement, a professional counselor who, in addition to meeting the requirements of subchapter V of this chapter and any requirements the Mayor may establish by rule, is currently licensed in another state in good standing and has:
(1) Engaged in independent professional counseling practice providing clinical counseling for at least 5 years pursuant to such license; or
(2) Held an independent professional counseling license for at least 3 years and possesses the National Certified Counseling credential issued by the National Board of Certified Counselors.
§ 3–1207.11. Transition of professional counselors.
For a period of 2 years following July 22, 1992, all reference to a professional counselor shall be deemed to refer to a person meeting the requirements for licensure in the District, regardless of whether that person is licensed.
§ 3–1207.12. Waiver of licensure requirements.
(a) The Board of Professional Counseling shall waive the 60 hours of postgraduate education and examination requirements for any applicant for licensure as a professional counselor who can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Board, that he or she holds a bachelor’s degree in counseling or a related subject from an accredited college or university and has been performing the functions of a professional counselor, as defined by this subchapter, on a full-time or substantially full-time basis continually for at least 24 months immediately preceding July 22, 1992, and is qualified to do so on the basis of pertinent education, training, experience, and demonstrated current competence, provided that the application for licensure is made within 24 months of July 22, 1992.
(b) The Board of Professional Counseling shall waive the examination requirement for any applicant who meets the educational requirements for licensure as a professional counselor if the person has practiced as a professional counselor or as a professional counselor administrator within a 3-year period immediately preceding July 22, 1992, and is qualified to do so on the basis of pertinent experience and demonstrated current competence, provided that the application for licensure is made within 12 months of July 22, 1992.
(c) Applicants licensed under the waiver provisions of this section shall be eligible for license renewal on the same terms as all other licensed professional counselors.
