California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 1917

Introduced by Assembly Member Obernolte

February 11, 2016

An act to amend Sections 4980.74, 4980.78, 4980.79, 4999.32, 4999.33, 4999.61, 4999.62, and 4999.63 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to mental health professionals.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1917, as introduced, Obernolte. Mental health care professionals: qualifications.

(1) Under existing law, the Board of Behavioral Sciences licenses and regulates marriage and family therapists and professional clinical counselors. Existing law requires the board to accept specified education an applicant gained while the applicant resided outside of California as satisfying certain educational requirements for licensure as a marriage therapist or as a professional clinical counselor.

This bill would, instead, require the board to accept specified education an applicant gained from an out-of-state school.

(2) Existing law requires an applicant seeking licensure as a professional clinical counselor or a marriage and family therapist to possess a degree that contains a practicum coursework requirement that may be satisfied by conducting face-to-face counseling.

This bill would specify that the face-to-face counseling requirement of the practicum coursework be face-to-face counseling of individuals, couples, families, or groups. This bill would require that this counseling be supervised for applicants seeking licensure as a professional clinical counselor.

(3) Existing law requires, with specified exceptions, an applicant seeking licensure as a professional clinical counselor to pass a licensure examination. Existing law requires these applicants to meet specified qualifications to be eligible to take the licensure examination, including possessing a degree that is counseling or psychotherapy in content, and that contains specified coursework. Existing law requires this degree to include supervised practicum or field study experience, as specified.

This bill would require that the degree’s practicum and field study experience involve direct client contact.

(4) Existing law requires an applicant seeking licensure as a professional clinical counselor to possess a degree that is counseling or psychotherapy in content, and that contains specified coursework. Existing law allows remediation of a limited number of required core content coursework areas if they are missing from an applicant’s degree program.

This bill would prohibit remediation of the core content area of assessment, appraisal, and testing of individuals, as specified. The bill also would prohibit the remediation of the core content area of the principles of the diagnostic process and the use of diagnostic tools, as specified.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Section 4980.74 of the Business and Professions
Code is amended to read:

4980.74.  

(a) This section applies to persons who apply for
licensure or registration on or after January 1, 2016, and who do
not hold a license as described in Section 4980.72.

(b) The board shall accept education gained begin delete while residing
outside of California end delete begin insert from an out-of-state school end insert for purposes of
satisfying licensure or registration requirements if the education
is substantially equivalent, as defined in Section 4980.78, and the
applicant complies with Section 4980.76, if applicable. The
applicant’s degree title need not be identical to that required by
Section 4980.36 or 4980.37.

(c) The board shall accept experience gained outside of
California for purposes of satisfying licensure or registration
requirements if the experience is substantially equivalent to that
required by this chapter.

SEC. 2.  

Section 4980.78 of the Business and Professions Code
is amended to read:

4980.78.  

(a) This section applies to persons who apply for
licensure or registration on or after January 1, 2016, and who do
not hold a license as described in Section 4980.72.

(b) For purposes of Section 4980.74, education is substantially
equivalent if all of the following requirements are met:

(1) The degree is obtained from a school, college, or university
accredited by an accrediting agency that is recognized by the
United States Department of Education and consists of, at a
minimum, the following:

(A) (i) For an applicant who obtained his or her degree within
the timeline prescribed by subdivision (a) of Section 4980.36, the
degree shall contain no less than 60 semester or 90 quarter units
of instruction.

(ii) Up to 12 semester or 18 quarter units of instruction may be
remediated, if missing from the degree. The remediation may occur
while the applicant is registered as an intern.

(B) For an applicant who obtained his or her degree within the
timeline prescribed by subdivision (a) of Section 4980.37, the
degree shall contain no less than 48 semester units or 72 quarter
units of instruction.

(C) Six semester or nine quarter units of practicum, including,
but not limited to, a minimum of 150 hours of face-to-face
begin delete counseling, end delete begin insert experience counseling individuals, couples, families,
or groups, end insert and an additional 75 hours of either face-to-face
begin delete counseling end delete begin insert experience counseling individuals, couples, families,
or groups end insert or client-centered advocacy, or a combination of
face-to-face begin delete counseling end delete begin insert experience counseling individuals, couples,
families, or groups end insert and client-centered advocacy.

(D) Twelve semester or 18 quarter units in the areas of marriage,
family, and child counseling and marital and family systems
approaches to treatment, as specified in subparagraph (A) of
paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 4980.36.

(2) The applicant shall complete coursework in California law
and ethics as follows:

(A) An applicant who completed a course in law and
professional ethics for marriage and family therapists as specified
in paragraph (7) of subdivision (a) of Section 4980.81, that did not
contain instruction in California law and ethics, shall complete an
18-hour course in California law and professional ethics. The
content of the course shall include, but not be limited to,
advertising, scope of practice, scope of competence, treatment of
minors, confidentiality, dangerous patients, psychotherapist-patient
privilege, recordkeeping, patient access to records, state and federal
laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information, dual
relationships, child abuse, elder and dependent adult abuse, online
therapy, insurance reimbursement, civil liability, disciplinary
actions and unprofessional conduct, ethics complaints and ethical
standards, termination of therapy, standards of care, relevant family
law, therapist disclosures to patients, differences in legal and ethical
standards in different types of work settings, and licensing law
and licensing process. This coursework shall be completed prior
to registration as an intern.

(B) An applicant who has not completed a course in law and
professional ethics for marriage and family therapists as specified
in paragraph (7) of subdivision (a) of Section 4980.81 shall
complete this required coursework. The coursework shall contain
content specific to California law and ethics. This coursework shall
be completed prior to registration as an intern.

(3) The applicant completes the educational requirements
specified in Section 4980.81 not already completed in his or her
education. The coursework may be from an accredited school,
college, or university as specified in paragraph (1), from an
educational institution approved by the Bureau for Private
Postsecondary Education, or from a continuing education provider
that is acceptable to the board as defined in Section 4980.54.
Undergraduate courses shall not satisfy this requirement.

(4) The applicant completes the following coursework not
already completed in his or her education from an accredited
school, college, or university as specified in paragraph (1) from
an educational institution approved by the Bureau for Private
Postsecondary Education, or from a continuing education provider
that is acceptable to the board as defined in Section 4980.54.
Undergraduate courses shall not satisfy this requirement.

(A) At least three semester units, or 45 hours, of instruction
regarding the principles of mental health recovery-oriented care
and methods of service delivery in recovery-oriented practice
environments, including structured meetings with various
consumers and family members of consumers of mental health
services to enhance understanding of their experience of mental
illness, treatment, and recovery.

(B) At least one semester unit, or 15 hours, of instruction that
includes an understanding of various California cultures and the
social and psychological implications of socioeconomic position.

(5)  An applicant may complete any units and course content
requirements required under paragraphs (3) and (4) not already
completed in his or her education while registered as an intern,
unless otherwise specified.

(6) The applicant’s degree title need not be identical to that
required by subdivision (b) of Section 4980.36.

SEC. 3.  

Section 4980.79 of the Business and Professions Code
is amended to read:

4980.79.  

(a) This section applies to persons who apply for
licensure or registration on or after January 1, 2016, and who hold
a license as described in Section 4980.72.

(b) For purposes of Section 4980.72, education is substantially
equivalent if all of the following requirements are met:

(1) The degree is obtained from a school, college, or university
accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United
States Department of Education and consists of, at a minimum,
the following:

(A) (i) For an applicant who obtained his or her degree within
the timeline prescribed by subdivision (a) of Section 4980.36, the
degree shall contain no less than 60 semester or 90 quarter units
of instruction.

(ii) Up to 12 semester or 18 quarter units of instruction may be
remediated, if missing from the degree. The remediation may occur
while the applicant is registered as an intern.

(B) For an applicant who obtained his or her degree within the
timeline prescribed by subdivision (a) of Section 4980.37, the
degree shall contain no less than 48 semester or 72 quarter units
of instruction.

(C) Six semester or nine quarter units of practicum, including,
but not limited to, a minimum of 150 hours of face-to-face
begin delete counseling, end delete begin insert experience counseling individuals, couples, families,
or groups, end insert and an additional 75 hours of either face-to-face
begin delete counseling end delete begin insert experience counseling individuals, couples, families,
or groups end insert or client-centered advocacy, or a combination of
face-to-face begin delete counseling end delete begin insert experience counseling individuals, couples,
families, or groups end insert and client-centered advocacy.

(i) An out-of-state applicant who has been licensed for at least
two years in clinical practice, as verified by the board, is exempt
from this requirement.

(ii) An out-of-state applicant who has been licensed for less
than two years in clinical practice, as verified by the board, who
does not meet the practicum requirement, shall remediate it by
obtaining 150 hours of face-to-face begin delete counseling, end delete begin insert experience
counseling individuals, couples, families, or groups, end insert and an
additional 75 hours of either face-to-face begin delete counseling end delete begin insert experience
counseling individuals, couples, families, or groups end insert or
client-centered advocacy, or a combination of face-to-face
begin delete counseling end delete begin insert experience counseling individuals, couples, families,
or groups end insert and client-centered advocacy. These hours are in addition
to the 3,000 hours of experience required by this chapter, and shall
be gained while registered as an intern.

(D) Twelve semester or 18 quarter units in the areas of marriage,
family, and child counseling and marital and family systems
approaches to treatment, as specified in subparagraph (A) of
paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 4980.36.

(2) An applicant shall complete coursework in California law
and ethics as follows:

(A) An applicant who completed a course in law and
professional ethics for marriage and family therapists as specified
in paragraph (7) of subdivision (a) of Section 4980.81 that did not
include instruction in California law and ethics, shall complete an
18-hour course in California law and professional ethics. The
content of the course shall include, but not be limited to,
advertising, scope of practice, scope of competence, treatment of
minors, confidentiality, dangerous patients, psychotherapist-patient
privilege, recordkeeping, patient access to records, state and federal
laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information, dual
relationships, child abuse, elder and dependent adult abuse, online
therapy, insurance reimbursement, civil liability, disciplinary
actions and unprofessional conduct, ethics complaints and ethical
standards, termination of therapy, standards of care, relevant family
law, therapist disclosures to patients, differences in legal and ethical
standards in different types of work settings, and licensing law
and licensing process. This coursework shall be completed prior
to registration as an intern.

(B) An applicant who has not completed a course in law and
professional ethics for marriage and family therapists as specified
in paragraph (7) of subdivision (a) of Section 4980.81 shall
complete this required coursework. The coursework shall include
content specific to California law and ethics. An applicant shall
complete this coursework prior to registration as an intern.

(3) The applicant completes the educational requirements
specified in Section 4980.81 not already completed in his or her
education. The coursework may be from an accredited school,
college, or university as specified in paragraph (1), from an
educational institution approved by the Bureau for Private
Postsecondary Education, or from a continuing education provider
that is acceptable to the board as defined in Section 4980.54.
Undergraduate coursework shall not satisfy this requirement.

(4) The applicant completes the following coursework not
already completed in his or her education from an accredited
school, college, or university as specified in paragraph (1) above,
from an educational institution approved by the Bureau for Private
Postsecondary Education, or from a continuing education provider
that is acceptable to the board as defined in Section 4980.54.
Undergraduate coursework shall not satisfy this requirement.

(A) At least three semester units, or 45 hours, of instruction
pertaining to the principles of mental health recovery-oriented care
and methods of service delivery in recovery-oriented practice
environments, including structured meetings with various
consumers and family members of consumers of mental health
services to enhance understanding of their experience of mental
illness, treatment, and recovery.

(B) At least one semester unit, or 15 hours, of instruction that
includes an understanding of various California cultures and the
social and psychological implications of socioeconomic position.

(5) An applicant's degree title need not be identical to that
required by subdivision (b) of Section 4980.36.

(6) An applicant may complete any units and course content
requirements required under paragraphs (3) and (4) not already
completed in his or her education while registered as an intern,
unless otherwise specified.

SEC. 4.  

Section 4999.32 of the Business and Professions Code
is amended to read:

4999.32.  

(a) This section shall apply to applicants for
examination eligibility or registration who begin graduate study
before August 1, 2012, and complete that study on or before
December 31, 2018. Those applicants may alternatively qualify
under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 4999.33.

(b) To qualify for examination eligibility or registration,
applicants shall possess a master’s or doctoral degree that is
counseling or psychotherapy in content and that meets the
requirements of this section, obtained from an accredited or
approved institution, as defined in Section 4999.12. For purposes
of this subdivision, a degree is “counseling or psychotherapy in
content” if it contains the supervised practicum or field study
experience described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) and, except
as provided in subdivision (d), the coursework in the core content
areas listed in subparagraphs (A) to (I), inclusive, of paragraph (1)
of subdivision (c).

(c) The degree described in subdivision (b) shall contain not
less than 48 graduate semester or 72 graduate quarter units of
instruction, which shall, except as provided in subdivision (d),
include all of the following:

(1) The equivalent of at least three semester units or four and
one-half quarter units of graduate study in each of the following
core content areas:

(A) Counseling and psychotherapeutic theories and techniques,
including the counseling process in a multicultural society, an
orientation to wellness and prevention, counseling theories to assist
in selection of appropriate counseling interventions, models of
counseling consistent with current professional research and
practice, development of a personal model of counseling, and
multidisciplinary responses to crises, emergencies, and disasters.

(B) Human growth and development across the lifespan,
including normal and abnormal behavior and an understanding of
developmental crises, disability, psychopathology, and situational
and environmental factors that affect both normal and abnormal
behavior.

(C) Career development theories and techniques, including
career development decisionmaking models and interrelationships
among and between work, family, and other life roles and factors,
including the role of multicultural issues in career development.

(D) Group counseling theories and techniques, including
principles of group dynamics, group process components,
developmental stage theories, therapeutic factors of group work,
group leadership styles and approaches, pertinent research and
literature, group counseling methods, and evaluation of
effectiveness.

(E) Assessment, appraisal, and testing of individuals, including
basic concepts of standardized and nonstandardized testing and
other assessment techniques, norm-referenced and
criterion-referenced assessment, statistical concepts, social and
cultural factors related to assessment and evaluation of individuals
and groups, and ethical strategies for selecting, administering, and
interpreting assessment instruments and techniques in counseling.

(F) Multicultural counseling theories and techniques, including
counselors’ roles in developing cultural self-awareness, identity
development, promoting cultural social justice, individual and
community strategies for working with and advocating for diverse
populations, and counselors’ roles in eliminating biases and
prejudices, and processes of intentional and unintentional
oppression and discrimination.

(G) Principles of the diagnostic process, including differential
diagnosis, and the use of current diagnostic tools, such as the
current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, the impact
of co-occurring substance use disorders or medical psychological
disorders, established diagnostic criteria for mental or emotional
disorders, and the treatment modalities and placement criteria
within the continuum of care.

(H) Research and evaluation, including studies that provide an
understanding of research methods, statistical analysis, the use of
research to inform evidence-based practice, the importance of
research in advancing the profession of counseling, and statistical
methods used in conducting research, needs assessment, and
program evaluation.

(I) Professional orientation, ethics, and law in counseling,
including professional ethical standards and legal considerations,
licensing law and process, regulatory laws that delineate the
profession’s scope of practice, counselor-client privilege,
confidentiality, the client dangerous to self or others, treatment of
minors with or without parental consent, relationship between
practitioner’s sense of self and human values, functions and
relationships with other human service providers, strategies for
collaboration, and advocacy processes needed to address
institutional and social barriers that impede access, equity, and
success for clients.

(2) In addition to the course requirements described in paragraph
(1), a minimum of 12 semester units or 18 quarter units of advanced
coursework to develop knowledge of specific treatment issues,
special populations, application of counseling constructs,
assessment and treatment planning, clinical interventions,
therapeutic relationships, psychopathology, or other clinical topics.

(3) Not less than six semester units or nine quarter units of
supervised practicum or field study begin delete experience, or the equivalent, end delete
begin insert experience that involves direct client contact end insert in a clinical setting
that provides a range of professional clinical counseling experience,
including the following:

(A) Applied psychotherapeutic techniques.

(B) Assessment.

(C) Diagnosis.

(D) Prognosis.

(E) Treatment.

(F) Issues of development, adjustment, and maladjustment.

(G) Health and wellness promotion.

(H) Other recognized counseling interventions.

(I) A minimum of 150 hours of face-to-face supervised clinical
experience counseling individuals, families, or groups.

(d) (1)  begin insert (A) end insert begin insert   end insert An applicant whose degree is deficient in no more
than two of the required areas of study listed in subparagraphs (A)
to (I), inclusive, of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) may satisfy
those deficiencies by successfully completing post-master’s or
postdoctoral degree coursework at an accredited or approved
institution, as defined in Section 4999.12.

begin insert (B) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), no applicant shall be
deficient in the required areas of study specified in subparagraphs
(E) or (G) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c). end insert

(2) Coursework taken to meet deficiencies in the required areas
of study listed in subparagraphs (A) to (I), inclusive, of paragraph
(1) of subdivision (c) shall be the equivalent of three semester units
or four and one-half quarter units of study.

(3) The board shall make the final determination as to whether
a degree meets all requirements, including, but not limited to,
course requirements, regardless of accreditation.

(e) In addition to the degree described in this section, or as part
of that degree, an applicant shall complete the following
coursework or training prior to registration as an intern:

(1) A minimum of 15 contact hours of instruction in alcoholism
and other chemical substance abuse dependency, as specified by
regulation.

(2) A minimum of 10 contact hours of training or coursework
in human sexuality as specified in Section 25, and any regulations
promulgated thereunder.

(3) A two semester unit or three quarter unit survey course in
psychopharmacology.

(4) A minimum of 15 contact hours of instruction in spousal or
partner abuse assessment, detection, and intervention strategies,
including knowledge of community resources, cultural factors,
and same gender abuse dynamics.

(5) A minimum of seven contact hours of training or coursework
in child abuse assessment and reporting as specified in Section 28
and any regulations adopted thereunder.

(6) A minimum of 18 contact hours of instruction in California
law and professional ethics for professional clinical counselors
that includes, but is not limited to, instruction in advertising, scope
of practice, scope of competence, treatment of minors,
confidentiality, dangerous clients, psychotherapist-client privilege,
recordkeeping, client access to records, dual relationships, child
abuse, elder and dependent adult abuse, online therapy, insurance
reimbursement, civil liability, disciplinary actions and
unprofessional conduct, ethics complaints and ethical standards,
termination of therapy, standards of care, relevant family law,
therapist disclosures to clients, and state and federal laws related
to confidentiality of patient health information. When coursework
in a master’s or doctoral degree program is acquired to satisfy this
requirement, it shall be considered as part of the 48 semester unit
or 72 quarter unit requirement in subdivision (c).

(7) A minimum of 10 contact hours of instruction in aging and
long-term care, which may include, but is not limited to, the
biological, social, and psychological aspects of aging. On and after
January 1, 2012, this coursework shall include instruction on the
assessment and reporting of, as well as treatment related to, elder
and dependent adult abuse and neglect.

(8) A minimum of 15 contact hours of instruction in crisis or
trauma counseling, including multidisciplinary responses to crises,
emergencies, or disasters, and brief, intermediate, and long-term
approaches.

(f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2019,
and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that
is enacted before January 1, 2019, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 5.  

Section 4999.33 of the Business and Professions Code
is amended to read:

4999.33.  

(a) This section shall apply to the following:

(1) Applicants for examination eligibility or registration who
begin graduate study before August 1, 2012, and do not complete
that study on or before December 31, 2018.

(2) Applicants for examination eligibility or registration who
begin graduate study before August 1, 2012, and who graduate
from a degree program that meets the requirements of this section.

(3) Applicants for examination eligibility or registration who
begin graduate study on or after August 1, 2012.

(b) To qualify for examination eligibility or registration,
applicants shall possess a master’s or doctoral degree that is
counseling or psychotherapy in content and that meets the
requirements of this section, obtained from an accredited or
approved institution, as defined in Section 4999.12. For purposes
of this subdivision, a degree is “counseling or psychotherapy in
content” if it contains the supervised practicum or field study
experience described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) and, except
as provided in subdivision (f), the coursework in the core content
areas listed in subparagraphs (A) to (M), inclusive, of paragraph
(1) of subdivision (c).

(c) The degree described in subdivision (b) shall contain not
less than 60 graduate semester or 90 graduate quarter units of
instruction, which shall, except as provided in subdivision (f),
include all of the following:

(1) The equivalent of at least three semester units or four and
one-half quarter units of graduate study in all of the following core
content areas:

(A) Counseling and psychotherapeutic theories and techniques,
including the counseling process in a multicultural society, an
orientation to wellness and prevention, counseling theories to assist
in selection of appropriate counseling interventions, models of
counseling consistent with current professional research and
practice, development of a personal model of counseling, and
multidisciplinary responses to crises, emergencies, and disasters.

(B) Human growth and development across the lifespan,
including normal and abnormal behavior and an understanding of
developmental crises, disability, psychopathology, and situational
and environmental factors that affect both normal and abnormal
behavior.

(C) Career development theories and techniques, including
career development decisionmaking models and interrelationships
among and between work, family, and other life roles and factors,
including the role of multicultural issues in career development.

(D) Group counseling theories and techniques, including
principles of group dynamics, group process components, group
developmental stage theories, therapeutic factors of group work,
group leadership styles and approaches, pertinent research and
literature, group counseling methods, and evaluation of
effectiveness.

(E) Assessment, appraisal, and testing of individuals, including
basic concepts of standardized and nonstandardized testing and
other assessment techniques, norm-referenced and
criterion-referenced assessment, statistical concepts, social and
cultural factors related to assessment and evaluation of individuals
and groups, and ethical strategies for selecting, administering, and
interpreting assessment instruments and techniques in counseling.

(F) Multicultural counseling theories and techniques, including
counselors’ roles in developing cultural self-awareness, identity
development, promoting cultural social justice, individual and
community strategies for working with and advocating for diverse
populations, and counselors’ roles in eliminating biases and
prejudices, and processes of intentional and unintentional
oppression and discrimination.

(G) Principles of the diagnostic process, including differential
diagnosis, and the use of current diagnostic tools, such as the
current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, the impact
of co-occurring substance use disorders or medical psychological
disorders, established diagnostic criteria for mental or emotional
disorders, and the treatment modalities and placement criteria
within the continuum of care.

(H) Research and evaluation, including studies that provide an
understanding of research methods, statistical analysis, the use of
research to inform evidence-based practice, the importance of
research in advancing the profession of counseling, and statistical
methods used in conducting research, needs assessment, and
program evaluation.

(I) Professional orientation, ethics, and law in counseling,
including California law and professional ethics for professional
clinical counselors, professional ethical standards and legal
considerations, licensing law and process, regulatory laws that
delineate the profession’s scope of practice, counselor-client
privilege, confidentiality, the client dangerous to self or others,
treatment of minors with or without parental consent, relationship
between practitioner’s sense of self and human values, functions
and relationships with other human service providers, strategies
for collaboration, and advocacy processes needed to address
institutional and social barriers that impede access, equity, and
success for clients.

(J) Psychopharmacology, including the biological bases of
behavior, basic classifications, indications, and contraindications
of commonly prescribed psychopharmacological medications so
that appropriate referrals can be made for medication evaluations
and so that the side effects of those medications can be identified.

(K) Addictions counseling, including substance abuse,
co-occurring disorders, and addiction, major approaches to
identification, evaluation, treatment, and prevention of substance
abuse and addiction, legal and medical aspects of substance abuse,
populations at risk, the role of support persons, support systems,
and community resources.

(L) Crisis or trauma counseling, including crisis theory;
multidisciplinary responses to crises, emergencies, or disasters;
cognitive, affective, behavioral, and neurological effects associated
with trauma; brief, intermediate, and long-term approaches; and
assessment strategies for clients in crisis and principles of
intervention for individuals with mental or emotional disorders
during times of crisis, emergency, or disaster.

(M) Advanced counseling and psychotherapeutic theories and
techniques, including the application of counseling constructs,
assessment and treatment planning, clinical interventions,
therapeutic relationships, psychopathology, or other clinical topics.

(2) In addition to the course requirements described in paragraph
(1), 15 semester units or 22.5 quarter units of advanced coursework
to develop knowledge of specific treatment issues or special
populations.

(3) Not less than six semester units or nine quarter units of
supervised practicum or field study begin delete experience, or the equivalent, end delete
begin insert experience that involves direct client contact end insert in a clinical setting
that provides a range of professional clinical counseling experience,
including the following:

(A) Applied psychotherapeutic techniques.

(B) Assessment.

(C) Diagnosis.

(D) Prognosis.

(E) Treatment.

(F) Issues of development, adjustment, and maladjustment.

(G) Health and wellness promotion.

(H) Professional writing including documentation of services,
treatment plans, and progress notes.

(I) How to find and use resources.

(J) Other recognized counseling interventions.

(K) A minimum of 280 hours of face-to-face supervised clinical
experience counseling individuals, families, or groups.

(d) The 60 graduate semester units or 90 graduate quarter units
of instruction required pursuant to subdivision (c) shall, in addition
to meeting the requirements of subdivision (c), include instruction
in all of the following:

(1) The understanding of human behavior within the social
context of socioeconomic status and other contextual issues
affecting social position.

(2) The understanding of human behavior within the social
context of a representative variety of the cultures found within
California.

(3) Cultural competency and sensitivity, including a familiarity
with the racial, cultural, linguistic, and ethnic backgrounds of
persons living in California.

(4) An understanding of the effects of socioeconomic status on
treatment and available resources.

(5) Multicultural development and cross-cultural interaction,
including experiences of race, ethnicity, class, spirituality, sexual
orientation, gender, and disability and their incorporation into the
psychotherapeutic process.

(6) Case management, systems of care for the severely mentally
ill, public and private services for the severely mentally ill,
community resources for victims of abuse, disaster and trauma
response, advocacy for the severely mentally ill, and collaborative
treatment. The instruction required in this paragraph may be
provided either in credit level coursework or through extension
programs offered by the degree-granting institution.

(7) Human sexuality, including the study of the physiological,
psychological, and social cultural variables associated with sexual
behavior, gender identity, and the assessment and treatment of
psychosexual dysfunction.

(8) Spousal or partner abuse assessment, detection, intervention
strategies, and same gender abuse dynamics.

(9) A minimum of seven contact hours of training or coursework
in child abuse assessment and reporting, as specified in Section
28, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

(10) Aging and long-term care, including biological, social,
cognitive, and psychological aspects of aging. This coursework
shall include instruction on the assessment and reporting of, as
well as treatment related to, elder and dependent adult abuse and
neglect.

(e) A degree program that qualifies for licensure under this
section shall do all of the following:

(1) Integrate the principles of mental health recovery-oriented
care and methods of service delivery in recovery-oriented practice
environments.

(2) Integrate an understanding of various cultures and the social
and psychological implications of socioeconomic position.

(3) Provide the opportunity for students to meet with various
consumers and family members of consumers of mental health
services to enhance understanding of their experience of mental
illness, treatment, and recovery.

(f) (1)  begin insert (A) end insert begin insert   end insert An applicant whose degree is deficient in no more
than three of the required areas of study listed in subparagraphs
(A) to (M), inclusive, of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) may
satisfy those deficiencies by successfully completing post-master’s
or postdoctoral degree coursework at an accredited or approved
institution, as defined in Section 4999.12.

begin insert (B) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), no applicant shall be
deficient in the required areas of study specified in subparagraphs
(E) or (G) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c). end insert

(2) Coursework taken to meet deficiencies in the required areas
of study listed in subparagraphs (A) to (M), inclusive, of paragraph
(1) of subdivision (c) shall be the equivalent of three semester units
or four and one-half quarter units of study.

(3) The board shall make the final determination as to whether
a degree meets all requirements, including, but not limited to,
course requirements, regardless of accreditation.

SEC. 6.  

Section 4999.61 of the Business and Professions Code
is amended to read:

4999.61.  

(a) This section applies to persons who apply for
examination eligibility or registration on or after January 1, 2016,
and who do not hold a license as described in Section 4999.60.

(b) The board shall accept education gained begin delete while residing
outside of California end delete begin insert from an out-of-state school end insert for purposes of
satisfying licensure or registration requirements if the education
is substantially equivalent, as defined in Section 4999.62, and the
applicant complies with subdivision (b) of Section 4999.40, if
applicable.

(c) The board shall accept experience gained outside of
California for purposes of satisfying licensure or registration
requirements if the experience is substantially equivalent to that
required by this chapter.

SEC. 7.  

Section 4999.62 of the Business and Professions Code
is amended to read:

4999.62.  

(a) This section applies to persons who apply for
examination eligibility or registration on or after January 1, 2016,
and who do not hold a license as described in Section 4999.60.

(b) For purposes of Section 4999.61, education is substantially
equivalent if all of the following requirements are met:

(1) The degree is obtained from an accredited or approved
institution, as defined in Section 4999.12, and consists of, at a
minimum, the following:

(A) (i) For an applicant who obtained his or her degree within
the timeline prescribed by subdivision (a) of Section 4999.33 the
degree shall contain no less than 60 graduate semester or 90
graduate quarter units of instruction.

(ii) Up to 12 semester or 18 quarter units of instruction may be
remediated, if missing from the degree. The remediation may occur
while the applicant is registered as an intern.

(B) For an applicant who obtained his or her degree within the
timeline prescribed by subdivision (a) of Section 4999.32 the
degree shall contain no less than 48 graduate semester or 72
graduate quarter units of instruction.

(C) Six semester or nine quarter units of practicum, including,
but not limited to, a minimum of 280 hours of face-to-face
begin delete counseling. end delete begin insert supervised clinical experience counseling individuals,
families, or groups. end insert

(D) The required areas of study listed in subparagraphs (A) to
(M), inclusive, of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section
4999.33.

(i)  begin insert (I) end insert begin insert   end insert An applicant whose degree is deficient in no more than
six of the required areas of study listed in subparagraphs (A) to
(M), inclusive, of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) begin insert of Section
4999.33 end insert may satisfy those deficiencies by successfully completing
graduate level coursework at an accredited or approved institution,
as defined in Section 4999.12. Coursework taken to meet begin delete those end delete
begin insert any end insert deficiencies shall be the equivalent of three semester units or
four and one-half quarter units of study.

begin insert (II) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert Notwithstanding subclause (I), no applicant shall be
deficient in the required areas of study specified in subparagraphs
(E) or (G) o end insert begin insert f paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.33. end insert

(ii) An applicant who completed a course in professional
orientation, ethics, and law in counseling as required by
subparagraph (I) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section
4999.33 that did not contain instruction in California law and ethics
shall complete an 18-hour course in California law and professional
ethics that includes, but is not limited to, instruction in advertising,
scope of practice, scope of competence, treatment of minors,
confidentiality, dangerous clients, psychotherapist-client privilege,
recordkeeping, client access to records, state and federal laws
relating to confidentiality of patient health information, dual
relationships, child abuse, elder and dependent adult abuse, online
therapy, insurance reimbursement, civil liability, disciplinary
actions and unprofessional conduct, ethics complaints and ethical
standards, termination of therapy, standards of care, relevant family
law, and therapist disclosures to clients. An applicant shall
complete this coursework prior to registration as an intern.

(iii) An applicant who has not completed a course in professional
orientation, ethics, and law in counseling as required by
subparagraph (I) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section
4999.33 shall complete this required coursework, including content
in California law and ethics. An applicant shall complete this
coursework prior to registration as an intern.

(2) The applicant completes any units required by subdivision
(c) of Section 4999.33 not already completed in his or her education
as follows:

(A) At least 15 semester units or 22.5 quarter units of advanced
coursework to develop knowledge of specific treatment issues or
special populations. This coursework is in addition to the course
requirements described in subparagraph (D) of paragraph (1).

(B) Coursework shall be from an accredited or approved school,
college, or university as defined in Section 4999.12.

(3) (A) The applicant completes the following coursework not
already completed in his or her education:

(i) A minimum of 10 contact hours of training in human
sexuality, as specified in Section 25 and any regulations
promulgated thereunder, including the study of the physiological,
psychological, and social cultural variables associated with sexual
behavior, gender identity, and the assessment and treatment of
psychosexual dysfunction.

(ii) A minimum of 15 contact hours of instruction in spousal or
partner abuse assessment, detection, intervention strategies, and
same-gender abuse dynamics.

(iii) A minimum of seven contact hours of training or
coursework in child abuse assessment and reporting as specified
in Section 28 and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

(iv) A minimum of 10 contact hours of instruction in aging and
long-term care, including biological, social, cognitive, and
psychological aspects of aging. This coursework shall include
instruction on the assessment and reporting of, as well as treatment
related to, elder and dependent adult abuse and neglect.

(B) This coursework may be from an accredited or approved
school, college, or university as defined in Section 4999.12, or
from a continuing education provider that is acceptable to the board
as defined in Section 4999.76. Undergraduate coursework shall
not satisfy this requirement.

(4) The applicant completes the following coursework not
already completed in his or her education from an accredited or
approved school, college, or university as defined in Section
4999.12, or from a continuing education provider that is acceptable
to the board as defined in Section 4999.76. Undergraduate
coursework shall not satisfy this requirement.

(A) At least three semester units, or 45 hours, of instruction
regarding the principles of mental health recovery-oriented care
and methods of service delivery in recovery-oriented practice
environments, including structured meetings with various
consumers and family members of consumers of mental health
services to enhance understanding of their experiences of mental
illness, treatment, and recovery.

(B) At least one semester unit, or 15 hours, of instruction that
includes an understanding of various California cultures and the
social and psychological implications of socioeconomic position.

(5) An applicant may complete any units and course content
requirements required under paragraphs (2), (3), or (4) not already
completed in his or her education while registered with the board
as an intern.

SEC. 8.  

Section 4999.63 of the Business and Professions Code
is amended to read:

4999.63.  

(a) This section applies to persons who apply for
examination eligibility or registration on or after January 1, 2016,
and who hold a license as described in Section 4999.60.

(b) For purposes of Section 4999.60, education is substantially
equivalent if all of the following requirements are met:

(1) The degree is obtained from an accredited or approved
institution, as defined in Section 4999.12, and consists of the
following:

(A) (i) For an applicant who obtained his or her degree within
the timeline prescribed by subdivision (a) of Section 4999.33 the
degree shall contain no less than 60 graduate semester or 90
graduate quarter units of instruction.

(ii) Up to 12 semester or 18 quarter units of instruction may be
remediated, if missing from the degree. The remediation may occur
while the applicant is registered as an intern.

(B) For an applicant who obtained his or her degree within the
timeline prescribed by subdivision (a) of Section 4999.32 the
degree shall contain no less than 48 graduate semester or 72
graduate quarter units of instruction.

(C) Six semester or nine quarter units of practicum, including,
but not limited to, a minimum of 280 hours of face-to-face
begin delete counseling. end delete begin insert supervised clinical experience counseling individuals,
families, or groups. end insert

(i) An applicant who has been licensed for at least two years in
clinical practice, as verified by the board, is exempt from this
requirement.

(ii) An out-of-state applicant who has been licensed for less
than two years in clinical practice, as verified by the board, who
does not meet the practicum requirement, shall remediate the
requirement by demonstrating completion of a total of 280 hours
of begin delete face-to face counseling, end delete begin insert face-to-face supervised clinical
experience, end insert as specified in subparagraph (K) of paragraph (3) of
subdivision (c) of Section 4999.33. Any postdegree hours gained
to meet this requirement are in addition to the 3,000 hours of
experience required by this chapter, and shall be gained while the
applicant is registered with the board as an intern.

(D) The required areas of study specified in subparagraphs (A)
to (M), inclusive, of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section
4999.33.

(i)  begin insert (I) end insert begin insert   end insert An applicant whose degree is deficient in no more than
six of the required areas of study specified in subparagraphs (A)
to (M), inclusive, of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) begin insert of Section
4999.33 end insert may satisfy those deficiencies by successfully completing
graduate level coursework at an accredited or approved institution,
as defined in Section 4999.12. Coursework taken to meet begin delete those end delete
begin insert any end insert deficiencies shall be the equivalent of three semester units or
four and one-half quarter units of study.

begin insert (II) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert Notwithstanding subclause (I), no applicant shall be
deficient in the required areas of study specified in subparagraphs
(E) or (G) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.33. end insert

(ii) An applicant who completed a course in professional
orientation, ethics, and law in counseling as required by
subparagraph (I) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section
4999.33 that did not contain instruction in California law and ethics
shall complete an 18-hour course in California law and professional
ethics that includes, but is not limited to, instruction in advertising,
scope of practice, scope of competence, treatment of minors,
confidentiality, dangerous clients, psychotherapist-client privilege,
recordkeeping, client access to records, state and federal laws
relating to confidentiality of patient health information, dual
relationships, child abuse, elder and dependent adult abuse, online
therapy, insurance reimbursement, civil liability, disciplinary
actions and unprofessional conduct, ethics complaints and ethical
standards, termination of therapy, standards of care, relevant family
law, and therapist disclosures to clients. An applicant shall
complete this coursework prior to registration as an intern.

(iii) An applicant who has not completed a course in professional
orientation, ethics, and law in counseling as required by
subparagraph (I) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section
4999.33 shall complete this required coursework, including content
in California law and ethics. An applicant shall complete this
coursework prior to registration as an intern.

(2) The applicant completes any units required under subdivision
(c) of Section 4999.33 not already completed in his or her education
as follows:

(A) At least 15 semester units or 22.5 quarter units of advanced
coursework to develop knowledge of specific treatment issues or
special populations. This coursework is in addition to the course
requirements described in subparagraph (D) of paragraph (1).

(B) Coursework shall be from an accredited or approved school,
college, or university as defined in Section 4999.12.

(3) The applicant completes the following coursework not
already completed in his or her education:

(A) A minimum of 10 contact hours of training in human
sexuality, as specified in Section 25 and any regulations
promulgated thereunder, including the study of the physiological,
psychological, and social cultural variables associated with sexual
behavior, gender identity, and the assessment and treatment of
psychosexual dysfunction.

(B) A minimum of 15 contact hours of instruction in spousal
or partner abuse assessment, detection, intervention strategies, and
same-gender abuse dynamics.

(C) A minimum of seven contact hours of training or coursework
in child abuse assessment and reporting as specified in Section 28
and any regulations promulgated under that section.

(D) A minimum of 10 contact hours of instruction in aging and
long-term care, including biological, social, cognitive, and
psychological aspects of aging. This coursework shall include
instruction on the assessment and reporting of, as well as treatment
related to, elder and dependent adult abuse and neglect.

(E) This coursework may be from an accredited or approved
school, college, or university as defined in Section 4999.12, or
from a continuing education provider that is acceptable to the board
as defined in Section 4999.76. Undergraduate coursework shall
not satisfy this requirement.

(4) The applicant completes the following coursework not
already completed in his or her education from an accredited or
approved school, college, or university as defined in Section
4999.12, or from a continuing education provider that is acceptable
to the board as defined in Section 4999.76. Undergraduate
coursework shall not satisfy this requirement.

(A) At least three semester units or 45 hours of instruction
regarding the principles of mental health recovery-oriented care
and methods of service delivery in recovery-oriented practice
environments, including structured meetings with various
consumers and family members of consumers of mental health
services to enhance understanding of their experience of mental
illness, treatment, and recovery.

(B) At least one semester unit or 15 hours of instruction that
includes an understanding of various California cultures and the
social and psychological implications of socioeconomic position.

(5) An applicant may complete any units and course content
requirements required by subparagraph (D) of paragraph (1) or
paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) not already completed in his or her
education while registered with the board as an intern, unless
otherwise specified.