1. (a)

   1. (1) The applicant must:

      1. (A) Have received a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education that is primarily professional counseling or therapy in content; and
      2. (B) Document completion of a minimum of sixty (60) graduate semester hours in coursework, counseling/therapy in content, that meets the academic and training standards established by the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling.
   2. (2) The counseling programs from which the degree/courses are earned, within the institution, shall meet the standards for the preparation of counselors by the specific national professional associations related to each license.

2. (b) The adopted standards for LAC and LPC:

   1. (1) Are the current Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) standards; and
   2. (2) Must meet Arkansas core curriculum standards.

3. (c) The adopted standards for LAMFT and LMFT:

   1. (1) Are the current Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) standards; and
   2. (2) Must meet Arkansas core curriculum standards.
4. (d) Additional documentation from the issuing institution may be required to verify that all course standards are met.

5. (e) Core curriculum for LAC or LPC includes:

   1. (1) Professional identity and ethics, three (3) graduate credit hour minimum;
   2. (2) Social and cultural diversity, three (3) graduate credit hour minimum;
   3. (3) Human growth and development, three (3) graduate credit hour minimum;
   4. (4) Career development, three (3) graduate credit hour minimum;
   5. (5) Helping relations, three (3) graduate credit hour minimum;
   6. (6) Group work, three (3) graduate credit hour minimum;
   7. (7) Assessment, three (3) graduate credit hour minimum;
   8. (8) Research and program evaluation, three (3) graduate credit hour minimum;
   9. (9) Practicum and/or internships, nine (9) graduate credit hour minimum in three (3) graduate courses over a minimum of six (6) months;
   10. (10) Abnormal psychology/psychopathology, including DSM and ICD training, three (3) graduate credit hour minimum;
   11. (11) Family and relationship, three (3) graduate credit hour minimum; and
   12. (12) Technology-assisted counseling, one (1) graduate credit hour minimum.

6. (f) Core curriculum for LAMFT or LMFT includes:

   1. (1) Foundations of relational/systemic practice, six (6) graduate credit hour minimum in two (2) graduate courses;
   2. (2) Clinical treatment with individuals, couples, and families, six (6) graduate credit hour minimum in two (2) graduate courses;
   3. (3) Diverse, multicultural, and/or underserved communities, three (3) graduate credit hour minimum;
   4. (4) Research and evaluation, three (3) graduate credit hour minimum;
   5. (5) Professional identity, law, ethics, and social responsibility, three (3) graduate credit hour minimum;
   6. (6) Biopsychosocial health and development across the lifespan, three (3) graduate credit hour minimum;
   7. (7) Systemic/relationship assessment and mental health diagnosis, three (3) graduate credit hour minimum;
   8. (8) Practicum/internships, nine (9) graduate credit hour minimum in three (3) graduate courses over a minimum of nine (9) months; and
   9. (9) Technology-assisted counseling, one (1) graduate credit hour minimum.

7. (g)

   1. (1) All graduate course hours used in the application for any license issued by the board must have a B- grade or above.
   2. (2) Grades of C+ or below will not be accepted for licensure purposes.
8. (h) Online education will be treated the same as traditional education if the program is primarily professional counseling or marriage and family therapy in content and is earned from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and is recognized by National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.

9. (i)

   1. (1) Institutions of higher education that have graduate counselor education and related graduate programs that are not accredited by CACREP/COAMFTE must be regionally accredited and coursework must be approved by the board.

   2. (2) Applicants must submit the following information for board review:

      1. (A) Two (2) graduate catalogs;
      2. (B) A completed core curriculum for the sixty-hour requirements; and
      3. (C) A copy of each syllabus listed on the core curriculum, if requested by the board.

Codification Notes: “DSM” means Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders. "ICD" means International Classification of Diseases.