1. A. An applicant for licensure as an associate or professional counselor shall have a master’s or higher degree with a major emphasis in counseling from:

   1. 1. A program accredited by CACREP or CORE that consists of at least 60 semester or 90 quarter credit hours, including a supervised counseling practicum as prescribed under subsection (E);
   2. 2. An educational program previously approved by the Board under A.R.S. § 32-3253(A)(14) that consists of at least 60 semester or 90 quarter credit hours, including a supervised counseling practicum as prescribed under subsection (E); or
   3. 3. A program from a regionally accredited college or university that consists of at least 60 semester or 90 quarter credit hours, meets the requirements specified in subsections (C) and (D), and includes a supervised counseling practicum as prescribed under subsection (E).

2. B. To assist the Board to evaluate a program under subsection (A)(3), an applicant who obtained a degree from a program under subsection (A)(3) shall attach the following to the application required under R4-6-301:

   1. 1. Published college or university course descriptions for the year and semester enrolled for each course submitted to meet curriculum requirements,
   2. 2. Verification, using a form approved by the Board, of completing the supervised counseling practicum required under subsection (E); and
   3. 3. Other documentation requested by the Board.

3. C. The Board shall accept for licensure the curriculum from a program not accredited by CACREP or CORE if the curriculum includes at least 60 semester or 90 quarter credit hours in counseling-related coursework, of which at least three semester or 4 quarter credit hours are in each of the following nine core content areas:

   1. 1. Professional orientation and ethical practice: Studies that provide a broad understanding of professional counseling ethics and legal standards, including but not limited to:

      1. a. Professional roles, functions, and relationships;
      2. b. Professional credentialing;
      3. c. Ethical standards of professional organizations; and
      4. d. Application of ethical and legal considerations in counseling;

   2. 2. Social and cultural diversity: Studies that provide a broad understanding of the cultural context of relationships, issues, and trends in a multicultural society, including but not limited to:

      1. a. Theories of multicultural counseling, and
      2. b. Multicultural competencies and strategies;
   3. 3. Human growth and development: Studies that provide a broad understanding of the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental stages, including theories of individual and family development across the life-span;

   4. 4. Career development: Studies that provide a broad understanding of career development and related life factors, including but not limited to:

      1. a. Career development theories, and
      2. b. Career decision processes;

   5. 5. Counseling and helping relationship: Studies that provide a broad understanding of counseling processes, including but not limited to:

      1. a. Counseling theories and models,
      2. b. Essential interviewing and counseling skills, and
      3. c. Therapeutic processes;

   6. 6. Group counseling and group work: Studies that provide a broad understanding of group development, dynamics, counseling theories, counseling methods and skills, and other group work approaches, including but not limited to:

      1. a. Principles of group dynamics,
      2. b. Group leadership styles and approaches, and
      3. c. Theories and methods of group counseling;

   7. 7. Diagnosis and treatment: Studies that provide a broad understand of diagnostic process including but not limited to:

      1. a. Differential diagnosis, and
      2. b. The use of diagnostic classification systems such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the International Classification of Diseases;

   8. 8. Assessment and testing: Studies that provide a broad understanding of individual and group approaches to assessment and evaluation, including but not limited to:

      1. a. Use of assessment for diagnostic and intervention planning purposes, and
      2. b. Basic concepts of standardized and non-standardized testing; and

   9. 9. Research: Studies that provide a broad understanding of recognized research methods and design and basic statistical analysis, including but not limited to:

      1. a. Qualitative and quantitative research methods, and
      2. b. Statistical methods used in conducting research.
4. D. In evaluating the curriculum required under subsection (C), the Board shall assess whether a core content area is embedded or contained in more than one course. The applicant shall provide information the Board requires to determine whether a core content area is embedded in multiple courses. The Board shall not accept a core content area embedded in more than two courses unless the courses are succession courses. The Board shall allow subject matter in a course to qualify in only one core content area.

5. E. The Board shall accept a supervised counseling practicum and internship that is part of a master’s or higher degree program if the supervised counseling practicum and internship meets the following standards:

   1. 1. Consists of at least 700 clock hours in a professional counseling setting,
   2. 2. Includes at least 240 hours of direct client contact,
   3. 3. Provides an opportunity for the supervisee to perform all activities associated with employment as a professional counselor,
   4. 4. Oversight of the counseling practicum is provided by a faculty member, and
   5. 5. Onsite supervision is provided by an individual approved by the college or university.
6. F. The Board shall require that an applicant for professional counselor licensure who received a master’s or higher degree before July 1, 1989, from a program that did not include a supervised counseling practicum complete three years of post-master’s or higher degree work experience in counseling under direct supervision. One year of a doctoral-clinical internship may be substituted for one year of supervised work experience.
7. G. The Board shall accept for licensure only courses that the applicant completed with a passing grade.

8. H. The Board shall deem an applicant to meet the curriculum requirements for professional counselor licensure if the applicant:

   1. 1. Holds an active and in good standing associate counselor license issued by the Board; and
   2. 2. Has a master’s degree in a behavioral health field from a regionally accredited university.

Historical Note

New Section made by exempt rulemaking at 10 A.A.R. 2700, effective July 1, 2004 (Supp. 04-2). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 11 A.A.R. 2713, effective June 27, 2005 (Supp. 05-2). Amended by final exempt rulemaking pursuant to Laws 2015, Chapter 154, § 10, at 21 A.A.R. 2630, effective November 1, 2015 (Supp. 15-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 26 A.A.R. 2881, effective January 3, 2021 (Supp. 20-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 31 A.A.R. 3032 (September 26, 2025), effective November 2, 2025 (Supp. 25-3).