Ind. Admin. Code tit. 839, r. 1-5-4 – Exemption from examination for mental health counselors

Sec. 4. (a) As used in IC 25-23.6-8.5-12, "exempted by the board from the examination requirement" means the board will not grant blanket reciprocity to applicants for licensure as a mental health counselor under this section. Minimum standards for licensure set by the other state at the time the applicant's mental health counselor licensure was granted in that state will be compared for equivalency with the minimum standards for Indiana licensure. The board will review each applicant for licensure as a mental health counselor by examination exemption on an individual basis.

(b) As used in IC 25-23.6-8.5-12, "engaged in the practice of mental health counseling" means the applicant has worked at least five (5) hours per week, averaged over the entire time the applicant has been in practice, with no more than a one (1) year's absence from the practice of mental health counseling, except the following:

(1) If the applicant has more than one (1) year's absence from practice of mental health counseling, the board will review the reason for such absence on an individual basis.
(2) If the applicant has taught mental health counseling, the applicant may count the hours spent teaching as hours of active practice of mental health counseling, provided such teaching was in courses in the same or similar field of mental health counseling as the competency area claimed by the applicant. Teaching shall include time spent in preparation, in meeting with students, and in related activities. Teaching of mental health counseling shall not count for more than seventy percent (70%) of the number of active practice hours claimed by the applicant.

(c) An examination shall be considered to be substantially equivalent, as used in IC 25-23.6-8.5-12, if the examination is either the same examination used by the board or an examination that tested the clinical skills and knowledge of the applicant. The board will review all examinations other than the one used by the board to determine equivalency.

(Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board; 839 IAC 1-5-4; filed Dec 29, 1998, 10:57 a.m.: 22 IR 1510; readopted filed Oct 25, 2001, 4:20 p.m.: 25 IR 939; readopted filed Jul 19, 2007, 12:54 p.m.: 20070808-IR-839070049RFA; readopted filed Nov 25, 2013, 9:18 a.m.: 20131225-IR- 839130273RFA; readopted filed Nov 29, 2018, 10:34 a.m.: 20181226-IR-839180402RFA; readopted filed Jun 24, 2024, 3:49 p.m.: 20240724-IR-839230815RFA)