The board shall issue a license as a mental health associate to any person who files a completed application accompanied by the required fees and who submits satisfactory evidence that the applicant:

1. A. has reached the age of twenty-one;
2. B. holds either a master's or doctoral degree from an accredited institution in a counseling or counseling-related field, as defined by rule and a total of no less than forty-eight graduate semester hours or seventy-two quarter hours in the core curriculum;

3. C. has arranged for an appropriate clinical supervision plan and a postgraduate experience plan, as defined by rule, to meet the licensing requirements for a:

   1. (1) professional art therapist;
   2. (2) professional mental health counselor; or
   3. (3) professional clinical mental health counselor;
4. D. demonstrates professional competence by passing an examination within the applicant's discipline as prescribed by the board; and
5. E. observes the code of ethics.

History: Laws 1993, ch. 49, § 14; 1999, ch. 161, § 13; 2003, ch. 422, § 14; 2005, ch. 210, § 13; 2021, ch. 93, § 12.

ANNOTATIONS

Delayed repeals. — For delayed repeal of this section, see 61-9A-30 NMSA 1978.

The 2021 amendment, effective June 18, 2021, revised the qualifications for an applicant for licensure as a mental health associate; and in Subsection E deleted "is of good moral character with conduct consistent with" and added "observes".

The 2005 amendment, effective June 17, 2005, added the provisions in Subsection B that the applicant's degree may be in counseling and that the applicant have a total of not less than forty-eight graduate semester hours or seventy two quarter hours in the core curriculum; changed "supervision" to "clinical supervision" in Subsection C and deleted marriage and family therapist from the list of licensing requirements in Subsection C.

The 2003 amendment, effective June 20, 2003, rewrote Subsections B and C.

The 1999 amendment, effective July 1, 1999, substituted "licensed" for "registered" in the section heading, substituted "license" for "certificate of registration" in the introductory paragraph, substituted "marriage and family therapy or art therapy or meets the educational requirements for the terminal license" for "or an allied mental health field. The board may approve on a case-by-case basis applicants who have a master's degree or a doctoral degree from non-accredited institutions; and" in Subsection B, and added Subsections D and E.