1. (1) Alternative route one. An applicant may qualify for a license as a mental health counselor through meeting the following alternative requirements. The applicant shall:

   1. (i) file an application for licensure by January 1, 2006 and pay the fee for the initial license and the fee for the first registration period, as prescribed in section 8402(3)(g) of the Education Law;
   2. (ii) be of good moral character as determined by the department;
   3. (iii) be at least 21 years of age;

   4. (iv) have completed a master's or higher degree program in counseling or in a related mental health field such as social work, psychology, or marriage and family therapy, that is registered by the department pursuant to Part 52 of this Title, or is an equivalent program as determined by the department, provided that the program includes:

      1. (a) coursework that contains curricular content in the study of:

         1. (1) human growth and development;
         2. (2) counseling theory and practice;
         3. (3) assessment and appraisal of individuals, couples, families and groups;
         4. (4) foundation of counseling and consultation;
         5. (5) clinical instruction and counseling;
         6. (6) research and program evaluation; and
      2. (b) a supervised internship in counseling; and
   5. (v) after completing the master's or higher degree program prescribed in subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph, have engaged in the practice of mental health counseling, as defined in section 8402(1) of the Education Law, for at least 3,000 clock hours.

2. (2) Alternative route two. An applicant may qualify for a license as a mental health counselor through meeting the following alternative requirements. The applicant shall:

   1. (i) file an application for licensure by January 1, 2006 and pay the fee for the initial license and the fee for the first registration period, as prescribed in section 8402(3)(g) of the Education Law;
   2. (ii) be of good moral character as determined by the department;
   3. (iii) be at least 21 years of age;
   4. (iv) have completed a baccalaureate or higher degree program in counseling or in a related mental health field such as social work, psychology, or marriage and family therapy, that is registered by the department pursuant to Part 52 of this Title, or is an equivalent program as determined by the department, provided that the applicant demonstrates the completion of coursework within such a program that contains curricular content in the study of human growth and development, counseling theory and practice, and research and program evaluation;
   5. (v) after completing the baccalaureate or higher degree program prescribed in subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph, have engaged in the practice of mental health counseling, as defined in section 8402(1) of the Education Law, on a full-time basis for seven years of the immediately preceding 10 years prior to application for licensure. For purposes of this subparagraph, practice on a full-time basis shall mean 960 clock hours in the practice of mental health counseling, earned over a 52-week period;
   6. (vi) have submitted certifications from three individuals who meet the qualifications for supervisors of the experience requirement, as prescribed in section 79-9.3(c)(2) of this Subpart, endorsing the applicant's good professional ethics and clinical competence to practice of mental health counseling. Such certifications shall be submitted on forms prescribed by the department; and

   7. (vii) have met one of the following three requirements:

      1. (a) after completing the baccalaureate or higher degree program prescribed in subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph, have three years of supervised experience in the practice of mental health counseling, which may be part of the seven years of experience required in subparagraph (v) of this paragraph. The supervisor of the experience must meet the qualifications for a supervisor of required experience prescribed in section 79-9.3(c)(2) of this Subpart; or
      2. (b) be certified or registered by a national certifying or registering body for mental health counselors, acceptable to the department. To be acceptable to the department, the national certifying or registering body must be recognized nationwide as an organization that certifies or registers mental health counselors throughout the United States based upon a review of their qualifications to practice mental health counseling and must have adequate standards for the review of the applicant's qualifications for practicing mental health counseling, as determined by the department. Such standards must include standards for the review of the applicant's education and experience for practicing mental health counseling and may include an examination requirement; or

      3. (c) complete an acceptable post-baccalaureate program in mental health counseling or a related field from an institute chartered by the Board of Regents, or an institution authorized by its charter or by the Board of Regents to confer degrees in New York State, or the equivalent as determined by the department, provided that such program contains curricular content in the study of:

         1. (1) human growth and development;
         2. (2) counseling theory and practice;
         3. (3) assessment and appraisal of individuals, couples, families and groups;
         4. (4) foundation of counseling and consultation;
         5. (5) clinical instruction and counseling; and
         6. (6) research and program evaluation.

3. (3) Alternative route three. An applicant may qualify for a license as a mental health counselor through meeting the following alternative requirements. The applicant shall:

   1. (i) file an application for licensure by January 1, 2006 and pay the fee for the initial license and the fee for the first registration period, as prescribed in section 8402(3)(g) of the Education Law;
   2. (ii) be of good moral character as determined by the department;
   3. (iii) be at least 21 years of age;
   4. (iv) have completed a baccalaureate or higher degree program in counseling or in a related mental health field such as social work, psychology, or marriage and family therapy, that is registered by the department pursuant to Part 52 of this Title, or is an equivalent program as determined by the department, provided that the applicant demonstrates the completion of coursework within such a program that contains curricular content in the study of human growth and development, counseling theory and practice, and research and program evaluation;
   5. (v) after completing the baccalaureate or higher degree program prescribed in subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph, have engaged in the practice of mental health counseling or psychotherapy on a full-time basis for 10 years of the immediately preceding 15 years prior to application for licensure. For purposes of this subparagraph, practice on a full-time basis shall mean 960 clock hours in the practice of mental health counseling, earned over a 52-week period; and
   6. (vi) have submitted certifications from five individuals who meet the qualifications for supervisors of the experience requirement, as prescribed in section 79-9.3(c)(2) of this Subpart, endorsing the applicant's good professional ethics and clinical competence to practice of mental health counseling. Such certifications shall be submitted on forms prescribed by the department.

4. (b) In accordance with section 8411(2)(b) of the Education Law, an applicant who meets all requirements for licensure as a mental health counselor, as prescribed in section 8402(3) of the Education Law, except for the examination requirement, may qualify for a license as a mental health counselor through meeting the requirements of this subdivision, provided that the applicant files the licensure application with the department and pays the required fees by January 1, 2006 and meets all of the other requirements on or before December 31, 2006. The applicant shall:

   1. (1) file an application for licensure by January 1, 2006 and pay the fee for the initial license and the fee for the first registration period, as prescribed in section 8402(3)(g) of the Education Law;
   2. (2) meet all requirements for the license as a mental health counselor prescribed in section 8402(3) of the Education Law, except the examination requirement; and

   3. (3) either:

      1. (i) have certification or registration by a national certifying or registering body for mental health counselors, acceptable to the department. To be acceptable to the department, the national certifying or registering body must be recognized nationwide as an organization that certifies or registers mental health counselors throughout the United States based upon a review of their qualifications to practice mental health counseling and must have adequate standards for the review of the applicant's qualifications for practicing mental health counseling, as determined by the department. Such standards must include standards for the review of the applicant's education and experience for practicing mental health counseling and may include an examination requirement. For use under this subdivision, such certification or registration need not be current but shall not have been revoked for misconduct and/or unethical activities. For documentation of the applicant's certification or registration status to be sufficient, the national certifying or registering body must submit documentation verifying the applicant's certification or registration status directly to the department; or
      2. (ii) if there is no national certifying or registering body for mental health counselors acceptable to the department as prescribed in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, have engaged in the practice of mental health counseling, as defined in section 8402(1) of the Education Law, on a full-time basis for five years of the immediately preceding eight years prior to application for licensure. For purposes of this subparagraph, practice on a full-time basis shall mean 960 clock hours in the practice of mental health counseling, earned over a 52-week period.

(a) Alternative requirements.

In accordance with section 8411(2)(a) of the Education Law, an applicant who does not meet the requirements for licensure as a mental health counselor as prescribed in section 8402(3) of the Education Law, may qualify for a license as a mental health counselor through meeting the alternative requirements prescribed in either paragraph (1), (2) or (3) of this subdivision, provided that the applicant files the licensure application with the department and pays the required fees by January 1, 2006 and meets all of the other requirements on or before December 31, 2006.