1. A. Applications for a license to practice as a licensed behavioral practitioner shall be made to the State Department of Health in writing. Such applications shall be on a form and in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner. The application shall be accompanied by the fee required by the Licensed Behavioral Practitioner Act, which shall be retained by the State Department of Health and not returned to the applicant.

2. B. Each applicant for a license to practice as a licensed behavioral practitioner shall:

   1. 1. Be possessed of good moral character;
   2. 2. Pass an examination based on standards promulgated by the State Board of Health pursuant to the Licensed Behavioral Practitioner Act;
   3. 3. Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age;
   4. 4. Not have engaged in, nor be engaged in, any practice or conduct which would be grounds for denying, revoking, or suspending a license pursuant to the Licensed Behavioral Practitioner Act; and
   5. 5. Otherwise comply with the rules promulgated by the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Licensed Behavioral Practitioner Act.

3. C. In addition to the qualifications specified by the provisions of subsection B of this section, an applicant for a license to practice as a licensed behavioral practitioner shall have:

   1. 1. Successfully completed at least forty-five (45) graduate semester hours (sixty (60) graduate quarter hours) of behavioral science-related course work. These forty-five (45) hours shall include at least a master's degree from a program in psychology. All course work and degrees shall be earned from a regionally accredited college or university. The State Board of Health shall define what course work qualifies as "behavioral science-related";

   2. 2. As of January 1, 2005, successfully completed at least sixty (60) graduate semester hours (ninety (90) graduate quarter hours) of behavioral science-related course work. These sixty (60) hours shall include at least a master's degree from a program in psychology. All courses shall be earned from a regionally accredited college or university and all degrees shall be earned from a program accredited by the Interorganizational Board for Accreditation of Masters Programs in Psychology (IBAMPP), its designees or successors.

      The Board shall define what course work qualifies as "behavioral science-related"; and

   3. 3. Three (3) years of supervised full-time experience in professional behavioral health services subject to the supervision of a licensed mental health professional pursuant to conditions established by the Board. One (1) or two (2) years of experience may be gained at the rate of one (1) year for each thirty (30) graduate semester hours earned beyond the master's degree, provided that such hours are clearly related to the field of psychology or behavioral sciences and are acceptable to the Board. The applicant shall have no less than one (1) year of supervised full-time experience in behavioral science.

Laws 1999, SB 380, c. 133, § 6, emerg. eff. April 28, 1999 .