The document outlines the implementation of California's new Professional Clinical Counselor License (LPCC), introducing the California Association for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (CALPCC) to represent licensed practitioners. It details the membership benefits, the licensure application process, including grandparenting and reciprocity options, as well as education and supervision requirements. Key dates for application submissions and legislative advocacy efforts are emphasized, alongside the importance of collaboration among mental health professionals in California.

1. IMPLEMENTATION
of
CALIFORNIA’S
NEW
PROFESSIONAL
CLINICAL
COUNSELOR
LICENSE
LPCC
December 2010
1

2. CCCL is transitioning to
membership-based organization
• CCCL Board restructuring from coalition to
professional organization for individual members to
represent the interests of LPCCs in California
• Same people, same passion!
New name:
The California Association for
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors
2

3. CALPCC represents LPCCs
Thank you to participants
from recent survey!
Your input supported our current direction and will
guide efforts in establishing new organization
3

4. CALPCC Purpose
• To provide leadership for legislative, advocacy, and
promotional efforts on behalf of LPCCs in California
• To utilize our already existing relationships in
Sacramento and our knowledge of legislative/
advocacy process to ensure effectiveness and
credibility of LPCC in California
4

5. CALPCC Work
• Ensure stability and integration of LPCC license within
challenging legislative and regulatory environment in
Sacramento
• Build collaboration in place of competition with other
licensed mental health providers, such as LMFTs, LCSWs
and Psychologists
• Partner with other professional counseling organizations
in California which represent spectrum of specialties and
expertise in Counseling Profession
5

6. CALPCC Needs YOU!
• Excited to provide services to newly licensed
professional clinical counselors in California
• Listened to survey participants and feedback helped
to shape benefits for members
• Responded to current economic climate and
understanding of multitude of fees required to
become licensed - offering special half-off fee for
charter membership (first six weeks)
6

7. CALPCC Member Benefits
• Continued legislative advocacy for, and protection of,
LPCC license
• Continued representation of LPCCs at BBS board and
committee meetings
• Advocacy and legislative sponsorship for insurance
reimbursement based on inclusion in standing codes
• Members Only section on CALPCC website offering
specialized resources for counselors like liability
insurance and CEU opportunities
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8. CALPCC Member Benefits
• Counselor Finder service for consumers offered
through CALPCC website
• Email consultation for members in process of
obtaining LPCC license
• Quarterly electronic newsletter offering legislative
updates and practical help for counseling profession
• Bulletin Board to facilitate communication between
LPCC members
8

9. Become a Member Today!
• We are committed to challenge of transition and
excited by possibilities ahead for new organization
• Especially for counselors who will become LPCCs in
near term – and in years ahead
Remember: half-off membership fees
for charter members
during first six weeks after launch
9

10. WATCH FOR
MEMBERSHIP
LAUNCH IN
JANUARY 2011
10

11. IMPLEMENTATION
of
CALIFORNIA’S
NEW
PROFESSIONAL
CLINICAL
COUNSELOR
LICENSE
LPCC
December 2010
11

12. View CCCL’s Webinar titled
California’s New Counselor License:
• Background about the bill that achieved the
license
• Scope of Practice
• Requirements for grandparenting
– Education
– Supervision
– Examination
• Requirements for reciprocity
Website: http://caccl.org Email: info@caccl.org 12

13. This Webinar will address:
• Updates on any changes since the first webinar
was recorded
• Implementation issues
• Responses to questions that are commonly
asked
• Comparison of paths to licensure:
– Grandparenting
– Reciprocity
– “Regular” licensure
13

14. Licensure Timeline
• 2010: SB 788 became law Jan. 1st
BBS has developed rules and regulations and is
waiting for approval
• 2011: Applications will be accepted:
Grandparenting: Mid February – June 30th
Reciprocity: Mid February
Intern registration: Mid February
• 2012: Regular license applications: Jan. 1st
14

15. Application Availability
• Until rules and regulations are approved, the BBS
cannot:
– release applications
– provide clarification or guidance on anything that is not clearly
specified in the bill
• Approval is now expected in Mid February 2011
• Due to the state hiring freeze, the BBS may not be able
to hire additional staff to implement the LPCC license, so
applicants can expect delays of several months.
15

16. Assistance for Individuals
Until the BBS is able to hire additional staff, it is
unable to respond to individual questions.
Information is available:
• CCCL website: http://caccl.org
soon to be http://calpcc.org
• BBS website: http://www.bbs.ca.gov
16

17. Paths to Licensure
• Grandparenting begins mid February and ends June
30, 2011
– California LMFTs and LCSWs are part of grandparenting
• Reciprocity begins mid February 2011 and is on-going
• Regular licensure begins January 2012 and is on-
going. Requirements change for those beginning graduate study August
2012 and after.
17

18. Grandparenting Timeline
• Applicants submit applications to the BBS between mid
February (or when applications become available) and June 30th,
2011.
• Applicants will have 12 months, from the Board’s
notification, to complete deficiencies, including:
Years of experience
Coursework
Supervised hours
Examinations
18

19. Can MFTs and LCSWs be
grandparented as LPCCs?
• MFTs and LCSWs currently licensed in
California can be grandparented if they:
– Have taken all of the LPCC coursework
and
– Pass a “gap” exam on the differences between the
practices of these professions:
• Career development
• Research
• Assessment
19

20. Can recent graduates qualify for
grandparenting?
• May - June 2010 Graduates
– May be able to get two years post-degree counseling experience by
utilizing the 12 additional months after their BBS evaluation
– Example:
• Degree is dated May-June 2010
• Full time counseling experience began July 2010
• Counselor applies for grandparenting before June 30, 2011
• BBS notification, dated August 2011 indicates a deficiency of the second
year’s experience required for grandparenting
• Counselor has until August 2012 to complete the second year of experience,
as well as any of the 1,700 hours of supervision, coursework and exams
required for grandparenting
• Graduates after May - June 2010
Will register as interns, beginning mid February 2011, to earn two years
(3,000 hours) of supervised practice with BBS oversight
20

21. Education Requirements
• The qualifying master’s or doctoral degree:
– 48 semester-unit (or 72 quarter-unit) degree in counseling or
psychotherapy from an accredited university, which includes:
• Supervised practicum/fieldwork: 6 semester-units (or 9 quarter-
units) with 150 hours supervised face-to-face clinical experience
• 9 core content areas: At least 3 semester-units (or 4 ½ quarter-
units)
– 2 of 9 areas may be completed post-degree, but all must be
completed before licensure
Note: These requirements will increase to a 60-semester-unit degree and 10 of 13 core
content areas for those who begin graduate study in August 2012 and after.
Exceptions are made for those with pre-1996 degrees for grandparenting only.
21

22. Core Content Areas
Professional
Orientation Multicultural Human Growth
Counseling & Development
(Law & Ethics)
Career Counseling & Group
Development psychotherapy Counseling
Research & Diagnostic
Assessment
Evaluation Process
Additional Core Content Areas in 2012: Psychopharmacology, Addictions, Crisis/
Trauma, and Advanced Psychotherapeutic Theories/Techniques 22

23. Additional Education Requirements
• Minimum of 12 units (increasing to 15 units in 2012) of advanced
coursework to develop knowledge in specific treatment
issues and/or special populations, & other clinical
interventions
• Minimum of 6 units of supervised practicum with 150
hours of face-to-face experience (increasing to 280 hours in
2012)
23

24. Additional Education Requirements
• In addition, or as part of the degree:
• Psychopharmacology (2-semester or 3-quarter unit graduate or
undergraduate college course)
• The following topics may be taken as college courses or as
continuing education courses offered by Approved Providers:
– Chemical substance abuse (15 hours)
– Human sexuality (10 hours)
– Spousal/partner abuse (15 hours)
– Child abuse (7 hours)
– Aging & long-term care (10 hours)
– Crisis/trauma counseling (15 hours)
– California law and ethics (18 hours)
Note: Hours refer to hours of instruction. Courses can be online, in-person or home
study. 2012 and after: Addictions and Psychopharmacology become required core
areas in the degree and the other topics are integrated in the degree. 24

25. Exceptions to the Education
Requirements
for grandparenting
Earlier degrees: Degrees granted before 1996 are acceptable
with a minimum of 30 semester-units (or 45 quarter-units):
– If they include 3 units of supervised practicum/fieldwork
– If the applicant earns a total of 48 units before licensure
– If they include 6 of the 9 core content areas and the applicant
completes all 9 areas before licensure
Counselor Educators will be given credit for core areas not
contained in their degrees:
– If their degrees contain 7 of the 9 core areas
– If they provide documentation that they have taught the core area
in a graduate counseling program
• Note: These exceptions do not apply after the grandparenting period.
25

26. Supervision Requirements
for regular licensure
• Supervised experience requires:
– Completion of education requirements
– Registration with the BBS Board
– 3,000 post-degree hours of supervised clinical mental health
experience, with an approved supervisor, over a period of not
less than two years (104 weeks) including:
– Not less than 1,750 hours of direct counseling
– At least one hour of individual or two hours of group supervision
each week
– Not less than 150 hours of clinical experience in a hospital or
community health setting
– Not more than 1,250 hours of supervisor contact, test
administration, writing progress notes, attending training
sessions, client centered advocacy, etc.
For further details see 4999.42, 45, 46, 47, 48
26

27. Approved Supervisor
for regular licensure
• Supervisor must have:
– Two years of clinical experience as LPCC, LMFT, LCSW,
licensed clinical psychologist or licensed physician certified in
psychiatry
– Professional training in supervision
– Not provided therapeutic services to the trainee or intern
– A current and valid license that is not under suspension or
probation
27

28. Supervision Requirements
for grandparenting
• Two years full time, or the equivalent, post-
degree counseling experience, that includes:
– 1,700 hours experience in a clinical setting (an agency, a school or
a private practice that provides mental health counseling or
psychotherapy)
– Supervision by a LMFT, LCSW, psychologist, psychiatrist or a
master’s level counselor who is certified by a national
certifying or registering organization
The BBS will not oversee supervision for grandparenting.
28

29. Supervision Requirements
for grandpareting
Documentation
• Supervisors will need to sign a BBS form
• Forms will be part of the application packet, available
mid February 2011
• If supervision was done years ago and a supervisor
cannot be located, another person in the same
agency, or other setting, may sign the form.
29

30. Supervision Requirements
for grandparenting
It is unlawful for unlicensed or unregistered counselors to provide
clinical services (psychotherapy) outside of an exempt setting.
Exempt setting: An educational institution, governmental entity or an
entity that is both nonprofit and charitable.
Non-clinical services may be provided in non-exempt settings, and will
count toward supervision for grandparenting.
Non-clinical services might include career counseling, educational
counseling, etc.
Non-exempt settings: Private practice (not one’s own), businesses or
entities that are non-profit, but not charitable.
Note: This concept is discussed on our website under Questions About Supervision for
Grandparenting, as well as in the August 2010 Licensure Update posted on the website.
30

31. Examination
for regular licensure
• Exam eligibility requires that:
– Supervision requirements have been met
– Supervised experience is no older than 6 years.
– Applicants attempt an exam once each year after eligibility until
exams have been passed
• Licensure requires successful passage of:
– A California Law and Ethics (Jurisprudence) Exam
– A LPCC Exam(s) when adopted by the Board
31

32. Examination Requirement
for grandparenting
A passing score on three exams:
1. The National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the Certified
Rehabilitation Counselor Exam (CRCE)
2. The National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Exam (NCMHCE)
Note: If the national exams are not adopted by the BBS, grandparented counselors will
have to pass whatever exams the BBS adopts within the first 6 years of licensure.
3. A California Law and Ethics (jurisprudence) Exam, administered by
the BBS, beginning Feb. 2011
Note: MFTs and LCSWs must pass a “gap” exam on the differences between the
practice of the professions to be grandparented.
32

33. Examinations
for grandparenting
• National Exams:
– Those, who have already passed the national exams, can
request their scores to be forwarded to the BBS, after they have
submitted their application to the BBS.
– Those, who have not passed the national exams, can take
them in time for grandparenting.
• See Grandparenting Exams on the CCCL website for a registration form,
testing schedule and locations, Candidate Handbook, and study guides for
the NCE and NCMHCE
– Rehab Counselors need to apply to be CRCs to take the CRCE
• Law and Ethics (Jurisprudence) Exam: See Grandparenting Exams on
the CCCL website for content areas to study.
33

34. Regular License or Grandparenting?
• Regular License: • Grandparenting:
• Apply: Beginning Jan 1, 2012 • Apply: mid Feb - June 30, 2011
– Applicant has several years to complete all – Applicant has 12 months to fulfill all
requirements requirements
• Education: • Education: Same except:
– 48-unit-degree w/ 6 units practicum, 7 – Older degrees can be brought up to
of 9 core areas current standard
– Must complete all 9 core areas, – Counselor educators credited for
psychopharmacology & CEUs. classes taught
• Supervision: Two years post-degree • Supervision: Two years post-degree
experience w/ 3,000 hours experience w/ 1,700 hours
– Register w/ BBS as an intern, – BBS will not oversee
beginning Jan 1, 2011 – Very few specifications
– Detailed specifications for internship – Supervisors can be nationally certified
– Supervisors must be licensed and or registered counselors/therapists
approved • Exams: Law and ethics exam and
• Exams: Law & ethics exam and the national exams. May also have to pass
exam adopted by BBS Jan 1, 2012 exams adopted by the BBS Jan 1, 2012 within the
first 6 years
• Renewal: Every two years
• Renewal: Every year for the first 6
years of licensure
34

35. Reciprocity Requirements
• A valid counseling license, held for at least two
years preceding application, to practice
independently in another jurisdiction
– Those, who have not been licensed for two years in another
jurisdiction, will be required to earn 250 supervised hours, as a
registered intern in CA. Registration begins Jan. 1st, 2011
• Substantially equivalent education & supervision
• Passage of exams required by the Board
– Board will approve exams by Jan 1st, 2012
Note: These requirements apply to those who apply before Dec. 31, 2013
35

36. Eligibility
for reciprocity vs. grandparenting
• Reciprocity Path • Grandparenting Path
requires: requires:
A current, valid license in • Two years post-degree
another state for the last counseling experience
two years. that includes 1,700 hours
of supervised experience
LPCs licensed less than 2 years must
be supervised for 250 hours in CA
as an intern
36

37. Timing
for reciprocity vs. grandparenting
• Reciprocity Grandparenting
• Apply starting mid Feb 2011 • Apply between mid Feb and June
• Education and supervision 30, 2011
requirements:
– Must be completed within 12
months of receipt of deficiency • No order in which requirements
letter from BBS must be met.
– Must be met before sitting for the
Law and Ethics Exam
• Law and Ethics Exam must be • Education, supervision and exam
passed before approval to take requirements must be completed
the Standard Written Exam(s). within 12 months of receipt of
– An exam must be attempted at deficiency letter from the BBS.
least once a year until all have
been passed.
37

38. Education
for reciprocity vs. grandparenting
• Reciprocity • Grandparenting
• 48-unit master’s or doctoral • 48-unit master’s or doctoral
degree with 6 units of degree with 6 units of
practicum or fieldwork practicum or fieldwork
• Degree must be substantially • Degree must meet CA’s LPCC
equivalent to degrees issued in course requirements
CA – Concessions to earlier degrees
• Remediate education – Concessions to counselor
educators
deficiencies within 12 months
of notification by BBS • Remediate all deficiencies
within 12 months of notification
by BBS
38

39. Supervision
for reciprocity vs. grandparenting
• Reciprocity • Grandparenting
• LPCs licensed in another state for • Two years post-degree counseling
two years: experience with 1,700 hours of
– 3,000 hours of substantially supervised experience
equivalent post-degree supervised
experience
• The BBS will not oversee the
• LPCs not licensed for two years, supervised practice
with substantially equivalent
supervised experience:
• In addition to licensed supervisors,
– 250 hours as an Intern registered
with the BBS certified counselors may supervise
– The 250 hours may be combined
this experience.
with out-of-state experience to
meet the 3,000-hour requirement.
39

40. Examinations
for reciprocity vs. grandparenting
• Reciprocity • Grandparenting
• Once education and supervised • Three exams are required and
experience is approved, the Law must be passed within the
and Ethics Exam may be taken grandparenting timeframe.
– Law and Ethics Exam
• Once the Law and Ethics Exam is – Two National Exams
passed, whatever exam(s) are
adopted by the BBS may be taken • If the national exams are not
adopted by the BBS, a CA
Standard Written Exam(s) must be
• Applicants must attempt an exam
passed within the first six years of
once per year until all exams are
licensure, in order to renew the
completed
license.
40

41. Reciprocity or Grandparenting?
• Reciprocity • Grandparenting
• Eligibility: Licensure in another state • Eligibility: Two years post-degree
for two years (LPCs with less than two years counseling experience
need 250 supervised hours in CA as an intern)
• Apply: Jan 1 – June 30, 2011
• Apply: Mid Feb 2011, on-going – (12 months to fulfill all deficiencies in
– 12 months to complete education & education, supervision and examination)
supervision deficiencies before approval to sit
for exams. • Education: CA’s LPCC
grandparenting requirements.
• Education: Substantially equivalent – Concessions to older degrees
to CA’s LPCC requirements. – Concessions to counselor educators
• Supervision: Substantially equivalent • Supervision: 1,700 hours
to 3,000 hours – Not overseen by BBS
• Exams: Must pass Law & Ethics • Exams: Law and Ethics exam and
exam before taking exam(s) the national exams. May also have to pass
adopted by the BBS Jan 1, 2012 exams adopted by the BBS Jan 1, 2012 within the
– Must attempt an exam once/year until all first 6 years of licensure
exams have been passed • Renewal: Every year for the first 6
• Renewal: Every two years after years of licensure
licensure
41

42. Will LPCCs be eligible for third party
reimbursement?
• The new California Association for LPCCs (CALPCC) will
sponsor legislation in the 2011-2012 to include LPCCs in
state codes, such as:
– Evidence code (privileged communication)
– Penal code (mandated reporters)
– Civil code
– Insurance code (reimbursement)
– Health & Safety code
– Welfare & Institutions code
• Department of Mental Health is drafting language to
enable LPCCs to sign treatment plans and bill Medi-Cal
42

43. For Updates
Visit the CCCL website
Register in the database
Website: http://caccl.org, soon to be http://calpcc.org
Email: info@caccl.org
Also visit the BBS website http://www.bbs.ca.gov
43