9103. EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

9103 EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS 9103.1 Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, an applicant for a license shall furnish proof satisfactory to the Board, in accordance with § 710 of the Act, D.C. Official Code § 3-1207.10, of the following: That the applicant has received a Master’s degree or higher from an institution of higher education which was accredited, at the time the degree was conferred, by an accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education, the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation, or its successor; That the Master’s program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or is deemed by the board to be substantially equivalent to a CACREP approved program; and That the applicant has completed a minimum of forty-eight (48) semester hours or the equivalent number of quarter or trimester hours converted into semester hours in counseling or related field of study after earning a bachelor’s degree. 9103.2 For the purpose of meeting the requirements of § 9103.1, the following shall apply: (a) All courses earned in a graduate degree program in counseling shall be counted toward the required forty-eight (48) semester hours. Courses earned outside of a counseling degree program shall be evaluated individually by the Board. (b) The fields of study related to counseling that are acceptable to the Board include: (1) Social science; (2) Psychology; Social work; Human service; Behavioral science; Psychiatric nursing; Rehabilitation counseling; Family counseling; Individual and family development; Student counseling and personnel service; Mental health and human service; Addiction; Family and community service; and Creative arts therapy. 9103.3 In order to obtain credit for the courses, the content of an applicant’s degree program and courses shall include, at a minimum, the following: (a) Counseling theory and practice; (b) Human growth and development; (c) Lifestyle and career development; (d) Group counseling; (e) Appraisal, assessment, and testing of individuals; (f) Principles of etiology, diagnosis, treatment planning, and prevention of mental and emotional disorders and dysfunctional behavior; (g) Social and cultural foundations including multicultural counseling; (h) Marriage and family counseling; Research and program evaluation; Professional orientation and ethics; and Counseling practicum or internship. 9103.4 An applicant shall submit to the Board, along with the completed application, certified transcripts of the applicant’s educational records from each educational institution from which credits were earned that are relevant to the licensure application. Transcripts shall only be accepted if they are mailed directly by the educational institution from which credits were earned. 9103.5 The applicant shall provide the Board with course descriptions detailing the subject matter of the courses listed on the applicant’s certified transcript if the subject matter of the courses differs from those listed in Subsection 9103.2. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 61 DCR 6819 (July 4, 2014). District of Columbia Municipal Regulations Business, Occupations and Professions 17 DCMR § 9103