Example Of Essay On Licensure And Certification

In the wake of increasing complex emotional dimensions of the society, the state of Florida recognizes the importance of psychological services in preserving safety, health and public welfare. As such, the 2014 Florida Statutes establishes the minimum qualifications for marriage and family counselors to help the public make informed choices. The laws governing the licensing, certification and credentialing of marriage and family counseling profession fall under Title 32 Chapter 491 (The Florida Legislature, 2014). The statutes are published on the official website of the Florida Legislature. These regulations charge the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling with the responsibility of enforcing the minimum requirements and qualifications for safe practice by professionals. The board licenses, monitors, disciplines and educates clinical social workers and counselors to ensure a high level of competency.
The state of Florida prescribes qualifications such as licensing, credentialing and certification. Certification is the process of confirming certain attributes of a person that make one fit for practicing his or her profession. After completing the process, usually years of undertaking specified courses and experience, a certificate is issued by the organization providing the education. Credentialing involves issuing a document or an attestation of one’s qualification by a third party with the legal authority to do so. Examples of credentials include academic degrees, certificates and identification documents. Licensing involves granting permission to individuals to practice their professions after completing the requisite conditions and paying a license fee.
For one to be licensed as a marriage and family counselor in Florida, three components are essential: educational requirements, experience, and licensing examinations. The educational qualifications include a master’s degree in a mental health counseling course accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The degree program must include a minimum of “60 semester hours or 80 quarter hours of clinical and didactic instruction” (Florida Department of Health, 2014). Also, a course in substance abuse and human sexuality is mandatory. Alternatively, one may have the aforementioned qualifications with at least four quarter hours of graduate-level coursework or 3 semester hours in twelve specific content areas. In addition, a minimum of 1000 hours of supervised clinical practicum, field experience or internship sponsored by the University is mandatory.
Field experience gives interns a chance to apply classroom concepts and theories to real-life situations. Furthermore, it also equips them with relevant information and new techniques in the profession. The experience needed to satisfy the specialization in marriage and family counseling includes a two-year post-master’s experience that is supervised by a licensed practitioner. The two-year supervision experience must contain a minimum of “1,500 hours of face-to-face psychotherapy” with clients for at least 100 weeks (Florida Department of Health, 2014). Out of the 1,500 hours, at least 100 hours must be a face-to-face psychotherapy session conducted by an intern on a client. The law also requires a minimum of one hour of supervision every two weeks and after every fifteen hours. Interns may have either individual or group supervision depending on the capability of the licensed professional. However, the law fixes the maximum number of interns per supervisor at six.
The Florida statutes prescribe several examinations and courses as a prerequisite for licensing. A license applicant must pass the central examination called the National clinical mental health counseling examination (NCMHCE). In addition, an applicant must complete a two-hour and an eight-hour prevention or medical errors course and laws and rules course respectively from an approved provider. Other courses include a three-hour test on HIV/AIDS and a two-hour course on domestic violence within six months after a license is issued.
Any updates on pending legislations or revised laws are published on the Florida Legislature website (leg.state.fl.us) and the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling website (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov). The knowledge of the laws and regulations relating to credentialing and licensure is essential if one is to keep abreast with new developments in the marriage and family counseling profession. In order to remain knowledgeable in my field of specialization, I will first seek new updates frequently from the websites aforementioned that publish information on the statutes of Florida. Secondly, I will watch the daily news or read daily online newspapers in order to know the public opinion on current matters pertaining to professionalism and regulation in my area of specialization. Lastly, I will subscribe to newsletters and online journals related to the regulation of the field of specialization and emerging trends and issues that may necessitate amendment of the Florida statutes regarding marriage and family counseling.

References

Florida Department of Health. (2014, July 24). Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling » Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - Licensing, Renewals & Information. Retrieved February 28, 2015, from http://floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov/licensing/licensed-marriage-and-family-therapist/
The Florida Legislature. (2014). The 2014 Florida Statutes. Retrieved February 28, 2015, from http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0491/0491.html