SB 216: Mental health professionals. - Indiana

Enrolled Senate Bill (S) → Senate Bill (H) · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Indiana's mental health licensing laws to clarify requirements for marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, addiction counselors, and clinical addiction counselors. Key changes include requiring associate licensure before gaining experience hours (with exceptions), clarifying how temporary license expirations affect experience hours, and removing provisions about first available examinations. These changes aim to streamline the licensure process and provide clearer guidance on experience requirements.

Scope change

The bill applies to marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, addiction counselors, and clinical addiction counselors seeking licensure in Indiana.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed requirement so individuals must be licensed as associates before obtaining experience hours, except in certain circumstances.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified how expiration of temporary licenses or permits affects the counting of experience hours toward licensure.

Removed provisions regarding first available examinations that previously allowed individuals to retain experience hours even if they failed the exam.

DEFINITION

Updated definitions and requirements related to virtual supervision and clinical experience for marriage and family therapists.

TECHNICAL

Changed bill title from 'Senate Enrolled Act' to 'Senate Bill' and updated session information from 124th General Assembly to 125th General Assembly.

Engrossed Senate Bill (S) → Enrolled Senate Bill (S) · 7 edits · May 1, 2025

MODERATE

This bill amends Indiana's mental health licensing laws to allow social work students to take licensure exams before completing their bachelor's degree, while adding stricter requirements for marriage and family therapists regarding when they can accumulate clinical experience hours. The changes clarify supervision definitions, establish 'first available examination' rules, and adjust experience hour requirements for doctoral candidates.

Scope change

The bill expands eligibility for social worker licensure exams to students in their final academic term and modifies experience hour accumulation rules for marriage and family therapists, particularly those pursuing doctoral degrees.

ELIGIBILITY

Allows social work students enrolled in their final academic term to take licensure exams with a letter of good standing from their program director.

REQUIREMENT

Requires marriage and family therapist applicants to be licensed as associates before accumulating postdegree clinical experience hours, with specific exceptions.

Limits postdegree clinical experience hours that can be counted toward licensure if the individual passes the first available examination to no more than 500 hours.

Requires marriage and family therapist applicants to provide therapy to specific case categories including unmarried romantic relationships, married couples, separating couples, and family systems.

Allows doctoral internships to be applied toward supervised work experience requirements.

ADDED

Defines 'first available examination' as the first exam with an application deadline at least 30 days after graduation or moving to Indiana, unless the individual chooses an earlier deadline.

DEFINITION

Defines 'virtual supervision' as synchronous visual and audio interaction compliant with HIPAA, excluding phone calls, email, or text messages.

Introduced Senate Bill (S) → Engrossed Senate Bill (S) · 4 edits · Jan 23, 2025

MODERATE

This bill updates regulations for mental health professionals in Indiana, specifically allowing social workers to take licensure exams before completing their bachelor's degrees and clarifying experience hour requirements. It also modifies provisions related to virtual supervision and examination timing for marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors. These changes aim to streamline licensure pathways and clarify administrative procedures for mental health professionals.

Scope change

The bill expands eligibility for social worker licensure examinations to include individuals enrolled in final terms of qualifying programs, while maintaining existing requirements for marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors.

ELIGIBILITY

Allows individuals enrolled in the final term of a qualifying social work program to take the social worker licensure examination before completing their bachelor's degree.

REQUIREMENT

Updates experience hour requirements and clarifies how temporary license expirations affect credit toward licensure.

Adds specific requirements for letters of good standing from social work programs, including student name, program details, and academic standing confirmation.

DEFINITION

Reorganizes and clarifies definitions of 'virtual supervision' and 'first available examination' for mental health professionals.

Mental health professionals.

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