State Credentialing Board Research Project
Future counselors who are going to school and studying not only means doing and submitting assignments but means researching and learning more about this work field which may include organizations that can help them get involved and connected to the counseling work field. For instance, the Board of Behavioral Science provides so much information on the many different licenses they issue from education to the requirements needed to lead individuals into fully licensed professionals. It is up to them to seek these resources that will help them for their future dream job. Some factors one can look into are information regarding who the organization is, what exactly they do, their expectations, and the rules they must abide by. Another few things to look into can be requirements for licensure and certification, tiered levels of licensure, and legal complaint information. Further details will be explained below on these factors.
Identifying Information
The California Board of Behavioral Science provides a variety of information, one being on Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors, also known as (LPCC). This organization first began back in 1945 and was finally established with its current name Board of Behavioral Science, in 1970 and is located at 1625 N Market Blvd S-200, Sacramento, CA, 95834. This board’s goal is to “Protect and serve Californians by setting, communicating, and enforcing standards for safe and competent mental health practice” (California Board of Behavioral Sciences, n.d.). Having this as their mission is important to know and keep in mind when helping clients. It is important for professional workers to navigate through the board, especially in the states they will be licensed in and work in, to understand the information provided for future professionals, so they can get help and be assisted if needed.
An example of information that is provided in the statutes and regulations that are presented to ensure proficiency in the mental health field and defend the consumers. These statutes and regulations speak on many things, some being the board’s activities, disciplinary duties, and their authority to regulate the professional practice. Those activities consist of licensing, examination, and enforcing professional standards (Madsen, 2020). When speaking about the board’s rights to regulate discipline, it is said, “The board may deny a license or registration or may suspend or revoke the license or registration of a licensee or registrant if the licensee or registrant has been guilty of unprofessional conduct” (Madsen, 2020, pg. 52). Finally, their scope of authority to regulate professional practice pertaining to Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Education Psychologist, Clinical Social Workers, and Professional Clinical Counselors are in regard to complaints due to the services of these groups (Madsen, 2020). The Board has a variety of jobs working towards providing the best help for others.
The Board functions through a committee that includes “Christina Wong, Chair, Betty Connolly, Massimiliano “Max” Disposti, and the staff Rosanne Helms and Christy Berger” (California Board of Behavioral Sciences, n.d.). Miss Wong’s responsibility is to the government, and Mr. Disposti’s responsibility is to speak of the assembly. Their meeting times for this current year have been February 7th regarding “Clarifying Practice setting definitions, extending registration numbers to 8 years; allowing private practice with subsequent registration number, and Requiring continuing education for registrants” (California Board of Behavioral Sciences, n.d.). Their next meeting was on April 9th and was canceled; regarding future meetings, they will be held on July 31st and October 9th.
Requirements for Licensure and Certification
Every job will require strong work, dedication, passion, and commitment throughout the process. In order to be able to become a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), future professionals must attend school, register as an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC), get a live scan, pass a criminal background check, take and pass the California Law & Ethics Exam, Accrue Supervised Experience, Apply for licensure, take and pass the clinical exam (NCMHCE), and finally obtain official LPCC license (California Board of Behavioral Sciences, n.d.). This will be a journey many will go through, but with strong work, dedication, passion, and commitment, future professionals will soon be licensed and ready to help and assist the public.
Further explanation will be provided on each of the factors listed above. Individuals must have obtained a master’s or doctoral degree from a school with regional or national institutional accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) or a school approved by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) (California Board of Behavioral Sciences, n.d.). Next, by registering as an associate professional clinical counselor, forms will be listed to complete in order to guide the individual on what to provide in their packets when applying. Then a live scan and criminal background must be done to show if there are any criminal offender records in the database (California Board of Behavioral Sciences, n.d.). The individuals must accrue supervised experience consisting of 3,000 total supervised hours over a 104-week period minimum and submit it in the application as well (California Board of Behavioral Sciences, n.d.). They are then able to apply for their licensure, which will lead to taking and passing the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). Once passing, the individual must request their license.
Tiered Levels of Licensure
There are states that have one, two, three, and even multiple-tiered leveled systems. This is pertaining to the many licensees the state board issues out to individuals. In California, there are four tiered levels of licensure which include Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (PCC), Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP), and Clinical Social Worker (CSW) (California Board of Behavioral Sciences, n.d.). There are some similar requirements in order to meet each other these licensures, and there are also differences that can be seen on the Board of Behavioral Science site.
Legal Complaint Information
Complaints can be filed against anyone who is licensed, registered, or is an applicant and has treated a consumer unprofessionally by going against their professional responsibilities. The complaint should include a statement of what occurred that is clear in explanation and take up to ten days to receive. It should include documentary evidence, contact info of any witnesses, dates, times, and locations (California Board of Behavioral Sciences, n.d.). Some examples of documentary evidence that can be provided may include bills, statements, insurance, and court documents, amongst others (California Board of Behavioral Sciences, n.d.). Then an investigation is taken into place in order to see it the professional went against the code or is safe to continue with the practice. Disciplinary actions can consist of warnings, and in greater cases, suspension or revocations can occur as a form of disciplinary action toward the professionals (Understanding How Counselors Are Regulated, 2015). Knowing what complaints have been made, future professionals can take that with them and avoid these issues to be able to help their clients and keep them satisfied throughout their visits.
Once going through the Board of Behavioral Science website future professionals get more of an understanding of who they are and what their role is in the counseling field. Future professionals are able to see who the Board is made up of, their mission, meetings that are held, what they are about, requirements, how they handle complaints from consumers, and more. Including how they are able to begin getting connected through a student membership and what they are able to do with this membership. Overall just navigating through the website, individuals will gain formation they may not have known and understand more or get clarification on uncertainties individuals may have held. Every part that is included in this organization’s website is for a reason which is to help them, and the only way to find out what the reason behind it is to research and look more into it.
References
California Board of Behavioral Sciences. (n.d.). Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. Retrieved from https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lpcc.html
Madsen, K. (2020). Statutes and Regulations Relating to the practice of PCC, MFT, LEP, and CSW. Retrieved from https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/publications/lawsregs.pdf
Understanding how counselors are regulated. (2015). Retrieved from https://ct.counseling.org/2015/11/understanding-how-counselors-are-regulated/
ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
We’ll write everything from scratch
Question 
Assessment Description
Access the “State Credentialing Board Research Project Instructions.” Complete the project according to the assignment instructions.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric before beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
State Credentialing Board Research Project
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Course Resources if you need assistance.
This performance assessment assesses the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for Professional Counseling Orientation & Ethical Practice.
GCU Benchmark Information
This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competencies and professional standards:
MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling
1.3: Demonstrate knowledge of requirements for licensure and certification for the practice of professional counseling. [CACREP 2.F.1.f, 2.F.1.g]
2.2: Examine legal and professional ethical standards of professional counseling. [CACREP 2.F.1.i] (MC5)
5.1: Differentiate between tiered levels of licensure or certification for professional counselors. [CACREP 2.F.1.g]
MEd School Counseling
8.3: Differentiate between tiered levels of licensure or certification for professional counselors. [CACREP 2.F.1.g]
This assignment is informed by the following CACREP Standards:
2.F.1.g. Professional counseling credentialing, including certification, licensure, and accreditation practices and standards, and the effects of public policy on these issues.
2.F.1.i. Ethical standards of professional counseling organizations and credentialing bodies, and applications of ethical and legal considerations in professional counseling.
5.C.2.k. Professional organizations, preparation standards, and credentials relevant to the practice of clinical mental health counseling.
5.G.2.l. Professional organizations, preparation standards, and credentials relevant to the practice of school counseling.
Attachments
CNL-505-RS-T6-Benchmark-StateCredentialingB