Section 34-8A-8

Qualifications of applicants for counselor associate certificate; supervision; requirements for changing to professional counselor.

The board shall issue a certificate as a counselor associate to each applicant who files an application upon a form and in such manner as the board prescribes accompanied by such fees as are required by this chapter, and who furnishes satisfactory evidence of the following to the board:

(1) The applicant has complied with provisions outlined in subdivisions (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) of Section 34-8A-7;

(2) The applicant has received a master's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning based on a program of studies which is primarily professional counseling in content, or the substantial equivalent in both subject matter and extent of training. The counselor associate may not practice without direct supervision by a licensed professional counselor. The plan for supervision of the counselor associate is to be approved by the board prior to any actual performance of counseling on the part of the counselor associate;

(3) Any certified counselor associate after meeting the requirements specified in subdivisions (7) and (8) of Section 34-8A-7 may petition the board for licensure as a professional counselor.

(Acts 1979, No. 79-423, p. 649, §8.)