New Mexico Register / Volume XXXII,
Issue 22 / November 30, 2021
This is an amendment
to 16.27.9 NMAC, Part name and Sections 3, 8, 9, and adding new Section 12,
effective 11/30/2021.
PART 9 REQUIREMENTS
FOR LICENSURE AS A MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR (LMHC)
[(Practice under Supervision)]
16.27.9.3 STATUTORY AUTHORITY: These parts are promulgated pursuant to the
Counselor and Therapist Practice Act, [Section 61-9A-3, 5, and 14] Sections
61-9A-1, 61-9A-3, 61-9A-5, 61-9A-9, 61-9A-14, 61-9A-15, 61-9A-22, 61-9A-23, and
61-9A-24, NMSA 1978.
[16.27.9.3 NMAC - Rp 16 NMAC 27.8.3, 6/15/2001; A, 11/30/2021]
16.27.9.8 SUPERVISION:
A. Supervision
must be provided by a licensed professional clinical mental health counselor
(LPCC), licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed professional
art therapist (LPAT), licensed psychologist, licensed psychiatrist, licensed
clinical social worker (LCSW), or licensed independent social worker (LISW)
who holds a supervision designation issued by the counseling and therapy
practice board. The licensed mental
health counselor (LMHC) or the licensed professional mental health counselor
(LPC) must practice under supervision [at all times]. Once the licensed mental health counselor or
the licensed professional mental health counselor [acquired] acquires
the official LPCC [LMFT] or LPAT license then the licensee may practice
independently without supervision.
B. It
is the responsibility of the individual seeking supervision to assure the
supervision is acceptable for the level of licensure that will be requested at
the completion of the required supervision.
The relationship between the supervisor and the applicant must promote
the development of skill and responsibility in the delivery of counseling or
therapy services.
C. Client
contact and supervision hours prior to being licensed will not be acceptable
for licensure.
D. Supervised contact hours will become
invalid if obtained more than five years prior to submission for independent
LPCC licensure. This requirement does not apply to license holders who have
continuously maintained a license in good standing.
[16.27.9.8 NMAC - N, 6/15/2001;
A, 7/1/2004; A, 2/10/2006; A, 11/19/2007; A, 11/30/2021]
16.27.9.9 LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR
(MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALTY OR ART THERAPY SPECIALTY):
A. LMHC
is intended as a transition between the required degree and the completion of
supervised training required for licensure as a [professional mental health
counselor,] a professional clinical mental health counselor or a
professional art therapist. All work
must be performed under appropriate clinical supervision. Applicants must assure that their education
and experience are appropriate for the level of licensure they will seek upon
completion of supervised training. There
is no maximum time limit as a licensed mental health counselor, but all
work at this level must be done under clinical supervision.
B. Qualifications
for entry level licensure. An applicant
for licensure as an entry-level mental health counselor (LMHC) must possess the
following qualifications:
(1) be at least 21 years of age; [and]
(2) applicant must sign a statement
provided in the application indicating the applicant has read the code of
ethics and agrees to be bound and governed by the code of ethics;
(3) holds
a masters or doctoral degree in a counseling or counseling related field with
no less than 48 graduate hours or 72 quarter hours in the core curriculum
and nine practicum hours; and
(4) have
arranged for appropriate clinical supervision, [including a postgraduate
experience plan, which includes one hour of face-to-face supervision for every
ten hours of client contact] as required by their licensure track.
[16.27.9.9 NMAC - Rp 16 NMAC 27.8.8, 6/15/2001; A, 7/1/2004; A,
2/10/2006; A, 11/30/2021]
16.27.9.12 LICENSURE BY CREDENTIALS:
A. Submit
a completed application per of 16.27.3.8 NMAC.
B. Verification
(attachment A) that the applicant holds and has held a current license for five
years issued by the appropriate examining board under the law of any other
state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia or any
foreign nation.
C. Verification
that the applicant is in good standing with no disciplinary action pending or
brought against the applicant within the past five years.
D. Holds
masters or doctoral degree in counseling or a counseling-related field from an
accredited institution.
E. Application
fee of $75.00 as provided for in 16.27.17 NMAC.
F. Applicants
who do not meet the licensure by reciprocity must meet the current licensure
requirements.
[16.27.9.12 NMAC - N, 11/30/2021]