Chapter MPSW 14

Chapter MPSW 14

EQUIVALENCY OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

MPSW 14.01   Academic program equivalent to a master’s degree in professional counseling.

MPSW 14.02   Academic program equivalent to a doctorate in professional counseling.

Ch. MPSW 14 Note Note: Chapter SFC 14 was created as an emergency rule effective April 26, 1993.

Ch. MPSW 14 Note Note: Chapter SFC 14 was renumbered ch. MPSW 14 under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 1., Stats., and corrections made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register October 2002 No. 562.

MPSW 14.01 MPSW 14.01 Academic program equivalent to a master’s degree in professional counseling. An academic program is the equivalent of a master’s degree in professional counseling or rehabilitation counseling from an approved institution if the completed program meets the following criteria:

MPSW 14.01(1) (1) The course work was completed at an institution which was accredited by its regional accrediting association at the time the applicant graduated from the program, and was part of a program of studies leading to a master’s degree or doctoral degree in a field closely related to professional counseling or rehabilitation counseling.

MPSW 14.01(2) (2) All course work reflected on the applicant’s official transcript totals at least 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of academic credit. The course work included successful completion of all of the following:

MPSW 14.01(2)(a) (a) At least 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours academic credit in a supervised practicum counseling experience that provides documented proof of a minimum of 100 hours of supervised practicum experience with at least 40 hours of face-to-face client contact. The practicum experience includes evaluation of the student’s counseling performance throughout the practicum and one hour per week of individual or triadic supervision throughout the practicum by a program faculty member, an approved student supervisor, or a site supervisor. The practicum experience further includes an average of 1½ hours per week of group supervision that is provided on a regular schedule throughout the practicum by a program faculty member or a student supervisor.

MPSW 14.01(2)(b) (b) At least 6 semester hours or 8 quarter hours academic credit in a supervised internship counseling experience that provides documented proof of a minimum of 600 hours of supervised internship experience with at least 240 hours of face-to-face client contact. The internship experience includes evaluation of the student’s counseling performance throughout the internship and one hour per week of individual or triadic supervision throughout the internship performed by the onsite or field supervisor. The internship experience further includes an average of 1 1/2 hours per week of group supervision that is provided on a regular schedule throughout the internship by a program faculty member or a student supervisor.

MPSW 14.01(2)(c) (c) At least 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours academic credit in a counseling theory or counseling approaches course that provides documented evidence that the student has been exposed to a variety of theoretical models that are consistent with current research and practice in the field. Courses covering only a single or specific counseling theory will not be sufficient for meeting this educational criterion.

MPSW 14.01(2)(d) (d) At least 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours of academic credit in each of the following topic areas:

MPSW 14.01(2)(d)1. 1. ‘Human growth and development.’ Studies that provide a broad understanding of the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels; normal and abnormal human behavior; personality theory; theories of individual and family development and transitions; theories for facilitating optimal development and wellness across the life span; and learning theory within appropriate cultural contexts. Courses that focus on only one lifespan developmental level will not count in fulfilling this criterion.

MPSW 14.01(2)(d)2. 2. ‘Social and cultural foundations.’ Studies that provide a broad understanding of societal changes and trends; human roles; societal subgroups, social mores and interaction patterns; counselors’ roles in developing cultural self-awareness; promoting cultural social justice, advocacy and conflict resolution, and other culturally supported behaviors that promote optimal wellness and growth of the human spirit, mind, or body; counselors’ roles in eliminating biases, prejudices, and processes of intentional and unintentional oppression and discrimination; and differing lifestyles.

MPSW 14.01(2)(d)3. 3. ‘Helping relationship.’ Studies that provide a broad understanding and practical application of helping processes, basic and advanced helping skills; consultation theories and their applications; client and helper self-understanding and self-development; and facilitation of client or consultee changes. An applicant’s official transcript must reflect successful completion of a course addressing counseling process, skills, and intervention techniques.

MPSW 14.01(2)(d)4. 4. ‘Group dynamics processing and counseling.’ Studies that provide a broad understanding of group development, dynamics, and group counseling theories; group leadership styles; basic and advanced group counseling methods and skills; and other group approaches.

MPSW 14.01(2)(d)5. 5. ‘Lifestyle and career development.’ Studies that provide a broad understanding of career development theories; occupational and educational information sources and systems; career and leisure counseling, guidance and education; lifestyle and career decision making; career development program planning and resources; and effectiveness evaluation.

MPSW 14.01(2)(d)6. 6. ‘Assessment and testing.’ Studies that provide a broad understanding of group and individual educational and psychometric theories and approaches to appraisal; data and information gathering methods, validity and reliability; psychometric statistics; factors influencing appraisals; social and cultural factors related to the assessment; and evaluation of individuals, groups and specific populations and use of appraisals to enhance helping processes.

MPSW 14.01(2)(d)7. 7. ‘Research and evaluation.’ Studies that provide a broad understanding of types of research; basic statistics; research report development; research implementation; program evaluation; needs assessment; publication of research information; and ethical and legal considerations.

MPSW 14.01(2)(d)8. 8. ‘Professional counseling orientation.’ Studies that provide a broad understanding of professional counselor roles and functions; professional goals and objectives; professional organizations and associations; professional history and trends; ethical and legal standards; professional preparation standards; and professional credentialing. The American Counseling Association (ACA) or the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) must have been the primary professional identity organization discussed and the ACA Code of Ethics or CRCC Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation counselors must have been used as the primary professional conduct guide and prominently identified as such in the orientation course syllabus.

MPSW 14.01(2)(e) (e) At least 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours in one of the following:

MPSW 14.01(2)(e)1. 1. ‘Foundations of clinical mental health counseling.’ If the academic program has an emphasis in mental health counseling, coursework addressing the history and development of clinical mental health counseling, theories and models related to clinical mental health counseling, principles of clinical mental health counseling, including prevention, intervention, consultation, education, and advocacy, and networks that promote mental health and wellness.

MPSW 14.01(2)(e)2. 2. ‘Foundations of clinical rehabilitation counseling.’ If the academic program has an emphasis in rehabilitation counseling, coursework addressing the history and development of rehabilitation counseling, theories and models related to rehabilitation counseling, social science theory that addresses psychosocial aspects of disability, principles of rehabilitation including prevention, intervention, wellness, consultation, education, and advocacy.

MPSW 14.01(2)(f) (f) At least 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours in one of the follow:

MPSW 14.01(2)(f)1. 1. ‘Clinical mental health counseling diagnosis and treatment planning.’ If the academic program has an emphasis in clinical mental health counseling, coursework addressing the diagnostic process, including differential diagnosis and the use of diagnostic classification systems such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and/or the International Classification of Diseases (ICD); training on administration of intake interview, mental status evaluation, biopsychosocial history, mental health history, and psychological assessment for treatment planning and caseload management; and techniques and interventions related to a broad range of mental health issues.

MPSW 14.01(2)(f)2. 2. ‘Rehabilitation counseling diagnosis and treatment planning.’ If the academic program has an emphasis in rehabilitation counseling, coursework addressing diagnostic interviews, mental status examinations, symptom inventories, psychoeducational and personality assessments, biopsychosocial histories, assessments for treatment planning; career and work-related assessments including job-analysis, work site modification, transferrable skills analysis, and job readiness; strategies to advocate for clients with disabilities and rehabilitation counseling.

MPSW 14.01(2)(g) (g) At least 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours in each of the following:

MPSW 14.01(2)(g)1. 1. ‘Crisis and trauma counseling.’ Studies that include counseling approaches that effectively address crises and trauma, the impact of trauma and crisis and potential neurobiological responses; skills and techniques for assessing and intervening in specific crisis or trauma situations including suicide assessment and intervention.

MPSW 14.01(2)(g)2. 2. ‘Abnormal behavior and psychopathology.’ Studies that include concepts of psychopathology and introduces methods of assessment and diagnosis for children, adolescents and adults with major mental disorders; and personality disorders, multiple perspectives of emotional and psychological distress, disturbance and behavior; skills to use the DSM diagnostic system while including acknowledgement of client strengths and resilience and the social and cultural context.

MPSW 14.01(2)(g)3. 3. ‘Addictions counseling.’ Studies that provide an overview of addiction, the process of addiction, treatment and recovery approaches, relapse prevention, developmental issues related to addiction; treatment and prevention planning in regard to addiction.

MPSW 14.01(2)(g)4. 4. ‘Family, partnership, and couples counseling.’ Studies that provide information and skills relevant to conducting partner or marital and family counseling services within a multicultural society with emphasis given to systemic theory and philosophy; dynamics of family interaction and the initial skills in assessment and treatment of dysfunctional partner, marital, family and systems or ecosystems relationships.

MPSW 14.01(3) (3) Notwithstanding sub. (1), an applicant may, at an institution which was accredited by its regional accrediting association at the time the course was completed, complete up to 18 credit hours outside the program of studies leading to a master’s degree in order to meet the requirements in sub. (2).

MPSW 14.01 History History: Cr. Register, November, 1993, No. 455, eff. 12-1-93; am. (2) (intro.), Register, October, 1998, No. 514, eff. 11-1-98; am. (2) (intro.), Register, November, 1999, No. 527, eff. 12-1-99; CR 01-026: cr. (4), Register December 2001 No. 552, eff. 1-1-02; CR 08-088: am. (2) (intro.) Register June 2009 No. 642, eff. 7-1-09; CR 13-009: r. and recr. Register April 2014 No. 700, eff. 9-1-18; CR 17-079: r. and recr. (2) (b), cr. (3) Register August 2018 No. 752, eff. 9-1-18.

MPSW 14.02 MPSW 14.02 Academic program equivalent to a doctorate in professional counseling. An academic program is the equivalent of a doctoral degree in professional counseling from an approved institution if the completed program meets all of the following criteria:

MPSW 14.02(1) (1) The course work was completed at an institution which was accredited by its regional accrediting association at the time the applicant graduated from the program, and was part of a program of studies leading to a doctoral degree in a field closely related to professional counseling.

MPSW 14.02(2) (2) The doctoral program consists of a minimum of 4 academic years of graduate-level preparation defined as 8 semesters or 12 quarters with a minimum of 96 semester credits or 144 quarter credits of graduate-level credits required of all students in the program.

MPSW 14.02(3) (3) Doctoral students are required to participate in a supervised doctoral-level practicum of a minimum of 100 hours in counseling, of which 40 hours must be in direct service with clients. The nature of the doctoral-level practicum experience is to be determined in consultation with program faculty or a doctoral committee, or both. During the doctoral student’s practicum, supervision by student supervisors is not permissible.

MPSW 14.02(4) (4) Doctoral students are required to complete doctoral-level counseling internships that total a minimum of 600 hours. The 600 hours may include supervised experiences in clinical practice, research, and teaching. The internship includes most of the activities of a regularly employed professional in the setting. The 600 hours may be allocated at the discretion of the doctoral advisor and the student on the basis of experience and training.

MPSW 14.02(5) (5) During the practicum and internship, the student receives weekly individual or triadic supervision, performed by a supervisor with a doctorate in professional counseling or a related profession. Group supervision is provided on a regular schedule with other students throughout the internship and is usually performed by a program faculty member.

MPSW 14.02 History History: Cr. Register, November, 1993, No. 455, eff. 12-1-93; am. (2), Register, October, 1998, No. 514, eff. 11-1-98; am. (2), Register, November, 1999, No. 527, eff. 12-1-99; CR 16-009: r. and recr. Register January 2018 No. 745, eff. 2-1-18.