STATE OF WISCONSIN
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY, PROFESSIONAL
COUNSELING, AND SOCIAL WORK EXAMINING BOARD
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IN THE MATTER OF RULE-MAKING : ORDER OF THE
PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE : MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY,
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY, : PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING, AND
PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING, AND : SOCIAL WORK EXAMINING BOARD
SOCIAL WORK EXAMINING BOARD : ADOPTING RULES
: (CLEARINGHOUSE RULE 21-094)
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ORDER
An order of the Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board to repeal and recreate MPSW 11.015 (2); relating to professional counselor training license renewals.
Analysis prepared by the Department of Safety and Professional Services.
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ANALYSIS
Statutes interpreted:
Statutory authority:
Explanation of agency authority:
Section 15.08 (5) (b), Stats. provides that each board shall promulgate rules for its own guidance and for the guidance of the profession to which it pertains. Section 457.03 (1), Stats. provides the board with authority to promulgate rules establishing minimum standards for educational programs and supervised clinical training that must be completed to obtain licensure as a professional counselor. Section 457.13 (2), Stats. gives the professional counselor section discretion to renew a professional counselor training license. Related statute or rule:
Plain language analysis:
This rule project provides criteria for the Professional Counselor Section to consider when determining whether to grant a renewal of a professional counselor training license. The applicant is required to submit for the section’s consideration a statement as to the reason for requesting the renewal, documentation of any education or other training the applicant has received since obtaining their training license, and a progress report from the applicant’s supervisor.
Summary of, and comparison with, existing or proposed federal regulation:
None.
Summary of public comments received on statement of scope and a description of how and to what extent those comments and feedback were taken into account in drafting the proposed rule:
The Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board held a preliminary hearing on the statement of scope for this rule at its January 26, 2021 meeting. No comments were received.
Comparison with rules in adjacent states:
Illinois: An individual seeking a clinical professional counselor license must graduate from a master’s level degree program in counseling or similar, and complete at least 2 years of supervised practice after completing the master’s program. Alternatively, an individual with a doctorate in professional counseling or similar program is required to complete at least 2 years of professional counseling experience, with at least one year completed subsequent to completing the doctorate program. Illinois does not issue a training license to individuals seeking licensure as a clinical professional counselor. [225 ILCS 107/45 (b)].
Iowa: The Board of Behavioral Science within the Iowa Department of Public Health regulates marital and family therapists and mental health counselors. Iowa law allows for temporary licensure for the purpose of fulfilling a postgraduate supervised clinical experience. The temporary licensee must notify the board immediately in writing of any proposed change in supervisor(s) and obtain approval of any change in supervisor(s). Within 30 days of completion of the supervised clinical experience, the attestation of the completed supervised experience must be submitted to the board office. The temporary licensee remains under supervision until a permanent license is issued. A temporary license for the purpose of fulfilling the postgraduate supervised clinical experience requirement is valid for three years and may be renewed at the discretion of the board. [IAC Rule 645.31.2]
Michigan: The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs regulates marriage and family therapists, professional counselors, and social workers. The Department may grant a limited professional counselor license to an individual who is at least 18 years old, has received a master's or doctoral degree in counseling from a qualified program and is practicing professional counseling under the supervision of a licensed professional counselor who meets statutory requirements. [MI Admin Code R 338.1772]
A limited license may be renewed annually, but for no more than 10 years. In cases of hardship, the board may consider a request for an extension of this time period. [MI Admin Code R 338.1776 (2)]
