Adopted Amendments: N.J.A.C. 13:34-11.2 and 11.5

Professional Counselor: Application and Educational Requirements; Associate Counselor: Application and Educational Requirements
 
Proposed: June 20, 2011 at 43 N.J.R. 1414(a).
 
Adopted: October 13, 2011 by the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners, Ben K. Beitin, Ph.D, Chairperson.
 
Filed: October 27, 2011 as R.2011 d.286, without change.
 
Authority: N.J.S.A. 45:8B-13, 45:8B-34, and 45:8B-38.
 
Effective Date: December 5, 2011.
 
Expiration Date: September 10, 2016.
 
Summary of Public Comments and Agency Responses:
The Board received comments on the proposal from the following individuals:
1. Jennifer Ann Short, Ph.D., Director of Institutional Relations and Policy Analysis, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in New Jersey;
2. Sister Francis Raftery, President, College of Saint Elizabeth;
3. Nancy H. Blattner, Ph.D., O.P.A., President, Caldwell College;
4. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite, Ph.D., President, Centenary College;
5. Catherine C. Walters, O.P., Ph.D., Program Coordinator, Graduate Programs in Counseling, Caldwell College;
6. A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D., President, Seton Hall University;
7. James S. Wulach, Ph.D., J.D., New Jersey Counseling Coalition;
8. Harriett Gaddy, Ph.D., Graduate Counseling Program Director, Centenary College;
9. Parviz Ansari, Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Rowan University;
10. Thomas C. Barrett, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Program Chair for Psychology, College of Saint Elizabeth;
11. John E. Smith, Ed.D., Academic Director, Online MA Professional Counseling Program, Seton Hall University; and
12. Laura Palmer, Ph.D., L.P.C., M.S.C.P., Chair, Department of Professional Psychology and Family Therapy, Seton Hall University.
COMMENT: All of the commenters expressed their support for, and urged the Board to immediately adopt, the proposed amendments to N.J.A.C. 13:34-11.2 and 11.5. The commenters believe that the proposed changes will have a positive social and economic impact on counseling degree programs that have not obtained CACREP accreditation, students enrolled in such programs, and members of the general public seeking counseling services.
RESPONSE: The Board thanks the commenters for their support of the proposed amendments to N.J.A.C. 13:34-11.2 and 11.5.
 
Federal Standards Statement
A Federal standards analysis is not required because the adopted amendments are governed by N.J.S.A. 45:8B-1 et seq., and are not subject to any Federal standards or requirements.
 
Full text of the adoption follows:
 
SUBCHAPTER 11.     PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS AND ASSOCIATE COUNSELORS: APPLICATION PROCEDURE; DEFINITIONS
 
13:34-11.2   Professional counselor: application and educational requirements
 
(a) (No change.)
 
(b) An applicant shall be required to submit documentation that the coursework he or she has completed meets the education requirements set forth in (a) above, if the official transcript has not been issued by an educational institution, which at the time of the applicant's graduation:
 
1. Was accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or its successor; or
 
2. Had obtained program approval from the Committee, after its review of documentation, including course descriptions and syllabi, demonstrating that the curriculum meets the requirements set forth in (a) above.
 
13:34-11.5   Associate counselor: application and educational requirements
 
(a) (No change.)
 
(b) An applicant shall be required to submit documentation that the coursework he or she has completed meets the education requirements set forth in (a) above, if the official transcript has not been issued by an educational institution, which at the time of the applicant's graduation:
 
1. Was accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or its successor; or
 
2. Had obtained program approval from the Committee, after its review of documentation, including course descriptions and syllabi, demonstrating that the curriculum meets the requirements set forth in (a) above.