Rule 4757-13-07 | Counselor program approval.
(A) Except as defined in paragraph (D) of rule 4757-13-07 of the Administrative Code, all Ohio programs are required to be accredited by the Ohio department of higher education and are required to be "Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs" "CACREP" clinical mental health program, clinical rehabilitation counseling program, or addiction counseling program accredited by January 1, 2018; and if so accredited are deemed to be approved programs per division (B)(2) of section 4757.23 of the Revised Code.
(B) Programs that are "CACREP" accredited in mental health, clinical mental health, clinical rehabilitation counseling program, or addiction counseling program are deemed to have met the requirements and shall be verified by the "CACREP" website or copy of the approval letter from "CACREP" sent to the board by the program.
(C) Supervision of students shall meet the requirements established in "CACREP" accreditation standards for clinical mental health counseling programs, clinical rehabilitation counseling programs, or addiction counseling programs. Students registered as counselor trainees with the board shall further meet supervision requirements per rule 4757-17-01 of the Administrative Code.
(D) Ohio counselor education programs not yet accredited by CACREP may apply to the board for temporary approval to enroll students pending the award of CACREP accreditation.
(1) Programs may be approved for an initial two year period by the counselor professional standards committee of the board. At the discretion of the board, approval may be extended for up to two additional years if the program demonstrates progress in attaining accreditation as confirmed by the accrediting body.
(2) To be considered for temporary permission for its graduates to be considered eligible to sit for the licensed professional counselor examination, programs must submit the following to the board:
(a) Letter of introduction describing the proposed program and the proposed accreditation timeline, including when the first cohort of students will be enrolled;
(b) Letter of committment to obtain accreditation executed by the academic officer responsible for the division or department administering the counselor education program;
(c) Syllabi, course descriptions, and curricular information for all clinical mental health counseling courses;
(d) Proposed program administrative documents such program handbooks for students and faculty; and
(e) Curriculm vitae and/or resumes of all current or proposed program faculty. If not all faculty are currently employed by the program, include proposed job descriptions or an outline the expected qualifications as well as a plan for hiring qualified faculty.
(3) If a temporarily approved program fails to attain accreditation or withdrawals from the accreditation process, students enrolled as of the date of notification of failure to attain accreditation or the date on which the program voluntarily withdraws, will be eligible to apply for licensure provided the student meets all other licensure requirements in effect at the time of application for licensure.
(4) Programs that fail to attain accreditation are barred from seeking permission to enroll students under this rule for a period of five years.
Supplemental Information