New Texas LPC Rules- LPC Intern Updates
It’s official- we have new rules effective February 28, 2019.
Click here for an overview of the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors (TSBEPC) recently adopted rules
You can also GO HERE to see the new LPC Rules (Texas Administrative Code 22, Part 30, Chapter 681)
You can also access the new rules through the LPC Website
Last week, some of the changes to LPC Supervision rules were addressed. This week, we will be looking at updates to LPC Interns in Texas. Though much of this section (681.91) is the same, it’s very important to completely review this section, especially if you are an LPC Supervisor or LPC Intern. Here are some of the things to note:
LPC Interns must comply with all provisions of the Act and board rules.
LPC Interns must be licensed before engaging in counseling practices.
LPC Interns CANNOT own an independent practice. All work MUST be done under the supervision of an LPC Supervisor.
LPC Interns can have no more than 2 board approved LPC Supervisors at any given time.
LPC Interns have 60 months to complete the internship, or will be required to reapply.
Supervision isn’t complete until the LPC Intern receives his/her LPC license.
LPC Interns must not accept direct payments from clients.
LPC Intern's name must be followed by the name of the supervisor in the same type size and font on all advertisements, billings, and announcements, including but not limited to websites and intake documents.
681.92 Experience Requirements (Internship)
Must obtain 3000 clock hours (1500 direct client hours) of supervised experience prior to submitting for full licensure.
Cannot be completed in less than 18 months.
681.92(e) The LPC Intern must receive direct supervision consisting of a minimum of four (4) hours per month of supervision in individual (up to two Interns) or group (three or more) settings while the intern is engaged in counseling unless an extended leave of one month or more is approved in writing by the board approved supervisor. No more than 50% of the total hours of supervision may be received in group supervision.
This is an important change to supervision requirements. The rules for supervision have been broadened so that the supervisor and intern have a lot more flexibility in deciding how to meet for the required four hours each month. The biggest change is the removal of the live webcam maximum requirements. It used to state that you could only meet via webcam 2 hours per month, and the other two hours had to be face-to-face. That wording is no longer in the rules, so you could complete supervision via webcam from anywhere in Texas (as long as the supervisor is board approved). I think this will open up a bunch of new opportunities for interns to receive excellent supervision (especially in the very rural parts of Texas where access to supervisors is limited).