Board Rules students majoring in Substance Abuse cannot be licensed.

[Jennifer Cady]

In an abrupt reversal of practice, the Counseling and Therapy Practice Board has now refused to license any applicants whose degree cannot be found in the "list".  This notice was sent to all applicants who have an Associate in Human or Social Services:

On Tuesday, August 16, 2016 2:29 PM, "Cordero, Angelica, RLD" <Angelica...@state.nm.us> wrote:

August 16, 2016

 

Dear (Applicant)

 

Your LSAA Application went before the Board at the regular Board Meeting held on 08/05/2016.

 

We regret to inform you that the Board did not approve your application as per Statute and Rule listed below:

 

61-9A-14.1 Substance abuse associate; requirements for licensure.

(3) holds an associate degree in a counseling, counseling-related field or substance abuse-

related field from an accredited institution and has a total of ninety clock hours of education and training in the fields of alcohol and drug abuse counseling;

 

16.27.1.7 Definitions:

E. Counseling related field means counseling guidance and counseling, mental health/community counseling or agency counseling; psychology, clinical psychology, counseling psychology; family studies; art therapy, or art education

The Board reviewed your application in its entirety and determined that you do not meet education requirements.

 

G. Substance abuse-related field means a degree in guidance counseling, mental health-community counseling, agency counseling, psychology, clinical psychology, counseling, agency counseling, psychology, human and family studies, social work, art therapy and art education with appropriate clinical background.

 

If you have any questions, please contact the board office at (505) 476-4622.

 

Sincerely,

 

Angelica J. Cordero

 

 

Angelica Cordero

Administrative Assistant

Counseling & Therapy Practice Board

Athletic Trainers Practice Board

Po Box 25101

Santa Fe, NM  87504

505-476-4622

 

It is possible that, since "substance abuse counseling" is not contained in the "list" as a "related degree", even students with a major, certificate, or degree title with these words could be rejected.

Up until Aug. 5th, the Board was accepting "unrelated degrees" such as Human Services and Social Services, and even Integrated University Studies as long as the applicant had what would constitute a "major" in a related field (at least 15 college credit hours in psychology, social work, or substance abuse).

The Board office is stonewalling on this issue,stating that this is an issue for the Board only and they have no knowledge or control over such matters.  The Board has not explained this sudden reversal in practice. It is possible that they did not have the authority in the first place to make the exception, so abruptly stopped the practice without notice.

If you, or someone you know is working on an Associate degree besides those contained in the "list" you might want to consider 1) changing your major to psychology, 2) attending the Board meeting to express your views, 3) encourage officials from your school to address the Board 4) begin now to get involved in the legislative process to change the New Mexico Administrative Code.

It is not likely we can get this language changed before the next long legislative session which will be held in 2018,