Amends existing law to revise training and practice requirements and fees for licensure for counselors and therapists.

The Idaho Licensing Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists is proposing legislation to move educational program and practicum requirements for licensed professional counselors andlicensedprofessionalclinicalcounselorsfromstatuteandallowtheBoardtoestablishtheserequirements in rule. This would allow the Board to approve educational programs based on accreditation standards, regardless of the specific number of semester hours required, and create more flexibility for practicum requirements. These changes were identified by the Board as a way to reduce barriers to licensure and provide more flexibility to applicants. The Board is also proposing to increase the statutory fee caps for the original license, application, endorsement, and renewal fees from $100 to $175; to remove confusing language regarding the payment of fees; and to enable the Board to refund an original license fee to an applicant when a license is not issued.