Amends existing law to provide for the licensure of certain persons who have served as a chaplain in any branch of the United States military.

LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE BILL NO. 545 BY BUSINESS COMMITTEE AN ACT1 RELATING TO COUNSELORS AND THERAPISTS; AMENDING SECTION 54-3405, IDAHO2 CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR THE GRANTING OF LICENSURE AS A LICENSED PROFES-3 SIONAL COUNSELOR TO CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SERVED AS A CHAPLAIN IN4 THE UNITED STATES MILITARY AND TO MAKE A TECHNICAL CORRECTION; AMENDING5 SECTION 54-3405A, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR THE GRANTING OF LICENSURE6 AS A LICENSED CLINICAL PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR TO CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS7 WHO HAVE SERVED AS A CHAPLAIN IN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY; AND DECLAR-8 ING AN EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.9

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:10

SECTION 1. That Section 54-3405, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby11 amended to read as follows:12 54-3405. QUALIFICATIONS FOR LICENSURE. (1) Licensure as a "licensed13 professional counselor" shall be restricted to persons who:14 (a) Have not been convicted, found guilty, or received a withheld judg-15 ment or a suspended sentence in this state or in any other state of a16 crime that is deemed relevant in accordance with section 67-9411(1),17 Idaho Code;18 (b) Have submitted to a fingerprint-based criminal history background19 check in accordance with section 67-9411A, Idaho Code; and20 (c) Have successfully completed each of the following requirements:21 (i) A master's degree or higher in counseling or a related field22 of study, as approved by the board, that includes completion of a23 practicum of supervised clinical contact as defined by rule;24 (ii) An examination, if required by the board's rules; and25 (iii) One thousand (1,000) hours of supervised experience in coun-26 seling acceptable to the board.27 (2) In accordance with the provisions of section 67-9406, Idaho Code,28 the provisions of subsection (1)(c) of this section shall also be deemed sat-29 isfied with respect to a person who:30 (a) Is a resident of the state of Idaho;31 (b) Has served as a chaplain in any branch of the United States military32 as evidenced by a DD form 214 certificate of release or discharge;33 (c) Possesses a DD form 214 certificate of release or discharge for each34 period of active duty indicating time served in the United States mili-35 tary with honorable discharge for all periods of active duty;36 (d) Has completed four (4) units of clinical pastoral education; and37 (e) Has completed and possesses documentation of one thousand (1,000)38 hours of direct client contact under the direction of a supervisory39 chaplain or a supervisory counselor in any branch of the United States40 military.41

2 (2) (3) A license will not be issued to an individual whose license,1 certification, or registration has been revoked or suspended in this or any2 other state and in this or any other related field. Such an individual may3 not be licensed under this chapter unless the period of revocation or sus-4 pension has been completed and the board has conducted a competency review5 and determined that an acceptable degree of rehabilitation has been accom-6 plished.7 (4) In accordance with the provisions of section 67-9406(4), Idaho8 Code, a person who qualifies for licensure pursuant to subsection (2) of this9 section shall not be required by the board to take an examination or pay an10 application fee.11

SECTION 2. That Section 54-3405A, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby12 amended to read as follows:13 54-3405A. QUALIFICATIONS FOR LICENSURE. (1) Licensure as a "licensed14 clinical professional counselor" shall be restricted to persons who:15 (1) (a) Hold a valid licensed professional counselor license in good16 standing;17 (2) (b) Document two thousand (2,000) hours of direct client contact18 experience under supervision in no less than a two (2) year period as set19 forth in this chapter and the rules of the board;20 (3) (c) Successfully complete a written examination as approved by the21 board and defined in rules of the board; and22 (4) (d) Submit to a fingerprint-based criminal history background23 check in accordance with section 67-9411A, Idaho Code.24 (2)(a) In accordance with the provisions of section 67-9406, Idaho25 Code, the provisions of subsection (1)(a), (b), and (c) of this section26 shall be deemed satisfied with respect to a person who:27 (i) Is a resident of the state of Idaho;28 (ii) Has served as a chaplain in any branch of the United States29 military as evidenced by a DD form 214 certificate of release or30 discharge;31 (iii) Possesses a DD form 214 certificate of release or discharge32 for each period of active duty indicating time served in the United33 States military with honorable discharge for all periods of active34 duty;35 (iv) Has completed four (4) units of clinical pastoral education;36 and37 (v) Has completed and possesses documentation of two thousand38 (2,000) hours of direct client contact under the direction of a39 supervisory chaplain or a supervisory counselor in any branch of40 the United States military.41 (b) In accordance with the provisions of section 67-9406(4), Idaho42 Code, a person who qualifies for licensure pursuant to this subsection43 shall not be required by the board to take an examination or pay an ap-44 plication fee.45

SECTION 3. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby46 declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after47 July 1, 2026.48