ARIZONA STATE SENATE
RESEARCH STAFF
TO: MEMBERS OF THE SENATE
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE
DATE: March 17, 2025
SUBJECT: Strike everything amendment to H.B. 2001, relating to behavioral health;
graduates; license exemption
Purpose
Exempts, from licensure requirements, a college graduate who is in the process of applying
for an associate level license, possesses a valid fingerprint clearance card and has completed an
accredited course of study in social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy or addiction
counseling.
Background
An applicant for licensure as a social worker, counselor, marriage and family therapist or
addiction counselor must: 1) submit an application as prescribed by the Board; 2) be at least 21
years old; 3) pay all applicable fees prescribed by the Board; 4) have the physical and mental
capability to safely and competently engage in the practice of behavioral health; 5) not have
committed any act or engaged in any conduct that would constitute grounds for disciplinary action
against a licensee; 6) not have had a professional license or certificate refused, revoked, suspended
or restricted for reasons that relate to unprofessional conduct; 7) not have voluntarily surrendered
a professional license or certificate while under investigation for conduct that relates to
unprofessional conduct; and 8) not have a pending complaint, allegation or investigation relating
to unprofessional conduct. If an applicant has any pending complaint, allegation or investigation
relating to unprofessional conduct, the Board is required to suspend the application process and
may not issue or deny a license to the applicant until the complaint, allegation or investigation is
resolved (A.R.S. § 32-3275).
Statute provides licensure exemptions to certain behavioral health professionals including,
but not limited to: 1) persons employed by the Department of Economic Security (DES) or the
Department of Child Safety (DCS) who practice social work, marriage and family therapy,
addiction counseling, counseling and case management within the scope of the person's job duties
and under the direct supervision of the employer department; 2) students, interns or trainees who
are pursuing a course of study in social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, addiction
counseling or case management in a regionally accredited institution, if the person's activities are
performed under qualified supervision and are part of the person's supervised course of study; and
3) persons who are practicing social work, counseling and case management and are employed by
an agency licensed by DES or DCS (A.R.S. § 32-3271).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
KAYTIE SHERMAN
ASSISTANT RESEARCH ANALYST
MICHAEL MADDEN
LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
Telephone: (602) 926-3171 STRIKER MEMO
H.B. 2001
Page 2
Provisions
1. Exempts from licensure requirements a person who has graduated from a regionally accredited
institution of higher education and:
a) has completed an accredited course of study in social work, counseling, marriage and
family therapy or addiction counseling;
b) has a valid fingerprint clearance card issued by the Department of Public Safety; and
c) is in the process of applying for an associate level license.
2. Stipulates that the prospective licensee's activities must be performed under the qualified
supervision of the person who supervised the prospective licensee during the course of study
or internship.
3. Allows the prospective licensee to apply any direct client contact work experience obtained
while the person's application for licensure is pending toward the person's direct client contact
work experience licensure requirements.
4. Makes technical and conforming changes.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.