Texas House Bill HB2838

Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Caption

Relating to the experience required for a licensed professional counselor to act as a supervisor.

Impact

This legislation has the potential to streamline the supervisor qualification process for LPCs by acknowledging relevant out-of-state experiences. Supporters argue that it promotes workforce mobility, enabling licensed counselors to transition more easily to Texas while ensuring they meet adequate supervisory standards. By expanding eligibility, it could also address potential workforce shortages in mental health services by attracting professionals from other states, thus enhancing the availability of counseling services in Texas.

Summary

House Bill 2838 proposes amendments to the Texas Occupations Code, specifically regarding the experience requirements for licensed professional counselors (LPCs) who aim to act as supervisors. The bill allows LPCs who have practiced in other states to count their out-of-state experience towards the supervisor requirements, provided that the licensing criteria in those states are deemed substantially equivalent to Texas's standards. This change is designed to facilitate the process for experienced counselors who move to Texas and wish to continue working in their field without redundant additional licensing requirements.

Contention

While the bill primarily aims to ease the path for counselors coming from out of state, there are concerns it could dilute the supervisory qualifications if not carefully monitored. Some stakeholders may argue that while out-of-state experience is valuable, all supervisors should be held to the same high standards to ensure the quality of mental health services in Texas. This could lead to debates on how to evaluate the equivalency of out-of-state licenses and experiences in relation to Texas's specific counseling landscape.