Texas House Bill HB3118

Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Caption

Relating to the eligibility to act as a supervisor in certain counties for an applicant for a license as a professional counselor.

Impact

The enactment of HB 3118 aims to facilitate the professional development of counselors in less populated counties by permitting greater flexibility in who can provide supervision. This is significant as many smaller counties face challenges in finding licensed professionals who meet the traditional supervisor criteria. Allowing marriage and family therapists to take on this supervisory role can help ensure that counseling aspirants receive the guidance needed without having to travel to more populous areas for supervision.

Summary

House Bill 3118 proposes amendments to the Occupations Code regarding supervision for applicants seeking licensure as professional counselors. Specifically, it allows licensed marriage and family therapists to serve as supervisors in counties with a population of less than 100,000 that are not adjacent to larger counties. This legislative change is intended to increase the pool of qualified supervisors for counseling applicants in rural areas, thereby enhancing access to mentorship and experience necessary for licensure.

Contention

While the bill may be broadly beneficial in increasing access to counseling supervision, potential points of contention could arise from differing opinions on the qualifications of marriage and family therapists as supervisors for aspiring professional counselors. Critics might argue about the adequacy of training and experience of these therapists in assessing and mentoring the specific competencies required for counseling licensure, highlighting a need for careful consideration of standards to maintain quality in counseling education and practice.