Sec. 4. (a) As used in this section, “first available examination” means the first examination after the date of an individual’s:

(1) graduation; or

(2) moving into Indiana;

that has an application deadline that is at least thirty (30) days after the date of graduation or the date of moving into Indiana, unless the individual chooses to meet a deadline that is less than thirty (30) days after either of those events.

     (b) The applicant must have at least three thousand (3,000) hours of post-graduate clinical experience over a two (2) year period. The clinical experience must consist of one hundred (100) hours of supervision under the supervision of a licensed mental health counselor or an equivalent supervisor, as determined by the board.

     (c) A doctoral internship may be applied toward the supervised work experience requirement.

     (d) Except as provided in subsection (e), the clinical experience requirement may be met by work performed at or away from the premises of the supervising mental health counselor.

     (e) Except as provided in subsection (i), the clinical work requirement may not be performed away from the supervising mental health counselor’s premises if:

(1) the work is the independent private practice of mental health counseling; and

(2) the work is not performed at a place that has the supervision of a licensed mental health counselor or an equivalent supervisor, as determined by the board.

     (f) If an individual applies for, takes, and passes the first available examination, the individual may not count more than one thousand five hundred (1,500) hours of the postdegree clinical experience that is:

(1) required under subsection (b); and

(2) accumulated before taking the examination toward licensure as a mental health counselor.

     (g) If an individual does not pass the first available examination, the individual may:

(1) retain the hours accumulated before taking the examination;

(2) continue working; and

(3) not accumulate any additional hours toward licensure as a mental health counselor until passing the examination.

     (h) If an individual does not take the first available examination, the individual may not begin accumulating any postdegree clinical experience hours toward licensure as a mental health counselor until the individual passes the examination.

     (i) Up to fifty percent (50%) of the supervised post-graduate clinical experience hours required under subsection (b) may be accounted for through virtual supervision by a licensed mental health counselor or equivalent supervisor described in subsection (b).

As added by P.L.147-1997, SEC.71. Amended by P.L.84-2010, SEC.63; P.L.160-2018, SEC.5.