South Carolina Code 40-75-260. State reciprocity agreements; licensure of applicants licensed in other jurisdictions or educated in foreign countries
(B)(1) The board may license an individual who is currently credentialed or meets the requirements of a licensed professional counselor, licensed marriage and family therapist, or addiction counselor in another jurisdiction of the United States if the individual has met the standards defined in regulation.
Terms Used In South Carolina Code 40-75-260
- Addiction counselor: means a professional who practices individual, family, and group addiction counseling. See South Carolina Code 40-75-20
- Board: means the South Carolina Board of Licensed Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addictions Counselors, and Psycho-Educational Specialists. See South Carolina Code 40-75-20
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- License: means an authorization to practice counseling, marriage and family therapy, issued by the board pursuant to this article and includes an authorization to practice as a professional counselor associate, marriage and family therapy associate, or addiction counselor associate. See South Carolina Code 40-75-20
- Licensed professional counselor: means an individual who practices professional counseling. See South Carolina Code 40-75-20
- Marriage and family therapy: means the assessment and treatment of mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. See South Carolina Code 40-75-20
(2) The board shall delineate in regulation procedures for verifying an applicant’s credentials from another jurisdiction.
(3) The board may not license an applicant who is under investigation in this or another jurisdiction for an act that would constitute a violation of this chapter until the investigation is complete. When deciding a case, the board shall determine what, if any, rules or discipline apply.
(C) The board may grant a license to practice professional counseling, marriage and family therapy, or addiction counseling to an applicant who has completed an educational program in a college or university in a foreign country if the applicant:
(1) meets all requirements of this article; and
(2) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the board that the applicant’s experience, command of the English language, and completed academic program meet the standards of a relevant academic program of an accredited educational institution within the United States. If the requirements of this item are met, the applicant must be considered to have received the education from an accredited educational institution as required by this article.