Important Legislation Signed by Governor
On April 15, 2016, Governor Hickenlooper signed House Bill 16-1103 Concerning Clarifying License Pathways for the Mental Health Professional Workforce. Effective January 1, 2017, the new law will affect psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, professional counselors, and any other individual who is actively working toward mental health licensure and is enrolled in a professional training program at an approved school. DORA supported the bill as part of its ongoing initiative to streamline the application process, reduce regulatory burden, and move qualified professionals into the workforce more quickly to increase access to mental health services.
The bill has two key components:
- Clarifies that graduates must “have completed” their degrees (rather than “hold”) in order to fulfill the educational requirements for licensure. This change will expedite the licensure process significantly. Often times, new graduates do not receive, or “hold” their actual degree certificate for many weeks after graduation. As a result, they must wait to apply, even if they have a job offer. With this change, applications can be submitted with an unofficial transcript or a letter from the academic program as soon as an applicant completes a graduate program.
- Clarifies the recommended pathway a student should take for licensure in Colorado. For instance, the legislation clarifies that students participating in internships do not need to register with DORA as registered psychotherapists. However, as soon as they hold their degree, they are encouraged to register as a candidate under the board that will govern their licensure. This type of clarification helps simplify the process and reduces the regulatory burden on students.
In order to implement the new law, the Mental Health Boards housed at DORA’s Division of Professions and Occupations will assess whether rulemaking is necessary. If so, the Boards will hold Stakeholder Meetings and Rulemaking Hearings during the Summer and Fall of 2016. Mental health professionals who want to follow the implementation process should check their respective Board websites for updated information beginning June 1, 2016.