§ 59-1945. Professional specialty designation.

A.  A professional specialty designation area may be established by the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure upon receipt of a petition signed by fifteen qualified persons who are currently licensed as licensed behavioral practitioners, who have acquired at least sixty (60) semester hours, to increase to seventy-five (75) semester hours on and after January 1, 2008, of graduate credit in behavioral science or psychology-related course work from a regionally accredited college or university, and who meet the recognized minimum standards as established by appropriate nationally recognized certification agencies; provided, however, if a nationally recognized certification does not exist, the Board may establish minimum standards for specialty designations.

B.  Upon receipt of credentials from the appropriate certification agency, the Board may grant the licensed behavioral practitioner the appropriate specialty designation.  The licensed behavioral practitioner may attain specialty designation through examination.  A licensed behavioral practitioner shall not claim or advertise a behavioral health specialty and shall not incorporate the specialty designation into the professional title of such licensed behavioral practitioner unless the qualifications and certification requirements of that specialty have been met and have been approved by the Board and the appropriate certification agency.

Added by Laws 1999, c. 133, § 16, emerg. eff. April 28, 1999.  Amended by Laws 2007, c. 133, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2007; Laws 2013, c. 229, § 37, eff. Nov. 1, 2013.