Bill Description: House Bill 545 would allow former military chaplains who are residents of Idaho and have met experience requirements to work as licensed counselors within the state.
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Does it increase barriers to entry into the market? Examples include occupational licensure, the minimum wage, and restrictions on home businesses. Conversely, does it remove barriers to entry into the market?
House Bill 545 would amend sections 54-3405 and 54-3405A, Idaho Code, which deal with licensure for licensed professional counselors and licensed clinical professional counselors, respectively.
The bill would exempt former military chaplains from certain licensing requirements for these professions if they are residents of Idaho, have “completed four (4) units of clinical pastoral education,” and have completed at least 1,000 or 2,000 hours (for licensed professional counselors and licensed clinical professional counselors, respectively) of “direct client contact under the direction of a supervisory chaplain or a supervisory counselor in any branch of the United States military.”
The education requirements to serve as a military chaplain exceed those required for a typical master’s degree in counseling. This law is consistent with other elements of Idaho law that seek to allow alternative licensing paths for individuals whose experience and education meet or exceed what is typically required to obtain the license.
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