Mental Health Professional Licensing Study Overview
MENTAL HEALTH
PROFESSIONAL
LICENSING
STUDY
Office of Professional Regulation
sos.opr.comments@vermont.gov
STREAMLINING SUBGROUP AGENDA
•
Welcome
•
Review Barriers to Entry Issues and Question
•
Discussion: how to collect resources to inform/address these issues
We're here!
BARRIERS TO ENTRY
•
Examinations (need for accommodations and alternatives)
•
Pathways to licensure (need to simplify and expand,
particularly for those out-of-state)
•
"Threshold" qualifications and post-degree supplementation
•
Confusing qualifications (e.g., "psychotherapy" and social
work; direct vs. indirect supervision)
•
Lack of qualified supervisors
•
Cost and payment structure for supervision
•
Licensing requirements inconsistent with those of
surrounding states
•
Access and barriers to obtaining required education (financial,
time, location, etc.)
•
No license for disciplines (e.g., art therapy, music therapy,
school counseling)
•
The Roster, its role, timing requirements, and impact of both
(e.g., public protection, ability to obtain license, counting of
supervision hours, reciprocity)
•
Lack of guidance on how to pursue licensure (e.g., website
problems, inaccessible language and resources)
•
Specificity of the current requirements (e.g., 1:30 ratio of
supervision to supervised practice)
•
Continuing education requirements across all professions
(equity, cost, time, need, consistency, etc.)
•
Multiple boards and regulatory requirements for professions
with similar but different practices
•
Disconnect between licensing and reimbursement (time after
licensure to credentialing, roster timeline, etc.)
•
Clarity of process for obtaining VT license based on license
in another state
•
Clarity of process for obtaining a telehealth license or a
compact license
•
No regulation of supervisors
•
No way to confirm supervision is compliant until finished
BARRIERS SUBGROUP QUESTIONS
•
How can we be more equitable in mental health professional licensing?
•
Continuing education, access to education, cost and access to relevant supervision
•
Systemic oppression and inequality in barriers to entry
•
How can the laws be improved for professionals-in-training?
•
The Roster
•
Affordability, access, non-monetary costs
•
Exams, supervision hours, coursework
•
Guidance, clarity
•
How do we improve the post-degree supervised practice and supervision requirements?
•
Address equity, cost, oversight, etc.
•
Maintain availability
•
How do we work with partners to ensure coordination with other practice needs (e.g., reimbursement)?
•
How do we address barriers to licensure for other disciplines and out-of-state professionals?
RESEARCH & RESOURCES
•
What resources are needed to answer these subgroup
questions?
•
How can we get the resources and materials necessary?
•
What materials/research can OPR collect for the group?
•
What organizations can OPR contact or join for a meeting?
NEXT MEETING DATES
•
Whole Group Meeting – Dec. 18
•
Supervisor Regulations Subgroup – Jan. 2
•
Streamlining Regulations Subgroup – Jan. 9
Sos.opr.comments@vermont.gov
This content provides an overview of the Mental Health Professional Licensing Study conducted by the Office of Professional Regulation. It explores barriers to entry, issues with licensure pathways, supervision requirements, continuing education, and more. The study aims to address systemic challenges and improve the licensing process for mental health professionals.
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Presentation Transcript
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL LICENSING STUDY Office of Professional Regulation sos.opr.comments@vermont.gov https://sos.vermont.gov/opr/regulatory/ regulatory-review/mental-health- licensing-study/
STREAMLINING SUBGROUP AGENDA Welcome Review Barriers to Entry Issues and Question Discussion: how to collect resources to inform/address these issues
We're here! Questions and Goals and Scope Research, Resources, and Learning Report Recommendations
BARRIERS TO ENTRY Examinations (need for accommodations and alternatives) Lack of guidance on how to pursue licensure (e.g., website problems, inaccessible language and resources) Pathways to licensure (need to simplify and expand, particularly for those out-of-state) Specificity of the current requirements (e.g.,1:30 ratio of supervision to supervised practice) "Threshold" qualifications and post-degree supplementation Continuing education requirements across all professions (equity,cost, time, need, consistency, etc.) Confusing qualifications (e.g., "psychotherapy" and social work; direct vs. indirect supervision) Multiple boards and regulatory requirements for professions with similar but different practices Lack of qualified supervisors Cost and payment structure for supervision Disconnect between licensing and reimbursement (time after licensure to credentialing, roster timeline,etc.) Licensing requirements inconsistent with those of surrounding states Clarity of process for obtaining VT license based on license in another state Access and barriers to obtaining required education (financial, time, location, etc.) Clarity of process for obtaining a telehealth license or a compact license No license for disciplines (e.g., art therapy, music therapy, school counseling) No regulation of supervisors The Roster, its role, timing requirements, and impact of both (e.g., public protection, ability to obtain license,counting of supervision hours,reciprocity) No way to confirm supervision is compliant until finished
BARRIERS SUBGROUP QUESTIONS How can we be more equitable in mental health professional licensing? Continuing education, access to education, cost and access to relevant supervision Systemic oppression and inequality in barriers to entry How can the laws be improved for professionals-in-training? The Roster Affordability, access, non-monetary costs Exams, supervision hours, coursework Guidance, clarity How do we improve the post-degree supervised practice and supervision requirements? Address equity, cost, oversight, etc. Maintain availability How do we work with partners to ensure coordination with other practice needs (e.g., reimbursement)? How do we address barriers to licensure for other disciplines and out-of-state professionals?
RESEARCH & RESOURCES What resources are needed to answer these subgroup questions? How can we get the resources and materials necessary? What materials/research can OPR collect for the group? What organizations can OPR contact or join for a meeting?
NEXT MEETING DATES Whole Group Meeting Dec. 18 Supervisor Regulations Subgroup Jan. 2 Streamlining Regulations Subgroup Jan. 9 Sos.opr.comments@vermont.gov
