(a) The board shall issue a professional counselor license to a person who applies for the license, submits the required fee, submits two letters of recommendation from professional counselors who are familiar with the applicant's practice of professional counseling, and presents evidence satisfactory to the board that the person

(1) is at least 18 years of age;

(2) is not under investigation in this or another jurisdiction for an act that would constitute a violation of this chapter;

(3) has not had a license related to the practice of counseling, psychology, marital and family therapy, or social work in this or another jurisdiction suspended, revoked, or surrendered in lieu of discipline unless the license has been fully reinstated in that jurisdiction;

(4) has passed a written examination as required by the board; the board may provide that passing a nationally recognized examination for professional counselors is sufficient to meet the examination requirement of this paragraph;

(5) has successfully completed either

(A) an earned doctoral degree in counseling or a related professional field from a regionally or nationally accredited institution of higher education approved by the board; or

(B) an earned master's degree in counseling or a related professional field, from a regionally or nationally accredited institution of higher education approved by the board, and at least 60 graduate semester hours in counseling during or after earning the master's degree; and

(6) has, after earning the degree required under either (5)(A) or (B) of this subsection, had at least 3,000 hours of supervised experience in the practice of professional counseling performed over a period of at least two years under the supervision of a supervisor approved under AS 08.29.210, with at least 1,000 hours of direct counseling with individuals, couples, families, or groups and at least 100 hours of face-to-face supervision by a supervisor approved under AS 08.29.210 unless, under regulations of the board, the board allows the supervision to be by telephonic or electronic means because of the remote location of the counselor.

(b) The board may, in its regulations, specify the areas of study that must be covered in order to meet the educational requirements of (a) of this section.