45:15BB-5. Nonapplicability of act

5. The provisions of this act shall not apply to the following persons:

a. A person authorized by the laws of this State to practice medicine and surgery, psychology, marriage counseling, chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology and audiology, nursing or any other profession licensed by the State, when acting within the scope of the person's profession or occupation and doing work of a nature consistent with the person's training, if the person does not hold himself out to the public as possessing a license or certificate issued pursuant to this act;

b. A student enrolled in an educational program accredited, or in candidacy for accreditation, by the Council on Social Work Education, if the student is practicing as part of a supervised course of study and is clearly designated by the title "social work intern";

c. A person certified as a school social worker by the State Department of Education, but only when performing services on behalf of a local school district to students for whom the school district is responsible to provide services;

d. A rabbi, priest, minister, Christian Science practitioner or clergyman of any religious denomination or sect, when engaging in activities, which are within the scope of the performance of the person's regular or specialized ministerial duties and for which no separate charge is made, or when these activities are performed, with or without charge, for or under the auspices or sponsorship, individually or in conjunction with others, of an established and legally cognizable church, denomination, or sect, and when the person rendering services remains accountable to the established authority thereof;

e. A person engaged in the practice of alcohol or drug abuse intervention, prevention, or treatment if the person does not advertise or use any title, name, or description, the use of which is restricted by section 4 of this act;

f. An employee of the State or a political subdivision thereof which is subject to the provisions of Title 11A, Civil Service, of the New Jersey Statutes, but only in the course of this employment;

g. An employee of a nonprofit organization with a master's degree in a mental health discipline other than social work, who performs psychotherapeutic counseling under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker or other State-licensed mental health professional; and

h. An employee or volunteer of a nonprofit organization who performs any social work service other than psychotherapeutic counseling, but only in the course of this employment or volunteer activity, and if the person does not advertise or use any title or name the use of which is restricted by section 4 of P.L.1991, c.134 (C.45:15BB-4).

L.1991,c.134,s.5; amended 1995, c.66, s.2; 1997, c.140, s.2.