45:8B-48. Construction of act

15. Nothing in this act shall be construed to apply to:

a. The activities and services of qualified members of other professions, including physicians, psychologists, registered nurses, marriage and family therapists, attorneys, social workers or any other professionals licensed by the State, when acting within the scope of their profession and doing work of a nature consistent with their training, provided they do not hold themselves out to the public as possessing a license issued pursuant to this act or represent themselves by any professional title regulated by this act.

b. The activities, services and use of an official title on the part of a person employed as a counselor or rehabilitation counselor by any federal, State, county, or municipal agency; or public or private educational institution, but only when these persons are performing counseling, rehabilitation counseling or activities related to counseling or rehabilitation counseling within the scope of their employment.

c. The activities and services of a student, intern or trainee in counseling or rehabilitation counseling pursuing a course of study in counseling or rehabilitation counseling in a regionally accredited institution of higher education or training institution, if these activities are performed under supervision and constitute a part of the supervised course of study, and if the person is clearly designated a "Counselor intern" or a "Rehabilitation counselor intern".

d. The activities and services in this State of a nonresident person rendered on not more than 30 days during any calendar year, if that person is duly authorized to perform those activities and services under the laws of his residence.

e. The activities and services of a rabbi, priest, minister, Christian Science practitioner or clergyman of any religious denomination or sect, if those activities and services are within the scope of the performance of his 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 auspices or sponsorship, individually or in conjunction with others, of an established and legally cognizable church, denomination, or sect, and when the person rendering the service remains accountable to the established authority thereof.

f. The activities, services, titles and descriptions of persons employed as professionals or volunteers in the practice of counseling or rehabilitation counseling for public or private nonprofit organizations or charities.

g. The activities and services of persons employed as peer counselors in organizations devoted to prevention of alcoholism, drug abuse, or relief of emotional effects of rape or other crimes, and telephone "hotline" organizations.

L.1993,c.340,s.15; amended 1995, c.366, s.19; 1997, c.155, s.13; per s.20 of 1993, c.340, act to expire if certain contingency met.