45:8B-77 Eligibility for licensure as clinical drama therapist.

10. To be eligible to be licensed as a clinical drama therapist, an applicant shall fulfill the following requirements:

a. Is at least 21 years of age;

b. Is of good moral character;

c. Holds a master's degree in drama therapy from an accredited educational institution of higher learning that is approved by the board; or a master's degree or a doctoral degree in a mental health discipline from an accredited educational institution of higher learning with specific additional training in drama therapy coursework and has completed a drama therapy internship as approved by the board.

(1) In the case of an applicant holding a master's degree in drama therapy, the applicant shall have completed:

(a) A minimum of 60 graduate credit hours or the equivalent, as approved by the board, from an accredited educational institution that is approved by the board, or if the applicant has a master's degree in drama therapy from an accredited educational institution but graduated with less than the required 60 graduate credit hours or the equivalent, as approved by the board, the applicant shall also have additional graduate credit hours in a closely related field, as approved by the board, to satisfy the required total of 60 graduate credit hours or the equivalent; and

(b) At least two years full-time or its equivalent, but no less than 3,640 hours of supervised, paid clinical experience as a drama therapist in a human service setting approved by the board, at least a majority of hours having been acquired within the past seven years and after the awarding of the master's degree.

The 3,640 hours required pursuant to this subparagraph shall include a minimum of 1,200 hours of supervised, paid clinical experience as a drama therapist in a human service setting approved by the board and a maximum of 2,440 hours of supervised private practice, consulting, or independent contract work in drama therapy approved by the board, provided that the applicant is licensed in this State to practice in a clinical mental health profession. Only supervised private practice, consulting, or independent contract work accrued after the 1,200 hours of clinical experience in an approved human service setting will be counted towards the requirements for the license. At least a majority of these hours must have been acquired within the past seven years and after the awarding of the master's degree.

(2) In the case of an applicant holding a master's or doctoral degree in a mental health discipline from an accredited educational institution of higher learning with specific additional training in drama therapy coursework, and completion of a drama therapy internship, the applicant also shall have completed:

(a) A minimum of 60 graduate credit hours or the equivalent, as approved by the board, in a mental health discipline; or if the applicant has a master's degree in a mental health discipline from an accredited educational institution but graduated with less than the required 60 graduate credit hours or the equivalent, as approved by the board, the applicant for licensure shall also have additional graduate credit hours in a closely related field, as approved by the board, to satisfy the required total of 60 graduate credit hours or the equivalent;

(b) A minimum of 27 graduate credit hours, or an equivalent number of graduate credit hours, or equivalent instructional hours, in drama therapy coursework supervised by a Drama Therapy Board Certified Trainer and approved by the board;

(c) At least two years full-time, or its equivalent, but no less than 3,640 hours of supervised, paid clinical experience as a drama therapist in a human service setting approved by the board, at least a majority of hours having been acquired within the past seven years and after the awarding of the master's degree.

The 3,640 hours required pursuant to this subparagraph shall include a minimum of 1,200 hours of supervised, paid clinical experience as a drama therapist in a human service setting approved by the board and a maximum of 2,440 hours of supervised private practice, consulting, or independent contract work in drama therapy approved by the board, provided that the applicant is licensed in this State to practice in a clinical mental health profession. Only supervised private practice, consulting, or independent contract work hours that are accrued after the 1,200 hours of clinical experience in an approved human service setting will be counted towards the requirements for the license. At least a majority of these hours shall have been acquired within the past seven years and after the awarding of the master's degree;

(d) A minimum of one hour of supervision by a Drama Therapy Board Certified Trainer, or by a Registered Drama Therapist with the equivalent of a minimum of three years of full-time professional experience for every 35 hours of private practice, consulting, or independent contract work;

(e) A minimum of 500 hours of concentrated theater/drama training and study. This may include acting, directing, or improvisational work studied or performed in a college, community or professional setting.

The graduate course work in drama therapy from an accredited college or university program that is approved by the board shall include training in:

(1) The drama therapy profession;

(2) Theory and practice of drama therapy;

(3) Human growth and developmental dynamics in drama;

(4) Drama therapy with clinical populations;

(5) Drama therapy appraisal, diagnosis and assessment;

(6) Ethical and legal issues of drama therapy practice;

(7) Multicultural counseling and competency;

(8) Ethics, advanced theories and practice;

(9) Group dynamics;

(10) Abnormal psychology;

(11) Individual counseling; and

(12) Psychodrama or sociodrama; and

d. Has passed an examination administered by the board or administered by an approved third party.

L.2019, c.273, s.10.