45:8B-78 Eligibility for licensure as clinical dance/movement therapist.

11. To be eligible to be licensed as a clinical dance/movement 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 dance/movement 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 dance/movement therapy coursework, fieldwork experience, and has completed a dance/movement therapy internship as approved by the board.

(1) In the case of an applicant holding a master's degree in dance/movement 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 dance/movement therapy from an accredited educational institution but graduated with less than the required 60 credit hours, 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; 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 dance/movement 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 dance/movement 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 dance/movement 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;

(c) At least 48 hours of clinical supervision by a Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist over the 3,640 hours of paid clinical experience; or

(d) A minimum of one hour of supervision by a Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist for every 35 hours of private practice, consulting, or independent contract work.

(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 dance/movement therapy coursework, fieldwork experience, and completion of a dance/movement 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 credit hours or the equivalent, as approved by the board, the applicant for licensure shall also have completed 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 dance/movement therapy coursework 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 dance/movement 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 dance/movement therapist in a human service setting approved by the board and a maximum of 2,440 hours of supervised dance/movement therapy private practice, consulting, or independent contract work 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 shall 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.

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

(1) The dance/movement therapy profession;

(2) Theory and practice of dance/movement therapy;

(3) Developmental, multicultural, expressive and communicative aspects of verbal and non-verbal behavior;

(4) Methods for movement observation, description, analysis, assessment, and evaluation;

(5) Group theory and processes in dance/movement therapy;

(6) Clinical methods, leadership skills, and their applications to individuals, groups, families, and systems;

(7) Use of dance/movement therapy in prevention, treatment, and aftercare in different treatment settings;

(8) Ethical and legal issues of dance/movement therapy practice;

(9) Research in dance/movement therapy and human behavior;

(10) Knowledge of psychopathology and diagnostic skills;

(11) Basic neuroscience as it relates to the theory and practice of dance/movement therapy; and

(12) Kinesiology or Human Anatomy and Kinesiology, or Biomechanics, except that this course may be taken on a graduate, or undergraduate level, or at a private educational institution, as approved by the board; and

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

L.2019, c.273, s.11.