45:8B-79 Eligibility for licensure as associate drama therapist.

12. To be eligible to be licensed as an associate 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 not less than 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 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.

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

(a) The drama therapy profession;

(b) Theory and practice of drama therapy;

(c) Human growth and developmental dynamics in drama;

(d) Drama therapy with clinical populations;

(e) Drama therapy appraisal, diagnosis and assessment;

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

(g) Multicultural counseling and competency;

(h) Ethics, advanced theories and practice;

(i) Group dynamics;

(j) Abnormal psychology;

(k) Individual counseling; and

(l) Psychodrama or sociodrama.

(2) In the case of an applicant holding a master's 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 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 credit hours or the equivalent, 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) A minimum of 18 graduate credit hours or the equivalent in general counseling or psychology training courses, approved by the board, that include:

(i) Developmental psychology;

(ii) Abnormal psychology or psychopathology;

(iii) Individual counseling;

(iv) Group dynamics;

(v) Advanced counseling or psychology elective courses; and

(vi) Multicultural counseling;

(d) Six months of a full-time drama therapy internship or its equivalent, as approved by the board, comprising not less than 800 hours, 300 hours of which shall include direct client contact engaging in drama therapy in a human service setting, supervised by a Drama Therapy Board Certified Trainer or Registered Drama Therapist who has a minimum of three years of full-time professional experience; and

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

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

L.2019, c.273, s.12.