45:8B-80 Eligibility for licensure as associate dance/movement therapist.

13. To be eligible to be licensed as an associate 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 completion of 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 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 dance/movement therapy from an accredited educational institution but graduated with less than the required 60 credit hours or the equivalent, the applicant for licensure must 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 dance/movement therapy from an accredited college or university program that is approved by the board shall include training in:

(a) The dance/movement therapy profession;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(j) Knowledge of psychopathology and diagnostic skills;

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

(l) Kinesiology or Human Anatomy/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.

(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 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, 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 dance/movement therapy coursework approved by the board, as follows:

(i) 18 graduate credit hours, or an equivalent number of graduate credit hours, or equivalent instructional hours, as approved by the board, on the theory and practice of dance/movement therapy taught by a Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist;

(ii) Three graduate credit hours, or an equivalent number of graduate credit hours, or equivalent instructional hours, as approved by the board, on group processes in dance/movement therapy taught by a Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist;

(iii) Six semester credits, or an equivalent number of graduate credit hours, or 90 instructional hours on movement observation taught by an instructor who is certified in the particular movement analysis system or can document to the satisfaction of the board advanced training and expertise in the system; and

(c) A minimum of 18 graduate credit hours or the equivalent in general counseling or psychology training courses approved by the board, including:

(i) Research design and methodology;

(ii) Abnormal psychology or psychopathology;

(iii) Developmental psychology;

(iv) Group theory and processes; and

(v) Advanced counseling or psychology elective courses;

(d) Three months of full-time fieldwork or its equivalent in part-time hours, to total 200 hours of basic clinical exposure supervised by a mental health professional licensed in this State or a Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist;

(e) Six months of full time dance/movement therapy internship, or its equivalent consisting of not less than 700 hours, in a human service setting, with a minimum of 350 hours of direct client contact; and with 70 hours of supervision by a Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist;

(f) Five years of concentrated dance training and study in at least one dance form, leading to competence in the basic fundamentals of dance; and

(g) One course on anatomy and kinesiology or biomechanics, approved by the board; and

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

L.2019, c.273, s.13.