(a) On and after July 1, 1991, an applicant for licensure as a professional counselor shall meet the requirements of §§ 63-22-104 and 63-22-110 and, in addition, shall pass an examination as adopted and administered by the board.

(b) Effective July 1, 1991, no additional certificates for professional counselors shall be issued by the board. Those persons so certified as professional counselors on or before June 30, 1991, may retain their certification indefinitely by meeting current renewal requirements and may upgrade from certification to licensure by any of the following methods:

(1) Complying with this part;

(2) Becoming certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC); or

(3) Verifying, to the board's satisfaction, that such person has had five (5) prior years' work experience as a certified professional counselor in this state or another state with certification standards that are at least the equivalent of those of this state.

(c) An applicant for licensure on or after July 1, 1991, as a licensed marital and family therapist, shall meet the requirements of § 63-22-103(a) or § 63-22-106, and, in addition, shall pass such examinations as may be administered by the board. After July 1, 1991, no additional marital and family therapist certifications will be issued. Those persons so certified as of July 1, 1991, as marital and family therapists may maintain certification or may upgrade from certification to licensure by any of the following methods:

(1) By acquiring the minimum standards provided in § 63-22-106(3);

(2) By receiving two hundred (200) hours clinical supervision from not more than two (2) supervisors deemed qualified by the board; or

(3) By validating fifteen (15) years of clinical practice while maintaining certification by continuing a practice of marital and family therapy.

(d) On or after July 1, 1995, an applicant for licensure as a professional counselor designated as a mental health service provider shall meet the requirements of §§ 63-22-104, 63-22-110 and 63-22-120.

(e) Until June 30, 1997, a currently licensed professional counselor who wishes to obtain designation as a mental health service provider may do so by documenting both training and experience relative to the diagnosis, treatment, appraisal and assessment of mental disorders or by documenting training and experience in teaching these courses for a minimum of three (3) years as a university professor. The training and experience documented must be substantially equivalent to that required for new licensed professional counselors designated as mental health service providers.

(f) Any licensed professional counselor who does not wish to secure designation as a mental health service provider may maintain a professional counselor license, but is ineligible to appraise, assess, diagnose or treat conditions attributable to a mental disorder.