The bill amends the Arkansas Code to require the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling to issue provisional licenses for individuals seeking to become licensed associate counselors and licensed associate marriage and family therapists. Specifically, it adds new subsections to Arkansas Code 17-27-302 and 17-27-305, which outline the qualifications for these provisional licenses. Under the new provisions, applicants who provide satisfactory documentation of their qualifications will receive a provisional license that is valid for one year and allows for up to three attempts to pass the required examination.

Additionally, the bill specifies that these provisional licenses cannot be renewed, establishing a clear timeframe for candidates to complete their licensing requirements. This legislative change aims to facilitate the entry of new professionals into the counseling and therapy fields in Arkansas, thereby addressing potential shortages in these essential services.

Statutes affected:
Old version HB1256 V2 - 2-17-2025 08:59 AM: 17-27-302, 17-27-305
Old version HB1256 Original - 1-27-2025 02:50 PM: 17-27-302
HB 1256: 17-27-302
Act 231: 17-27-302, 17-27-305