IMPORTANT OFFICE CLOSURE ALERT
All Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO) Offices at 1560 Broadway, Denver CO are closed to the public indefinitely effective 2pm on March 23rd, 2020. However, DPO staff is still working hard to help all customers remotely. Please contact the Division at dora_dpo_licensing@state.co.us for assistance.
HB20-1206, CONCERNING THE CONTINUATION OF REGULATION OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
The Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO), within the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), has been provided the authority by the Colorado State Legislature to create the Mental Health Disciplinary Record Work Group. The Work Group will examine the state’s rules and policies with regard to the retention and use of certain kinds of disciplinary records as it relates to licensing of mental health professionals in the state. The Work Group, created by House Bill 20-1206, will meet throughout the Fall and Winter of 2020, and will make recommendations to the Governor, the Executive Director of DORA and the health committees in the House and Senate about any potential changes the Work Group identifies.
Welcome to the Professional Counselor Homepage
The Colorado State Board of Professional Counselor Examiners regulates Licensed Professional Counselors in the state. Board activities include the review of licensure applications and complaints and enforcement of disciplinary actions against violators of the Mental Health Practice Act or Board Rule. The Board is made up of seven members, three public and four professionals, who meet six times per year.
- Laws, Rules and Policies
- Resources
Program Information
- Board Members
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Reina Sbarbaro-Gordon, Program Director
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David E. Bell, LPC, Chair
Professional Member| Term Expires: August 31, 2024 -
Amy Skinner, LPC
Professional Member | Term Expires: August 31, 2024 -
Karen Van Zuiden, LPC
Professional Member| Term Expires: August 31, 2024 -
Ralph Kenneth O\'Neal, II
Public Member| Term Expires: August 31, 2022 -
Maki Sonoda-Sutton, LPC
Professional Member| Term Expires: August 31, 2022 -
Daniel Zarnowski
Public Member | Term Expires: August 31, 2022 -
Richard Glover
Public Member| Term Expires: August 31, 2024
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- Public Notices
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Emergency and Permanent Rulemaking Hearing - 9/25/20
The State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners held three Joint Stakeholder Meetings on July 30th, August 26th, and September 15th, and an individual Stakeholder Meeting for only Licensed Professional Counselors on September 18th regarding the implementation of Colorado House Bill 20-1206 (Sunset review continuing the Regulation of Mental Health Professionals), House Bill 20-1326 (Endorsements/Creation of an Occupational Credential Portability Program), and Senate Bill 20-102 (Patient Disclosures Regarding Sexual Misconduct). The Board also held an Emergency and Permanent Rulemaking Hearing on September 25, 2020, to adopt the proposed new and revised rules. The Board adopted the rules related to House Bill 20-1206 on an emergency basis due to the immediate effective date of the bill.
- Listen here to the July 30, 2020, Joint Mental Health Stakeholder Meeting
- Listen here to the August 26, 2020, Joint Mental Health Stakeholder Meeting
- Listen here to the September 15, 2020, Joint Mental Health Stakeholder Meeting
- Listen here to the September 18, 2020, Licensed Professional Counselor's Stakeholder Meeting
- Emergency and Permanent Rulemaking Hearing - Friday, September 25, 2020, at 9:30 A.M.
- Copies of the Notice, HB20-1206, HB20-1326, SB20-102, and the Draft Rules are available for download.
An Important Message about LPC Licensing and Regulation
The July 14, 2020 signing into law of House Bill 20-1206, Sunset Mental Health Professionals has prompted changes affecting the licensure requirements for professional counselors in Colorado. The new law requires that the supervised postgraduate practice in professional counseling include at least 2,000 hours of professional counseling, 1,500 hours of which must be face-to-face, direct client contact under clinical supervision.
In addition HB 20-1206 modifies the requirements for a licensed professional counselor to serve as a supervisor for another mental health professional to include education and training as determined by the Board.
The Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners is working diligently to implement these specific changes as well as the remainder of the Mental Health Sunset bill, HB20-1206. As rules are being promulgated, the Board will continue to process applications for licensure as a professional counselor under the previous requirements. Those persons who began supervised postgraduate practice before July 14, 2020, may continue completing the previous supervised practice requirements as the Board completes the rules.
The new requirements for Licensed Professional Counselors supervisors are currently slated to become effective upon renewal in August 2021, and current supervisors who meet the requirements of Board Rule 1.14 may continue supervision in the interim.
Please review the Revised Proposed Draft Rules and join us on August 26, 2020 at 11 am for a stakeholder meeting to discuss these proposed changes.
Visit the Colorado State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners website for the latest information, as it becomes available. Questions may be referred to dpo@state.co.us and written feedback on the proposed rules may be submitted to dora_dpo_rulemaking@state.co.u
s. - Legislative Updates
- Meeting Minutes