South Carolina § 40-75-30 - Licensure requirement.

§ 40-75-30. Licensure requirement.

(A) It is unlawful for a person to practice as a professional counselor, a marriage and family therapist, or an addiction counselor in this State without being licensed in accordance with this article. A professional counselor associate may practice only under the direct supervision of a licensed professional counselor supervisor. A marriage and family therapy associate may practice only under the direct supervision of a licensed marriage and family therapist supervisor, as approved by the board. An addiction counselor associate only may work under a licensed addiction counselor supervisor or other approved board-licensed clinician as provided in regulation.

(B) A person is guilty of practicing without a license if the person represents himself or herself to be a marriage and family therapist by the use of any title or description of services which incorporates the words "licensed marital and family therapist", "licensed marriage and family therapist", "marital and family therapist", "marriage and family therapist", or "marriage and family counselor" to describe a function or service performed without being licensed by the board. However, members of other professions licensed in this State including, but not limited to, attorneys, physicians, psychologists, registered nurses, or social workers performing duties consistent with the laws of this State, their training, and any code of ethics of their profession are not considered to be practicing without a license if they do not represent themselves as being licensed pursuant to this article.

(C) A person is guilty of practicing without a license if the person represents himself or herself to be a professional counselor by the use of any title or description of services which incorporates the words "licensed professional counselor", "professional counselor", or "licensed counselor" without being licensed by the board. However, members of other professions licensed in this State including, but not limited to, attorneys, physicians, psychologists, registered nurses, or social workers performing duties consistent with the laws of this State, their training, and any code of ethics of their professions are not considered to be practicing without a license if they do not represent themselves as being licensed pursuant to this article.

(D) A person is guilty of practicing without a license if the person represents himself to be an addiction counselor by the use of any title or description of services which incorporates the words "licensed addiction counselor" or "addiction counselor" without being licensed by the board. However, members of other professions licensed in this State including, but not limited to, attorneys, physicians, psychologists, registered nurses, or social workers performing duties consistent with the laws of this State, their training, and any code of ethics of their professions are not considered to be practicing without a license if they do not represent themselves as being licensed pursuant to this article.

(E) A licensed professional counselor, a licensed marital and family therapist, or a licensed addiction counselor may not use the title of "psycho-therapist".

HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 396, SECTION 8; 2018 Act No. 249 (H.4601), SECTION 5, eff May 18, 2018.

Effect of Amendment

2018 Act No. 249, SECTION 5, in (A), in the first sentence, substituted ", or an addition counselor" for "as defined within this article", in the second and third sentences, substituted "associate" for "intern", and added the fourth sentence; rewrote (D); in (E), inserted ", or a licensed addiction counselor"; and made nonsubstantive changes.