South Dakota § 36-32-64 - Licensed professional counselor--Application--Requirements--Appeal.

§ 36-32-64. Licensed professional counselor--Application--Requirements--Appeal.

An applicant for a license as a professional counselor shall file an application, in the manner prescribed by the board, together with the application fee prescribed by the board in accordance with § 36-32-92. The board may issue a license as a professional counselor to an applicant who pays the license fee and demonstrates that:

(1)    The applicant has received a master's or a doctoral degree, consisting of at least:

(a)    Forty-eight credit hours in counseling from an accredited counseling program recognized by the board, if the applicant began the program before July 1, 2024; or

(b)    Sixty credit hours in counseling from an accredited counseling program recognized by the board, if the applicant began the program on or after July 1, 2024;

(2)    The applicant has passed the National Counselor Examination administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors;

(3)    Within the four years preceding the application, the applicant completed two thousand hours of postgraduate supervision, in a manner prescribed by the board, in counseling under a plan of supervision approved by the board;

(4)    The applicant has no pending disciplinary proceeding or unresolved disciplinary complaint;

(5)    The applicant is of good moral character; and

(6)    The applicant is not in violation of any provision of this chapter or any rule promulgated under this chapter.

The board may refuse to grant a license to an applicant who fails to meet the requirements of this section.

Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (3), the board may grant a license, to an applicant who does not complete the required postgraduate supervision within four years of the application upon the applicant's show of good cause for exceeding the time limit.

Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (5), the board may grant a license to an applicant who has been convicted of or pled guilty to a felony, to any crime involving or relating to the practice of counseling, or to any crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude, if the board determines that the applicant does not constitute a risk to public safety.

An applicant may appeal the denial of a license in accordance with chapter 1-26.

Source: SL 2020, ch 165, § 18; SL 2024, ch 164, § 1.