What licenses does the Board issue?
Board Rules R4-6-401 through R4-6-404
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW)
Board Rules R4-6-501 through R4-6-505
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC)
Board Rules R4-6-601 through R4-6-605
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT)
Board Rules R4-6-701 through R4-6-707
Licensed Independent Addiction Counselor (LIAC)
Licensed Associate Addiction Counselor (LAAC)
Licensed Addiction Technician (LAT)
How long do I need to keep client records?
Licensees must maintain records in accordance with A.R.S. § 12-2297. You can access that state statute at www.azleg.gov.
What is the difference between an academic review committee and the Board?
The Board of Behavioral Health Examiners consists of twelve members (8 professional and 4 public). It regulates professional counselors, substance abuse counselors, social workers and marriage and family therapists.
There is an academic review committee for each discipline that the Board regulates. Each committee consists of 3 members that are licensees or have core or full time faculty experience in a college or university in the previous ten years. The committees make recommendations to the Board regarding licenses and educational programs from regionally accredited colleges or universities with programs not otherwise accredited by the Board.
Can I attend a Board or academic review committee meeting? (Board Rule R4-6-802)
Yes, the public is welcome to the meetings. Continuing education hours may be considered for attending the Board meetings.
What are the requirements for temporary licenses?
Please review Board Rule R4-6-306.
What is inactive status? (Board Rule R4-6-305)
A professional can place his/her license on inactive status if he/she is not planning to work for a period of time. There is a $100 fee.
If I have a fingerprint clearance card, can I send a copy of my card instead of fingerprints?
Yes.
How do I file a complaint?
The complaint form is located here. Please also see our video that explains the complaint process.
What do I need with my application?
You must complete the entire application for the discipline and level of licensure sought in the BOARDAL, Applicant Portal. There are instructions within each application that include information related to required documents.
Can I come to your office and have someone review my application? Why not?
No. If you follow the instructions and read the application before you submit your application, you are ready to submit your application. Board staff cannot advise you regarding how the academic review committee or Board will act on your application.
If I am licensed in one discipline, can you use forms for my current application from a previous application?
The Board can copy the transcript from one file for a second application. All other required forms and supplemental documentation must be submitted with the new application.
What credentials need to be verified?
Any state licensure, certification or registration in a behavioral health field must be verified in the application. Any credential held in the last ten years in professions other than behavioral health must be verified. Failure to disclose all licenses, certifications or registrations currently or ever held may result in denial of your application.
Please be aware that there may be a fee associated with a verification. You should contact the credentialing entity first to make sure you submit any fee required for a written verification.
Why do I have to send the verification form to the licensing agency when a verification can be printed from the web?
If the online verification from the official site of the regulatory entity issuing the credential includes all Board required information, it can be uploaded in place of the form.
What can be used from an old application?
The Board will only accept licensure forms.
If you have been certified by this Board in the past and have either 1) an active license or 2) a certification that has expired or was never granted, the transcript may be able to be taken from the other file. All other documents need to be completed and submitted with the new application.
Why do I have to get course descriptions for the year and term I took the course? What if the college doesn’t have any catalogs?
The Board requires course descriptions to review the content of the courses you took for your degree, so the descriptions must be for the actual course you took. All accredited colleges and universities keep the course catalogs for every year that they were accredited. You can contact your school’s library reference section and request that they locate the correct catalog, copy the pages you need and send them to you.
How long does it take to process an application? (Board Rule R4-6-302)
There is no way to accurately predict how long it will take to process your application. Missing information will necessarily delay the processing of your application. If the application is administratively and substantively complete, the applicant will be authorized to test (if they haven't previously taken an approved exam). Once the applicant takes and passes the exam, their application is approved. You will be notified of each step in the process.
Can I withdraw my application and get my fee refunded?
All fees are non-refundable. Under certain conditions, an application may be withdrawn. The request can be made in the BOARDAL, Applicant Portal.
How do I know if a class I have taken or want to take can be used for continuing education credits when renewing my license?
The Board does not pre-approve continuing education activities. The types of continuing education activities the Board accepts are provided in the Board's rules. See A.A.C. R4-6-802.
I am interested in becoming a continuing education provider. How do I apply for approval?
The Board does not pre-approve continuing education providers. In order for the Board to accept continuing education activities you provide, they must fall within the list of accepted continuing education activities found in the Board's rules. See A.A.C. R4-6-802.
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