Texas Register

TITLE 22 EXAMINING BOARDS
PART 41TEXAS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
CHAPTER 882APPLICATIONS AND LICENSING
SUBCHAPTER BLICENSE
RULE §882.23License Required to Practice
ISSUE 03/22/2024
ACTION Final/Adopted
Preamble Texas Admin Code Rule

(a)A person may not engage in or represent that the person is engaged in the practice of marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, psychology, or social work within this state, unless the person is licensed or otherwise authorized to practice by law.

(b)A person is engaged in the practice of marriage and family therapy within this state if any of the criteria set out in §502.002(6) of the Occupations Code occurs while a client is located in this state.

(c)A person is engaged in the practice of professional counseling within this state if any of the criteria set out in §503.003(a) of the Occupations Code occurs while a client is located in this state.

(d)A person is engaged in the practice of psychology within this state if any of the criteria set out in §501.003(b) of the Occupations Code occurs while a client is located in this state.

(e)A person is engaged in the practice of social work within this state if any of the criteria set out in §505.0025 of the Occupations Code occurs while a client is located in this state.

(f)In accordance with §113.002 of the Occupations Code, a licensee of the Executive Council may provide a mental health service, that is within the scope of the license, through the use of a telehealth service to a client who is located outside of this state, subject to any applicable regulation of the jurisdiction in which that client is located. Such conduct does not constitute the practice of marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, psychology, or social work in this state.

(g)For the purposes of this rule, the term "client" means:

  (1)a recipient of marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, psychology, or social work services within the context of a professional relationship, including a child, adolescent, adult, couple, family, group, organization, community, or other populations, or other entities receiving services;

  (2)an individual or entity requesting the services (e.g., an employer, a state, tribal, or federal court, an attorney acting on behalf of his or her client, an office or agency within local, state, or federal government), the recipient of those services (e.g., the subject of an evaluation, assessment, or interview), and an individual or entity interviewed, examined, or evaluated for the purpose of those services (e.g. a collateral witness or collateral sources of information);

  (3)an organization such as a business, charitable, or governmental entity that receives services directed primarily to the organization, rather than to individuals associated with the organization;

  (4)minors and wards in guardianships, as well as their legal guardians; and

  (5)any related term for the recipient of services, such as a patient, evaluee, examinee, interviewee, participant, or any other similar term.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on March 7, 2024

TRD-202401011

Darrel D. Spinks

Executive Director

Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council

Effective date: March 27, 2024

Proposal publication date: November 17, 2023

For further information, please call: (512) 305-7706



Next Page Previous Page

Link to Texas Secretary of State Home Page | link to Texas Register home page | link to Texas Administrative Code home page | link to Open Meetings home page