(A) Except as provided in division (C) of this section and section 4757.41 of the Revised Code:
(1) No person shall engage in or claim to the public to be engaging in the practice of professional counseling for a fee, salary, or other consideration unless the person is currently licensed under this chapter as a professional clinical counselor or professional counselor.
(2) No person shall practice or claim to the public to be practicing social work for a fee, salary, or other consideration unless the person is currently licensed under this chapter as an independent social worker or a social worker.
(3) No person shall claim to the public to be a social work assistant unless the person is currently registered under this chapter as a social work assistant.
(4) No person shall engage in the practice of marriage and family therapy or claim to the public to be engaging in the practice of marriage and family therapy unless the person is currently licensed under this chapter as a marriage and family therapist.
(B) (1) No person shall use the title "professional clinical counselor," "professional counselor," or any other title or description incorporating the word "counselor" or any initials used to identify persons acting in those capacities unless currently authorized under this chapter by licensure to act in the capacity indicated by the title or initials.
(2) No person shall use the title "social worker," "independent social worker," "social work assistant," or any other title or description incorporating the words "social worker" or any initials used to identify persons acting in those capacities unless the person is currently authorized by licensure or registration under this chapter to act in the capacity indicated by the title or initials.
(3) No person shall use the title "marriage and family therapist" or any initials used to identify persons acting in that capacity unless the person is currently authorized by licensure under this chapter to act in the capacity indicated by the title or initials.
(C) (1) Divisions (A)(1) to (3) of this section do not apply to the practice of marriage and family therapy by a person holding a valid license or temporary license as a marriage and family therapist or independent marriage and family therapist under this chapter.
(2) Division (A)(4) of this section does not apply to the following persons licensed or registered under this chapter: professional clinical counselors, professional counselors, independent social workers, social workers, and social work assistants.
HISTORY: 140 v H 205 (Eff 10-10-84); 146 v S 223 (Eff 3-18-97); 149 v H 374. Eff 4-7-2004.
The effective date is set by section 4 of HB 374.
Cross-References to Related Sections
Penalty, RC § 4757.99.
Ohio Adminstrative Code
Abbreviations and titles. OAC 4757-3-02.
Comparative Legislation
License required:
CA - Bus & Prof Code § 4996
FL - Stat Ann § 491.003
IL - Comp Stat Ann ch 225 § 20/3
IN - Code § 25-23.6-5-1 et seq
KY - Rev Stat Ann § 335.030
MI - Comp Laws Ann § 339.1603
NY - Educ Law § 7702
PA - CSA tit 63 § 1904
Research Aids
Unlicensed practice:
O-Jur3d: Phys & S §§ 79, 218
Am-Jur2d: Phys & S § 26 et seq
ALR
Validity of legislation regulating, licensing, or prescribing for certification of psychologists. 81 ALR2d 791.