(a) This section applies to persons who apply for examination eligibility or registration on or after January 1, 2014.
(b) For purposes of Sections 4999.60 and 4999.61, education is substantially equivalent if all of the following requirements are met:
(1) The degree is obtained from an accredited or approved institution, as defined in Section 4999.12, and consists of, at a minimum, 48 semester or 72 quarter units, including, but not limited to, both of the following:
(A) Six semester or nine quarter units of practicum, including, but not limited to, a minimum of 280 hours of face-to-face counseling.
(B) The required areas of study listed in subparagraphs (A) to (M), inclusive, of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.33.
(2) The applicant completes any units and course content requirements under Section 4999.33 not already completed in his or her education.
(3) The applicant completes credit level coursework from a degree-granting institution that provides all of the following:
(A) Instruction regarding the principles of mental health recovery-oriented care and methods of service delivery in recovery model practice environments.
(B) An understanding of various California cultures and the social and psychological implications of socioeconomic position.
(C) Structured meeting with various consumers and family members of consumers of mental health services to enhance understanding of their experience of mental illness, treatment, and recovery.
(D) Instruction in behavioral addiction and co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders, as specified in subparagraph (K) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.33.
(4) The applicant completes, in addition to the course described in subparagraph (I) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 4999.33, an 18-hour course in California law and professional ethics that includes, but is not limited to, instruction in advertising, scope of practice, scope of competence, treatment of minors, confidentiality, dangerous clients, psychotherapist-client privilege, recordkeeping, client access to records, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, dual relationships, child abuse, elder and dependent adult abuse, online therapy, insurance reimbursement, civil liability, disciplinary actions and unprofessional conduct, ethics complaints and ethical standards, termination of therapy, standards of care, relevant family law, and therapist disclosures to clients.