Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists
237 Coliseum Drive
Macon, Georgia 31217
(478) 207-2440 phone
(866) 877-7127 fax
www.sos.ga.gov/plb/counselors

Update from the Director of the Professional Licensing Boards:
The last quarter of the year is one of the busiest processing times for the staff at PLB.  We have twelve different license types in renewal during the period along with a number of December graduates applying for various licenses.  For existing license holders, our on-line renewal process allows us to process in excess of 92% of our renewals with very nominal staff involvement.  It also provides our customers with a process that is fast, efficient, paperless and accurate.

For the new graduates, we now have 32 on-line applications available for those applying for their first license with us.  This enables some new graduates to go on-line, register, apply for licensure and pay their fees.  This  paperless system allows the staff to process applications much quicker to the benefit of the applicant who can receive their license and go to work much faster than in the past.  We are planning more on-line applications for the near future.

As we begin the year 2010, we will continue to offer more services on-line and strive to improve our processing times.  For license holders, please keep your personal information up to date and accurate so our transactions with you can be faster and more accurate. 

Regards,
Randy Vaughn
Director of the Professional Licensing Boards

The Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists consist of ten members: three licensed professional counselors, three licensed social workers, three licensed marriage and family therapists and one consumer member. Typically, the Board meets twelve times each year. Board meetings are open to the public, with the exception of executive session, in which confidential matters such as complaints, disciplinary items, and applications are discussed.

The Board is charged by law with regulating the practice of professional counseling, social work, and marriage and family therapy in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the people of Georgia. It does so by enforcing the education and training requirements established by law for licensure in each profession, by adopting and enforcing a code of ethics governing licensees, by establishing and enforcing continuing education requirements, and by addressing unlicensed practice in these professions.

Minutes, upon final approval by the Board, from the Board meetings can be found on the Board’s website: www.sos.ga.gov/plb/counselors.

2010 Meeting Dates:

January 8, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
February 5, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
March 5, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
April 2, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
May 7, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
June 4, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

July 9, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
August 6, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
September 10, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
October 1, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
November 5, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
December 3, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

The Board meets at the Professional Licensing Board office in Macon.

Board Members:

George William “Bill” Quarterman, EdD, LPC, Professor, Chair
Gene Thomas Schrader, MFT, Vice-Chair
Helen W. Coale, CSW
Eric Groh, LPC
Patricia Rice Harwell, MFT
Javel Jackson, PsyD, LPC
Janet H. Lenard, EdD, LCSW, CAC II, CCS
Jan Ligon, PhD, LCSW, Assoc. Professor

Board Staff:

Brig Zimmerman
Executive Director
Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists

Number of Active Licensees:

Professional Counselor: 4,025
Marriage and Family Therapist: 655
Clinical Social Worker: 2,693
Master Social Worker: 1,790
Assoc. Marriage and Family Therapist: 43
Associate Professional Counselor: 852

Actions Taken by the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists

October: The Board voted to license five clinical social workers by exam waiver, two clinical social workers by reinstatement, three master social workers by exam waiver, 10 associate professional counselors by exam waiver, 26 professional counselors by exam waiver, three professional counselors by reinstatement and one professional counselor by reactivation.
The Board voted to post amendments to the following rules:

• 135-6-.03: Biennial Renewal Cycle: The rule provides further clarification of the time frame and the requirements for completion of the biennial renewal cycle.
• 135-6-.04: Revocation of Expired Licenses and Reinstatement of Expired Licenses: The rule provides further clarification of the established penalty period.

The Board denied the following petition for waiver/variance request:

• Willard Vaughn, Carrollton

November: The Board voted to license four clinical social workers by exam waiver, two clinical social workers by reactivation, one clinical worker by reinstatement, 19 associate professional counselors by exam waiver, one associate professional counselor by reinstatement, two professional counselors by reactivation, 37 professional counselors by exam waiver, one professional counselor by endorsement, two professional counselors by reinstatement, two marriage and family therapists by exam waiver, one marriage and family therapist by reinstatement, one marriage and family therapist by reactivation, five master social workers by exam waiver and one master social worker by reinstatement.
The Board voted to deny a petition for waiver/variance request from the following individual:

• Julia Sickles, Newnan

December: The Board voted to license three clinical social workers by exam waiver, 14 associate professional counselors by exam waiver, one professional counselor by reactivation, 25 professional counselors by exam waiver, two professional counselors by reinstatement, one marriage and family therapist by exam waiver, two master social workers by exam waiver and one master social worker by reinstatement.

License Renewals:

Licenses expire as follows:
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist: September 30 of even numbered years
Associate Professional Counselor: September 30 of even numbered years
Clinical Social Worker: September 30 of even numbered years
Marriage & Family Therapist: September 30 of even numbered years
Master Social Worker: September 30 of even numbered years
Professional Counselor: September 30 of even numbered years

It is illegal to practice as a Professional Counselor, a Social Worker or a Marriage & Family Therapist with an expired license.

How do I renew my license? 

You may renew your license on the Professional Licensing Board website with a credit card. Click on the “License Renewal” icon and follow the instructions. You will be asked a series of questions including whether you have been arrested or convicted, received a board sanction since your last renewal, whether you have completed your continuing education requirements, and whether or not you are a U.S. citizen. Renewing your license via the website is the fastest way to renew your license.

The Professional Licensing Boards do not mail paper renewals unless requested. A paper renewal form may be requested by the licensee by calling the Board office at (478) 207-2440, or submitting a written request. Licensees may also call our automated system at (404) 463-1100 and request a paper renewal form using their personal identification number included in their renewal notice.

Disciplinary Issues:

The Board addresses these issues on a case-by-case basis and applies sanctions to those who violate the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists Practice Act, Board rules, and policies. It is important that licensees review all laws, rules and policies that affect their profession. These may be found on the Board’s website at www.sos.ga.gov/plb/counselors.

All public disciplinary actions will be reflected in the Board minutes which may be found on the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists website http://sos.georgia.gov/plb/counselors.

Grounds for denial, suspension, revocation of a license, or other disciplinary actions may be found at O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-17 or at O.C.G.A. § 43-1-19, which can be found on the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists website.

Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists Complaints Process Information:

The Georgia General Assembly created the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists to regulate the licensing and practice of professional counseling, social work and marriage and family therapy. The responsibility of administering the laws in O.C.G.A. § 43-10A is given to the Board, whose members are appointed by the Governor. The Board determines if applicants meet licensure requirements, promulgates rules, and considers complaints against licensees and allegations of unlicensed practice. The process for disposing of complaints is as follows:

Complaint Form:

Complaints must be reported to and received by the Board in writing. Written complaints may be submitted to the Board office or on-line at http://sos.georgia.gov/myverification/submitcomplaint.aspx. Documents received in connection with a complaint will not be returned. The complaint must contain sufficient factual evidence indicating a clear violation of Georgia law or Board rules.

Investigations:

The Board gives serious consideration to all complaints. Further investigative action may be taken. Should you file a complaint, you may be contacted by a Board inspector or investigator for additional information. Investigative files are considered confidential for any purpose other than a hearing before the Board. However, the Board is authorized to release such records to another enforcement agency or lawful licensing authority.

Notification Process:

Frequently Asked Questions:

A list of frequently asked questions may be found on the Board’s website. If you cannot find an answer to your question, you may contact the Board office at (478) 207-2440.