CSWMFT Board Approves 2025 Rule Changes

On January 9, 2025, the CSWMFT Board approved the following rules for public comment. Licensees and stakeholders wishing to provide substantive feedback may submit comments to [email protected]. Comments are due by February 13, 2025. Following the review of submitted comments, and prior to filing the rule changes with the Common Sense Initiative, the Board will consider final draft rules during the March 2025 Board meeting.  

A PDF of the proposed rule changes can be found HERE, and a summary of the proposed changes is below:

4757-1-01 Adoption of rules and methods of public notice

  • Proposed to be rescinded. The rule restates statutory requirements. The Common Sense Initiative is recommending changes such as this to help streamline rules. 

4757-1-05 License Fee

  • Added the privilege to practice fee for those out of state counselors applying via the Counseling Compact. The CPSC has previously discussed and approved in Committee a fee of $25. This fee will be charged to all counselors seeking a privilege when it is initially issued and then each time they renew their home state license, provided they continue to request an Ohio privilege.  

4757-1-08 Military provisions related to licensure for counselors, social workers and/or marriage and family therapists

  • Revises the rule to include the Space Forces as an armed service. The rule is revised such that should any other forces be established in the future (some experts are recommending a Cyber Force that could be considered an “armed” service) no change will be necessary to the Rule. 

4757-5-02 Standards of ethical practice and professional conduct: clients/consumers of services.

  • Reorders requirements regarding legal documents when custody is an issue. 
  • Removes a provision regarding harsh language used with clients. The language suggests the Board is responsible for responding to “customer service” complaints where the licensee may not be acting professionally, but no ethics violations have occurred. This should help to place some appropriate limits around the types of complaints to which the Board must respond.  

4757-5-03 Standards of ethical practice and professional conduct: multiple relationships.

  • Removes a duplicative provision that creates vagueness around how licensees assess multiple relationships by removing language requiring licensees to assess what is in the client’s best interests. 
  • Clarifies that licensees may not use the authority established by holding a license to benefit themselves in any manner.

4757-5-09 Standards of ethical practice and professional conduct: record keeping.

  • Adds assessments, diagnoses, and treatment plans to list of documents/work product that licensees must review and approve if created by a software program or another individual. Previously the rule only refers to notes, which is not sufficient given the evolution of AI. 

4757-5-10 Standards of ethical practice and professional conduct: reporting unethical actions.

  • Adds a requirement that any felony or misdemeanor in the course of practice be reported to the Board regardless of the judicial action, i.e. treatment in lieu of conviction, etc. 
  • Includes a requirement for LPATs and LPMTs to notify the Board of any ethics complaints submitted to CBMT or ATCB, as well as any resulting disciplinary actions. The reason for this requirement is that licensure is based on holding a board certification. 

4757-7-03 Inactive status of license; restoration.

  • Adds language indicating escrow should only be requested if the licensee will not be engaged in active practice for one or more renewal cycles. 
  • Corrects several misspelled words. 

4757-9-01 Continuing education requirements for renewal of a marriage and family therapist or independent marriage and family therapist license.

  • Changes rule title to “Continuing education requirements for renewal of licenses and registrations.”
  • Consolidates Rules 4757-9-01, 4757-9-02 and 4757-9-03 that describe requirements for each profession. Add references to LPAT and LPMT requirements.
  • Clarifies that a CE program approved for any profession licensed by the Board may be used to meet renewal requirements by any Board licensee/registrant.  

4757-9-02 Continuing education requirements for renewal of a licensed professional counselor or a licensed professional clinical counselor.

  • Consolidate with 4757-9-01.

4757-9-03 Continuing education requirement for renewal of a certificate of registration as a social work assistant or a license as a social worker or an independent social worker.

  • Consolidate with 4757-9-01.

4757-9-04 Clock hours for continuing professional education.

  • Remove date reference related to a previous change in the rule. 
  • Eliminates the option to “bank” CE. Currently, licensees may bank or carry forward up to 12 hours of CE from one renewal cycle to the next. This requirement creates confusion for licensees as they attempt to account for and confirm previously completed CE. Management of the license renewal process will be streamlined for licensees and the Board if licensees must earn 30 hours of CE between the effective date of their license and the renewal date.  

4757-9-05 Approval of continuing professional education programs required for renewal of licenses and certificates of registration issued by the board.

  • Corrections to rule references 
  • Modifies provider terms to include both “Provider” and “Provider status”.
  • Eliminate Association Approval application; Provides that by a vote of the board certain national, statewide association may be approved to provide CE or approve providers.
  • Adds additional national organizations that are eligible to provide CE or approve providers, including NBCC, ASWB, ATCB, CBMT, etc. Adding these eliminates the need for the Board to review the organizations regularly.  
  • Clarifies post program approval requirements. 

4757-9-06 Sources of continuing professional education.

  • Adds a ten-hour limit per renewal cycle for published articles and teaching/presentations. While publishing and teaching create opportunities for developing new knowledge and skills, the spirit of the CE rules suggests that licensees are also expected to receive training and education from others.  

4757-9-07 Sources of continuing professional education.

  • Updates a reference to Rule 9-05 (B)(2)(j) regarding CE certificates. 

4757-11-04 Hearing procedures

  • Corrects an incomplete sentence with additional language directing the Board’s attorney to gather additional testimony at the direction of the Board. 

4757-17-01 Counseling supervision

  • Removes a reference to demonstrating certain supervisory competencies