FL Board Meeting Notes 01-30-26

Hi everyone,

As per usual, here are the notes from the most recent board meeting that was held 01/30. There’s quite a few more things here so pay careful attention. As usual, no personal names or identifying information will be given for disciplinary proceedings. You are free to look up any of the publicly available information to review, however, through the board meetings page: https://floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov/meeting-information/ Just be sure to select “past events” since it is slightly different since the board website changed.

Rules Discussion

• Rule 64B4-2.002, Florida Administrative Code – Definition of “Supervision” for Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling- these are the changes defining what “on the premises" means for licensed clinicians and registered interns. They are adding language to point 6, subsection (a) that reads: “The registered intern has a written telehealth protocol and safety plan in place with their current qualified supervisor which includes the provision that the qualified supervisor must be readily available during the electronic therapy session and a provision that a licensed mental health professional is available to the intern via telehealth or other synchronous electronic means if practicing in a private practice setting;” This also replaces point 8 to read: “The phrase “on the premises” as used in Sections 491.005(1)(d), (3)(d), and (4)(d), F.S., includes a licensed mental health professional being present and available to the registered intern via telehealth or other synchronous electronic means provided that the telehealth protocol and safety plan in place between the intern and their qualified supervisor addresses same.” This will mark a HUGE change to the way that Registered Interns work and will change the landscape of how work is done in the state for PP. See my pinned post on this separate topic for more information. This HAS NOT STARTED YET.

• Rule 64B4-2.0025, Florida Administrative Code – Qualified Supervisor Definitions and Duties- The board is adding on a provision here requiring Qualified Supervisors to readily address outreach attempts from board staff regarding submitted forms and applications submitted for licensure by their supervisees. There has been a huge problem with QS’ not being reachable after writing letters for their supervisees to submit for licensure.

• Rule 64B4-2.003, Florida Administrative Code – Conflict of Interest in Supervision- Adjusting COI language to read: “Supervision provided by the applicant’s current or former therapist, parents, current or former spouse, former spouses, siblings, children, current or former employees, or anyone sharing the same household, or any person who is or was in a current or former romantic, sexual, domestic or familial relationship with the applicant shall not be acceptable toward fulfillment of licensure requirements”

• Rule 64B4-31.010, Florida Administrative Code – Course Content- This is a follow-up from the previous board meeting on relaxing certain guidelines around requiring CACREP/MPCAC accreditation for graduates applying for Registered Internship. Language was shifted to allow for programs who are in the process of accrediting to also be considered.

Disciplinary Proceedings

• Lots of out of state telehealth licensed folx getting disciplined due to having issues in their home state. There was a couple of egregious cases that occurred out of state involving very inappropriate interpersonal interactions and relationships with clients. Please DO NOT INTERACT with any of your clients outside of the therapy space. Even if they try and get you to. Dual relationships is a thing and will get you in trouble.

• A particular sticking point is the statute required to report to the board any disciplinary issues going on in other states, whether they be with the board or judicially. You have 5-10 days upon a report or pleading/being convicted of a crime to report that to the board. Don’t forget.

• They confirmed this again on the meeting- if you have an OOS Telehealth Registration for FL and you move to FL, that is NOT ALLOWED. It becomes void upon moving here- do not practice with that while living here.

• If the board is asking you to complete evaluations for things and other types of requirements, please do them. A few cases today featured clinicians who did not follow requirements from the board and now have further issues. If you have questions about any requirements you are given from the board, please ask!

General Notes

• Board is swamped with apps and different things- would be fair to expect delays. There has also been a moving around of board staff.

• Remember, if you are switching QS’ as a registered intern, you need that approval in your hands before you start seeing that new QS. Do NOT start with the new supervisor until you have that confirmation. The board is not going to look favorably on your situation if you started getting hours but did not wait for their approval.

• COUNSELING COMPACT- Launch date for FL to go live is tentatively March/April. All the paperwork from the board end is approved and ready to go; right now it is the tech systems merging with the Compact website and loading our profiles onto the site to begin applying for privileges. If it happens earlier, they will notify us.

• SOCIAL WORK COMPACT- If the Social Work Compact gets passed this year, board is ready to begin work on implementing that in the state just like the Counseling Compact has been.

• Board is going to be overhauling the MQA website and it will include a LOT more functionality for things- you will be able to see who your QS is or who is under you as a QS, your pass/fail history for your exams, and a lot more. They are piloting the program internally at the moment and are hoping to live launch at some point this year.