Board of Professional Counselors

Distance Counseling

The Board of Professional Counselors wants to provide direction for Licensed Professional Counselors who engage in the practice of technology assisted distance counseling.

The Board recommends the NBCC guidelines as a resource for technology assisted distance counseling.

• NBCC Guidelines
• ACA Code of Ethics, Section A12

Distance Counseling from outside the State of Alaska

12 AAC 62.400. DISTANCE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
(a) The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Policy Regarding the Provision of Distance Professional Services (approved February 6, 2016), is adopted by reference for distance professional services provided by licensees to the extent it does not conflict with 12 AAC 62.
(b) Before providing distance professional services, an individual must
(1) be either licensed in good standing or working as a supervisee under a board-approved supervisor as set out in AS 08.29;
(2) have completed a minimum of six continuing education hours from a board-approved continuing education provider under 12 AAC 62.320(b)(2) pertaining to distance professional services; and
(3) determine that the client is intellectually, emotionally, and physically capable of using distance professional services, and that the delivery method for providing distance professional services is appropriate for the client’s needs.
(c) Repealed 2/2/2024.
(d) Except as provided under (h) of this section, an individual located in this state must be licensed under AS 08.29 before providing distance professional counseling service, regardless of the location of the client receiving the service.
(e) Before providing distance professional services, a licensee or supervisee must develop a safety plan with the client to identify local resources in the client’s community should emergency care become necessary. The plan must identify an individual the client trusts who is available during distance professional services and include that individual’s contact information.
(f) At the beginning of every distance professional services session, the licensee or supervisee must verify and document the client’s identity in the progress note.
(g) When distance professional services are deemed inappropriate by the licensee, supervisee, or client, the licensee or supervisee must refer the client to a local health-care provider for in-person services. If the client refuses a referral to a local health-care provider for in-person services, the licensee or supervisee must document the rationale for continuing to provide distance professional services.