Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information:

Due to concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19 and in accordance with the declared State of Emergency the Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL) is limiting face-to-face interactions with the public. In order to ensure the public’s health, safety and welfare are protected, during the current State of Emergency the staff of the Board will be primarily working remotely. Phone messages will be checked and returned as time permits. If you would like a more immediate response please email the staff of the Board. You may find the staff's email addresses on our "Contact Us" page at the following link:https://www.ok.gov/behavioralhealth/Contact_Us_-_BBHL.html

The Board actions detailed below are in effect for the duration of the declared State of Emergency. The State of Emergency continues to evolve, and currently the expiration date is February 13, 2021.

For the most current information regarding Executive Orders related to the State of Emergency please visit the following link: https://www.sos.ok.gov/gov/execorders.aspx

On March 24, 2020, April 3, 2020, April 24, 2020, and May 6, 2020 the Board held special meetings to address several issues that are a direct result of the COVID-19 crisis and voted on the stay of enforcement for many of our rules that require face-to-face interactions. The following motions were made and approved by the Board.

Candidates:

The Board approved a stay of enforcement of the requirement to submit a Supervision Agreement in order to utilize technology-assisted supervision for the duration of the declared State of Emergency. 

The Board approved a stay of enforcement for the requirement limiting 50 percent of supervised experience to be accrued through technology-assisted supervision for the duration of the declared State of Emergency.

The Board approved a stay of enforcement for the requirement of On-Site supervision to be on-site during the duration of the declared State of Emergency.

The Board approved a motion for a stay of enforcement of the requirement that two observations be required each six month period for all licensure candidates for the duration of the declared State of Emergency.

On March 24, 2020 The Board approved a stay of enforcement on testing eligibility periods, pausing the eligibility periods, for the duration of the declared State of Emergency. Applications received and approved while the declared State of Emergency is in effect will not receive an exam eligibility period until the EO has expired. Applicants will receive notice of their approved status and once the EO expires an exam letter with an exam eligibility period will be sent to the applicant.

UPDATE: On May 6, 2020 the Board authorized the issuance of exam eligibility periods for applicants that submitted applications during the period of time exam eligibility periods were "paused". In addition, all applicants that had active exam eligibility periods on or before May 1, 2020 and were effected by the closure of testing facilities as a result of COVID-19 will receive an extension of their exam eligibility period. LPC applicants that qualify for the extension will receive an exam eligibility expiration date of June 30, 2023. LMFT applicants that qualify for the extension will receive an exam eligibility expiration date of December 31, 2023.

UPDATE: On August 7, 2020 the Board voted to not extend 5-year supervised experience eligibility periods that were "paused" on March 24, 2020. 

The Board approved a stay of enforcement of 86:10-11-5(c), relating to "full time" supervised experience defined as 20 hours per week. Candidates that work fewer than 20 hours per week may be awarded credit towards the supervised experience requirements for the duration of the declared State of Emergency. 

Licensure:

The Board approved a stay of enforcement for all face-to-face CEU requirements, including Ethics and Supervision for the duration of the declared State of Emergency. All technology-assisted CEU's accrued while the declared State of Emergency is in effect may count towards the face-to-face renewal requirements, including ethics and supervision, for all current licensure periods.

The Board voted to allow any previously approved CEU’s to automatically be approved for face-to-face and technology-assisted CEU's during the duration of the declared State of Emergency.

The Board suspended the processing of any new CEU applications, pending further discussion and review by the Board, and to allow any previously approved CEU’s to automatically be approved for face-to-face and technology-assisted.

The Board approved a stay of enforcement for the face-to-face classroom requirement for the Approved Supervision Equivalency Course's for the duration of the declared State of Emergency. If the face-to-face requirement is presented through technology-assisted means it must be presented live.

The Board has adopted a plan for temporary licensure for expired and inactive licenses in response to the declared State of Emergency. You may review the plan and the requirements for reactivation here: Plan for Temporary Licensure for Expired and Inactive Licenses

Tele-counseling/therapy:

The Board has received many inquiries regarding tele-counseling. In an effort to reduce barriers to tele-counseling the Board has not adopted any restrictions regarding tele-counseling. If you plan to provide services out-of-state, it is also recommend that you contact that states Board to see if they have adopted additional provisions. The Board is not promoting any service provider; however the lists of providers below have been deemed HIPAA compliant by OMES:

• V-See
• Doxy.me
• Theranest
• Vidyo.com
• Simplepractice
• Microsoft Teams
• Skype for BUSINESS
• Zoom
  

General Information:

The Board of Behavioral Health Licensure along with other State agencies will continue to work with state and local government agencies to provide information to all licensees and the general public as we receive information on the Coronavirus (COVID-19).  We encourage you as healthcare providers to continue to communicate with staff on proper sanitary measures as well as communication to your clients.  You can access further information at the Oklahoma State Department of Health website.  In addition to visiting the State Department of Health website the Call Center number and hours are being provided to further assist in questions, you or your clients may have regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19).