Ind. Code § 25-23.6-2-1 Establishment of board
Sec. 1. The behavioral health and human services licensing board is established.
As added by P.L.186-1990, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.147-1997, SEC.28; P.L.122-2009, SEC.22.
Ind. Code ch. 25-23.6-2
Ind. Code ch. 25-23.6-2
in effectInd. Code § 25-23.6-2-2 Membership of board; qualifications; political affiliation
Sec. 2. (a) The board consists of ten (10) members appointed by the governor. Subject to IC 25-1-6.5-3, the board must include the following:
(1) Two (2) marriage and family therapists who:
(A) have at least a master's degree in marriage and family therapy or a related field from an eligible postsecondary educational institution;
(B) are licensed under this article; and
(C) have five (5) years of experience in marriage and family therapy.
(2) One (1) social worker who:
(A) has at least a master's degree in social work from an eligible postsecondary educational institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education;
(B) is licensed under this article; and
(C) has at least five (5) years of experience as a social worker.
(3) One (1) social services director of a hospital with a social work degree who has at least three (3) years of experience in a hospital setting.
(4) Two (2) mental health counselors who:
(A) have at least a master's degree in mental health counseling;
(B) are licensed under this article; and
(C) have at least five (5) years experience as a mental health counselor.
(5) One (1) consumer who has never been credentialed under this article.
(6) One (1) physician licensed under IC 25-22.5 who has training in psychiatric medicine.
(7) Two (2) licensed clinical addiction counselors who:
(A) are licensed under IC 25-23.6-10.5; and
(B) have at least five (5) years experience in clinical addiction counseling.
(b) Not more than six (6) members of the board may be from the same political party.
(c) A member appointed:
(1) before July 1, 2019, serves a three (3) year term; and
(2) after June 30, 2019, serves a term under IC 25-1-6.5.
As added by P.L.186-1990, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.33-1993, SEC.35; P.L.255-1996, SEC.17; P.L.147-1997, SEC.29; P.L.2-1998, SEC.67; P.L.2-2007, SEC.329; P.L.122-2009, SEC.23; P.L.249-2019, SEC.106; P.L.11-2023, SEC.80.
Ind. Code § 25-23.6-2-3 Per diem, travel, and other expenses
Sec. 3. Each member of the board who is not a state employee is entitled to the minimum salary per diem provided by IC 4-10-11-2.1(b). Each member of the board is entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses and other expenses actually incurred in connection with the member's duties, as provided in the state travel policies and procedures established by the department of administration and approved by the budget agency.
As added by P.L.186-1990, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.3-2008, SEC.188.
Ind. Code § 25-23.6-2-4 Removal of governor appointed member
Sec. 4. A member of the board who is appointed by the governor may be removed under IC 25-1-6.5-4.
As added by P.L.186-1990, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.249-2019, SEC.107.
Ind. Code § 25-23.6-2-5 Chairman; term
Sec. 5. The board shall elect a chairman from among the members of the board for a one (1) year term. An individual may not be elected as chairman for more than two (2) consecutive one (1) year terms.
As added by P.L.186-1990, SEC.9.
Ind. Code § 25-23.6-2-6 Meetings
Sec. 6. The board shall meet monthly.
As added by P.L.186-1990, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.33-1993, SEC.36; P.L.264-2019, SEC.6.
Ind. Code § 25-23.6-2-7 Duties of board
Sec. 7. The board shall consider matters that are of interest to all board sections.
As added by P.L.186-1990, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.33-1993, SEC.37.
Ind. Code § 25-23.6-2-8 Adoption of standards; fees; duties of board
Sec. 8. (a) The board shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 establishing standards for the following:
(1) The competent practice of marriage and family therapy, bachelor's degree social work, social work, clinical social work, mental health counseling, addiction counseling, and clinical addiction counseling.
(2) The renewal of licenses issued under this article.
(3) Standards for the administration of this article.
(4) Continuing education requirements for an individual seeking renewal of licensure as a bachelor's degree social worker, social worker, clinical social worker, or marriage and family therapist.
(5) The retention of patient records and reports by a counselor.
(6) The approval of continuing education providers, programs, courses, fees, and proof of course completion.
(b) The board shall establish fees under IC 25-1-8-2.
(c) The board shall do the following:
(1) Consider the qualifications of individuals who apply for a license under this article.
(2) Provide for examinations required under this article.
(3) Subject to IC 25-1-8-6, renew licenses under this article.
(4) Conduct proceedings under IC 25-1-9.
(5) Administer the professional counselors licensure compact under IC 25-42.5, including appointing members to the counseling compact commission and adopting any rules necessary to administer the compact.
As added by P.L.186-1990, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.255-1996, SEC.18; P.L.147-1997, SEC.30; P.L.269-2001, SEC.20; P.L.122-2009, SEC.24; P.L.192-2017, SEC.3; P.L.98-2023, SEC.1.
Ind. Code § 25-23.6-2-8.5 Regulation by a unit prohibited
Sec. 8.5. Unless otherwise provided by law, a unit (as defined in IC 36-1-2-23) may not regulate behavioral health and human services that are:
(1) subject to licensing or certification by the board under this article, including:
(A) marriage and family therapy services under IC 25-23.6-3 and IC 25-23.6-8;
(B) social work or clinical social work services under IC 25-23.6-4 and IC 25-23.6-5;
(C) mental health counseling services under IC 25-23.6-4.5 and IC 25-23.6-8.5; and
(D) addiction counselor or clinical addiction counselor services under IC 25-23.6-10.1 and IC 25-23.6-10.5; or
(2) exempt from licensing or certification by the board under this article, including:
(A) marriage and family therapy services under IC 25-23.6-3-2;
(B) social work or clinical social work services under IC 25-23.6-4-2;
(C) mental health counseling services under IC 25-23.6-4.5-2; and
(D) addiction counselor or clinical addiction counselor services under IC 25-23.6-10.1-2.
As added by P.L.111-2023, SEC.1.
Ind. Code § 25-23.6-2-9 Social worker section established
Sec. 9. (a) The social worker section of the board is established. The section consists of the following:
(1) Two (2) social worker members of the board.
(2) Two (2) consumer members of the board.
(3) One (1) physician member of the board.
(b) Three (3) members of the social worker section, two (2) of whom must be social workers, constitute a quorum.
As added by P.L.186-1990, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.33-1993, SEC.38; P.L.255-1996, SEC.19; P.L.147-1997, SEC.31.
Ind. Code § 25-23.6-2-9.5 Addiction counselor section of board established
Sec. 9.5. (a) The addiction counselor section of the board is established. The section consists of the following:
(1) Two (2) licensed clinical addiction counselor members of the board.
(2) Two (2) consumer members of the board.
(3) One (1) physician member of the board.
(b) Three (3) members of the addiction counselor section, two (2) of whom must be addiction counselors, constitute a quorum.
As added by P.L.122-2009, SEC.25.
Ind. Code § 25-23.6-2-10 Marriage and family therapist section established
Sec. 10. (a) The marriage and family therapist section of the board is established. The section consists of the following:
(1) Two (2) marriage and family therapist members of the board.
(2) Two (2) consumer members of the board.
(3) One (1) physician member of the board.
(b) Three (3) members of the marriage and family therapist section, two (2) of whom must be marriage and family therapists, constitute a quorum.
As added by P.L.186-1990, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.33-1993, SEC.39; P.L.147-1997, SEC.32.
Ind. Code § 25-23.6-2-10.5 Mental health counselor section established
Sec. 10.5. (a) The mental health counselor section of the board is established. The section consists of the following:
(1) Two (2) mental health counselor members of the board.
(2) Two (2) consumer members of the board.
(3) One (1) physician member of the board.
(b) Three (3) members of the mental health counselor section, two (2) of whom must be mental health counselors, constitute a quorum.
As added by P.L.147-1997, SEC.33.
Ind. Code § 25-23.6-2-11 Duties of sections of the board
Sec. 11. The social worker, marriage and family therapist, mental health counselor, and addiction counselor sections of the board shall do the following:
(1) Approve continuing education courses authorized under this article.
(2) Propose rules to the board concerning the practice of the profession regulated by each section.
(3) Other duties as directed by the board.
As added by P.L.186-1990, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.33-1993, SEC.40; P.L.255-1996, SEC.20; P.L.147-1997, SEC.34; P.L.122-2009, SEC.26.
Ind. Code § 25-23.6-2-12 Examinations; testing company services
Sec. 12. The board may utilize the services of a testing company to prepare, conduct, and score examinations.
As added by P.L.186-1990, SEC.9.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/25Fetched: 10/17/2026