(1) The division shall grant licensure to a person who qualifies under this chapter to practice as a behavioral health coach.

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Terms Used In Utah Code 58-60-603

  • Board: means the Behavioral Health Board created in Section Utah Code 58-60-102
  • Department: means the Department of Commerce. See Utah Code 58-1-102
  • Division: means the Division of Professional Licensing created in Section 58-1-103. See Utah Code 58-1-102
  • Individual: means a natural person. See Utah Code 58-60-102
  • Person: means :
         (24)(a) an individual;
         (24)(b) an association;
         (24)(c) an institution;
         (24)(d) a corporation;
         (24)(e) a company;
         (24)(f) a trust;
         (24)(g) a limited liability company;
         (24)(h) a partnership;
         (24)(i) a political subdivision;
         (24)(j) a government office, department, division, bureau, or other body of government; and
         (24)(k) any other organization or entity. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Practice as a behavioral health coach: means , subject to Subsection (5), providing services as an employee of a substance use disorder or mental health agency, and working under the general supervision of a mental health therapist and includes:
         (4)(a) providing services under the definition of practice as a behavioral health technician in Subsection (6);
         (4)(b) conducting administrative and care coordination activities, including:
              (4)(b)(i) providing targeted case management;
              (4)(b)(ii) providing care navigation services, including:
                   (4)(b)(ii)(A) connecting individuals to behavioral health resources and social services; and
                   (4)(b)(ii)(B) facilitating communication with other behavioral health providers;
              (4)(b)(iii) providing referrals and crisis referrals, including:
                   (4)(b)(iii)(A) engaging in warm handoffs with other behavioral health providers; and
                   (4)(b)(iii)(B) adhering to a standardized protocol in responding to a crisis or risk of crisis within a behavioral health facility, program, or other entity;
              (4)(b)(iv) providing additional support to other behavioral health providers, facilities, programs, and entities, including:
                   (4)(b)(iv)(A) conducting administrative activities; and
                   (4)(b)(iv)(B) extending non-clinical behavioral health support; and
              (4)(b)(v) providing discharge, post-treatment referral, and non-clinical after-care services;
         (4)(c) conducting patient assessment, monitoring, and planning activities, including:
              (4)(c)(i) conducting non-clinical psychosocial assessments and screenings;
              (4)(c)(ii) conducting collaborative planning, care planning, and goal setting;
              (4)(c)(iii) gathering information to inform a mental health therapist's:
                   (4)(c)(iii)(A) diagnostic evaluations;
                   (4)(c)(iii)(B) initial treatment plans; and
                   (4)(c)(iii)(C) treatment plan reviews and updates;
              (4)(c)(iv) monitoring client progress and tracking outcomes to inform a mental health therapist's:
                   (4)(c)(iv)(A) diagnostic evaluations; and
                   (4)(c)(iv)(B) treatment plan reviews and updates;
              (4)(c)(v) assisting in drafting initial treatment plans by gathering information on a client's history and demographics, only:
                   (4)(c)(v)(A) in the treatment of clients with mild to moderate behavioral health symptoms or disorders, as assessed or diagnosed by a mental health therapist, and as defined by the division in rule;
                   (4)(c)(v)(B) with completion of the treatment plan by a mental health therapist after assessing the client before treatment begins; and
                   (4)(c)(v)(C) at the discretion of and with prior documented authorization from a licensed health care facility, or from a licensed human services program; and
              (4)(c)(vi) assisting in the information gathering process of reviewing and updating treatment goals, only:
                   (4)(c)(vi)(A) in the treatment of clients with mild to moderate behavioral health symptoms or disorders, as assessed or diagnosed by a mental health therapist;
                   (4)(c)(vi)(B) with completion of the treatment plan from a mental health therapist after assessing the client before subsequent treatment begins; and
                   (4)(c)(vi)(C) at the discretion of and with prior documented authorization from a licensed health facility or a licensed human service program; and
         (4)(d) conducting intervention and treatment activities, including:
              (4)(d)(i) providing psychosocial education groups related to behavioral health literacy, wellness education and promotion, goal setting, life skills, and coping skills;
              (4)(d)(ii) providing other interventions to enhance client social skills, emotional well-being, and overall functioning, including:
                   (4)(d)(ii)(A) supportive consultations;
                   (4)(d)(ii)(B) habilitation services; and
                   (4)(d)(ii)(C) activity-based programs;
              (4)(d)(iii) providing evidence-based, manualized interventions, only:
                   (4)(d)(iii)(A) under the supervision of a mental health therapist;
                   (4)(d)(iii)(B) in the treatment of mild to moderate behavioral health symptoms or disorders, as assessed or diagnosed by a mental health therapist; and
                   (4)(d)(iii)(C) according to a treatment plan reviewed and signed by a mental health therapist; and
              (4)(d)(iv) co-facilitating group therapy with a mental health therapist. See Utah Code 58-60-601
  • Practice as a behavioral health technician: means working under the general supervision of a mental health therapist and includes:
              (6)(a)(i) supporting administrative and care coordination activities, including:
                   (6)(a)(i)(A) maintaining accurate and confidential client records, progress notes, and incident reports, in compliance with applicable legal and ethical standards; and
                   (6)(a)(i)(B) assisting in discharge, referral, and after-care documentation, coordination, and administration;
              (6)(a)(ii) supporting patient non-clinical assessment, monitoring, and care planning activities, including:
                   (6)(a)(ii)(A) collecting intake and non-clinical psychosocial assessment information;
                   (6)(a)(ii)(B) gathering information to support diagnostic and treatment planning activities conducted by a mental health therapist; and
                   (6)(a)(ii)(C) observing, documenting, and reporting on client behaviors, treatment interventions, progress, and outcomes to a mental health therapist;
              (6)(a)(iii) supporting intervention and treatment activities, including:
                   (6)(a)(iii)(A) supporting licensed professionals in implementing interventions designed to address behavioral health issues;
                   (6)(a)(iii)(B) facilitating psychoeducational groups or activities, development skills or activities, or social support groups or activities to enhance client social skills, emotional well-being, and overall functioning;
                   (6)(a)(iii)(C) providing education and support to clients and their families on behavioral health issues, treatment options, and community resources;
                   (6)(a)(iii)(D) implementing behavioral management strategies including de-escalation techniques and crisis intervention as needed; and
                   (6)(a)(iii)(E) implementing crisis intervention strategies in accordance with established protocols, and ensuring the safety and well-being of clients during emergencies. See Utah Code 58-60-601
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
(2) The division shall grant state certification to a person who qualifies under this chapter to practice as a behavioral health technician.
(3) An applicant for state certification as a behavioral health technician shall:

     (3)(a) submit an application in a form prescribed by the division;
     (3)(b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 63J-1-504; and
     (3)(c) provide certified transcripts verifying satisfactory completion of:

          (3)(c)(i) a one-year academic certificate relevant to practice as a behavioral health technician from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning, or an equivalence of that certification as determined by the division in rule; or
          (3)(c)(ii) an associate’s degree or higher in a field determined by the division to be relevant to practice as a behavioral health technician, from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning, including:

               (3)(c)(ii)(A) human and social services;
               (3)(c)(ii)(B) counseling;
               (3)(c)(ii)(C) psychology;
               (3)(c)(ii)(D) social, behavioral, and health sciences; and
               (3)(c)(ii)(E) education and human development.
(4) An applicant for licensure as a behavioral health coach by:

     (4)(a) the higher education pathway shall:

          (4)(a)(i) submit an application in a form prescribed by the division;
          (4)(a)(ii) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 63J-1-504; and
          (4)(a)(iii) provide certified transcripts verifying satisfactory completion of a bachelor’s degree or higher in a field determined by the division to be relevant to practice as a behavioral health coach, from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning, or an equivalence of that degree or higher, as determined by the division in rule, including:

               (4)(a)(iii)(A) human and social services;
               (4)(a)(iii)(B) counseling;
               (4)(a)(iii)(C) psychology;
               (4)(a)(iii)(D) social, behavioral, and health sciences; and
               (4)(a)(iii)(E) education and human development;
          (4)(a)(iv) provide certified transcripts verifying satisfactory completion of no less than nine credit hours in applied skills relevant to practice as a behavioral health coach, including:

               (4)(a)(iv)(A) ethical, legal, and professional issues in behavioral health;
               (4)(a)(iv)(B) therapeutic, counseling, or direct practice skills and methods;
               (4)(a)(iv)(C) clinical documentation;
               (4)(a)(iv)(D) case management; and
               (4)(a)(iv)(E) supervised internship or practicum experience; and
          (4)(a)(v) provide a letter of recommendation from an individual with direct knowledge of the applicant’s competency to the practice as a behavioral health coach, who is qualified to evaluate the applicant’s competency, including:

               (4)(a)(v)(A) a supervisor from a current or past work experience, internship, or practicum relevant to the practice as a behavioral health coach; or
               (4)(a)(v)(B) an instructor of an applied skills course relevant to the practice as a behavioral health coach; and
     (4)(b) the stacked credentials and experience pathway shall:

          (4)(b)(i) submit an application in a form prescribed by the division;
          (4)(b)(ii) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 63J-1-504;
          (4)(b)(iii) provide certified transcripts verifying satisfactory completion of an associate’s degree or higher in a field determined by the division to be relevant to the practice as a behavioral health coach from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning, including:

               (4)(b)(iii)(A) human and social services;
               (4)(b)(iii)(B) counseling;
               (4)(b)(iii)(C) psychology;
               (4)(b)(iii)(D) social, behavioral, and health sciences; and
               (4)(b)(iii)(E) education and human development;
          (4)(b)(iv) provide certified transcripts verifying satisfactory completion of no less than nine credit hours in applied skills relevant to the practice as a behavioral health coach, including:

               (4)(b)(iv)(A) ethical, legal, and professional issues in behavioral health;
               (4)(b)(iv)(B) therapeutic, counseling, or direct practice skills and methods;
               (4)(b)(iv)(C) clinical documentation;
               (4)(b)(iv)(D) case management; and
               (4)(b)(iv)(E) supervised internship or practicum experience;
          (4)(b)(v) provide documentation of two years full-time work experience, or equivalent, in a context or role determined by the division to be relevant to the practice as a behavioral health coach, including as a:

               (4)(b)(v)(A) certified behavioral health technician;
               (4)(b)(v)(B) certified peer support specialist;
               (4)(b)(v)(C) certified case manager;
               (4)(b)(v)(D) certified crisis worker; or
               (4)(b)(v)(E) substance use disorder counselor; and
          (4)(b)(vi) provide a letter of recommendation from an individual with direct knowledge of the applicant’s competency to the practice as a behavioral health coach, who is qualified to evaluate the applicant’s competency, including:

               (4)(b)(vi)(A) a supervisor from a current or past work experience, internship, or practicum relevant to the practice as a behavioral health coach; or
               (4)(b)(vi)(B) an instructor of an applied skills course relevant to the practice as a behavioral health coach.
(5)

     (5)(a) Subject to Subsection (5)(b), Section 58-60-104 governs the term, expiration, and renewal of licenses and certifications the division grants under this part.
     (5)(b) At the time of renewal, an applicant for renewal shall provide satisfactory documentation that the applicant has completed any ongoing professional development requirements, as established by the division in rule made in consultation with the board.