SOP 508.04-att-3: Criteria for Clinical Privileges

SOP 508.04
Attachment 3

12/14/20

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Criteria for Clinical Privileges

Refer to these criteria by number and letter to justify approving/disapproving an applicant's
clinical privilege request.

I. Counseling

A. To perform Supportive Counseling, a mental health counselor or behavior
specialist needs:
1. At least a bachelor's degree in counseling, psychology or a
closely related field.

B. To perform Psychoeducational Training, a mental health counselor or
behavior specialist needs:
1. At least a bachelor's degree in counseling, psychology or a
closely related field,
2. Or at least having co-facilitated a psychoeducational group.

C. To perform Correctional Case Management, a mental health counselor or
behavior specialist needs:
1. At least a bachelor's degree.

D. To conduct Life Skills Training, a mental health counselor or behavior
specialist needs:
1. At least a bachelor's degree.

II. Therapy

A. To perform Individual Therapy, a mental health counselor or behavior
specialist needs:
1. At least a master's degree in counseling (with adequate
emphasis in the mental health field), psychology, or meet
the educational requirements as a clinical social worker,
marriage and family counselor or psychologist.
2. And two years of clinical supervision while providing
services to a mental health population.

B. To perform Group Therapy:
1. Without a licensed co-facilitator, a mental health counselor
or behavior specialist needs:
a. At least a master's degree in counseling (with
adequate emphasis in the mental health field),

Form no. M10-01-03 Page 1 of 4

Retention Schedule: This criteria on this attachment shall be utilized until obsolete or replaced.

SOP 508.04
Attachment 3

12/14/20

Criteria for Clinical Privileges (cont’d)

psychology, or meet the educational requirements
for licensure as a clinical social worker, marriage
and family counselor or psychologist.
b. and at least three (3) months of co-facilitating a
therapy group and receiving clinical supervision
from a licensed clinician. (The clinical supervisor
must assess the counselor's or behavior specialist's
skills to be appropriate before granting the privilege
at the three (3) month interval).
2. With a licensed co-facilitator, a mental health counselor or
behavior specialist needs at least a master's degree in
counseling (with adequate emphasis in the mental health
field), psychology, or meet the educational requirements
for licensure as a clinical social worker, marriage and
family counselor or psychologist.

C. To perform Sexual Abuse Therapy, a mental health counselor or
behavior specialist needs:
1. At least a master's degree in counseling or a related field,
a. At least a master's degree in counseling (with
adequate emphasis in the mental health field),
psychology or meet the educational requirements
for licensure as a clinical social worker, marriage
and family counselor or psychologist.
2. Have successfully completed Georgia Department of
Correction's Sexual Assault Counseling Training Program.

III. Evaluations

A. To perform Mental Health Reception Screens, a mental health counselor
or behavior specialist needs:
1. At least a bachelor's degree and training in performing
mental health reception screens.

B. To perform the Mental Health Service Screen/Evaluation, a mental
health counselor or behavior specialist needs:
1. At least a master's degree in counseling (with
adequate emphasis in the mental health field),
psychology, or meet the educational requirements
for licensure as a clinical social worker, marriage
and family counselor or psychologist.

Form no. M10-01-03 Page 2 of 4

Retention Schedule: This criteria on this attachment shall be utilized until obsolete or replaced.

SOP 508.04
Attachment 3

12/14/20

Criteria for Clinical Privileges (cont’d)

C. To perform the On-Call Triage, a mental health counselor or behavior
specialist needs:
1. Without having to call the on-call psychiatrist for
consultation whenever he/she is asked to make a clinical
decision, at least a master's degree in counseling (with
adequate emphasis in the mental health field), psychology,
or meet the educational requirements as a clinical social
worker, marriage and family counselor or psychologist.
2. While having to call the on-call psychiatrist for
consultation whenever he/she is asked to make a clinical
decision, at least a bachelor's degree with a major in
counseling, psychology or a closely related field.

D. To perform a Sexual Allegation Evaluation, a mental health counselor or
behavior specialist needs:
1. At least a master's degree in counseling (with
adequate emphasis in the mental health field),
psychology, or meet the educational requirements
for licensure as a clinical social worker, marriage
and family counselor or psychologist.
2. and, to have successfully completed Georgia Department of
Correction's Sexual Allegation Counseling Training
Program.

E. To perform a Disciplinary Evaluation, a mental health provider needs:
1. To be a psychiatrist, licensed psychologist, certified
psychiatric clinical nurse specialist, licensed clinical social
worker, licensed professional counselor, licensed master's
social worker, or licensed master's family therapist.

F. To perform an Administrative Segregation Evaluation, a qualified mental
health provider needs:
1. At least a master's degree in counseling (with
adequate emphasis in the mental health field),
psychology, or meet the educational requirements
for licensure as a clinical social worker, marriage
and family counselor or psychologist.

IV. Psychological Testing

A. To administer and score Intelligence Tests, a behavior specialist needs:
1. At least a master's degree in psychology or a related field.

Form no. M10-01-03 Page 3 of 4

Retention Schedule: This criteria on this attachment shall be utilized until obsolete or replaced.

SOP 508.04
Attachment 3

12/14/20

Criteria for Clinical Privileges (cont’d)

2. and to have passed a skill assessment by his/her clinical
supervisor

B. To administer and score Objective Personality Tests, a behavior specialist
needs:
1. At least a master's degree in psychology or a related field,
2. and to have passed a skill assessment by his/her clinical
supervisor.

C. To administer and score Projective Personality Tests, under the direct
supervision of a psychologist, a behavior specialist needs:
1. At least a master's degree in psychology or a related field,
2. and one year of clinically supervised experience
administering and scoring projective tests,
3. and to have passed a skill assessment by his/her clinical
supervisor.

D. To administer and score Neuropsychological Tests, under the direct
supervision of a psychologist, a behavior specialist needs:
1. At least a master's degree in psychology or a related field,
2. and to have passed a skill assessment by his/her clinical
supervisor.

Form no. M10-01-03 Page 4 of 4

Retention Schedule: This criteria on this attachment shall be utilized until obsolete or replaced.