The Professional Counselor Examiners Committee shall consist of six residents of this State, four of whom shall be licensed professional counselors engaged primarily in the practice of counseling, one of whom shall be a licensed professional counselor engaged primarily in teaching, training or research in counseling, and one of whom shall be a licensed rehabilitation counselor primarily engaged in the practice of rehabilitation counseling.

Members of the Committee

Licensed Professional Counselor members engaged primarily in the practice of counseling

Abbey F. Bradway, M.S., L.P.C.
Barbara A. Maurer, M.S., L.P.C.
Vacancy
Vacancy

Licensed Professional Counselor members engaged primarily in teaching J. Barry Mascari, Ed.D., L.P.C.

Licensed Professional Counselor members engaged primarily in the practice of rehabilitation counseling

William F. Green, M.S., L.R.C.

New Jersey Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners Professional Staff
and Professional Counselor Examiners Committee Staff

Elaine L. DeMars, Executive Director
(973) 504-6582
(973) 504-6415

Celeste Sweeper, Administrative Assistant
(973) 504-6582

Agnes Almeida, Administrative Clerk
(973) 504-6582

Professional Counselor Examiners Committee

The Professional Counselor Examiners Committee was established on December 10, 1997 (pursuant to N.J.S.A. 45:8B- 34 et seq.) to function as a committee of the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners. The Committee consists of six residents of New Jersey, four of whom are licensed professional counselors engaged primarily in the practice of counseling, one of whom is a licensed professional counselor engaged in teaching, training or research in counseling, and one of whom is a licensed rehabilitation counselor primarily engaged in the practice of rehabilitation counseling. The members are appointed by the Governor. Regular meetings of the Committee are held on the first Thursday of every month at 124 Halsey Street, Newark, New Jersey, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

The purpose of the Committee is:
• to protect the health, safety and welfare of the people of New Jersey;
•to regulate the practice of professional counseling and rehabilitation counseling; and
• to take action against the unprofessional, improper, unauthorized or unqualified practice of professional counseling and guard against unprofessional conduct by the licensed individuals who practice professional counseling.

How does the Committee accomplish its purpose?
The Committee protects the public by:
• making sure all professional counselors meet the requirements set by statute;
• investigating and prosecuting professional counselors who break the State’s consumer protection laws; and
• requiring all professional counselors to be licensed and to renew their licenses biennially.

How do professional counselors become licensed by the State?
A person applying for licensure as a professional counselor submits an application showing that he or she is at least 18 years of age and is of good moral character. Applicants must have a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours in a planned educational program, which included a master’s degree or doctorate in counseling from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, of which 45 graduate semester hours are distributed in eight of nine core course work areas. Applicants must have had at least three years of supervised full-time counseling experience, one year of which may be obtained prior to the granting of the master’s degree. An applicant may eliminate one year of the required supervised counseling experience by substituting 30 graduate semester hours, beyond the master’s degree, if those graduate semester hours are clearly related to counseling and are acceptable to the Committee. The applicant must have passed the National Counselor Examination of the National Board for Certified Counselors. Detailed information on the requirements for licensure can be found in the statute (N.J.S.A. 45:8B-34).

How are complaints resolved?
If the complaint is within the Committee’s jurisdiction:
• the complaint may be referred to an investigator who may contact you for additional information;
• the professional counselor will be asked to respond to your concerns; and
• the Committee will evaluate the complaint and the professional counselor’s response to determine if the complaint involves a violation of the law.

What happens next?
• If the Committee determines that a violation has occurred, it may issue a reprimand, or revoke or suspend the license of the professional counselor. The Committee may impose monetary penalties or take other appropriate action.
• During disciplinary proceedings, licensees may be represented by an attorney and are given the right to demonstrate their compliance with the law. Once the Committee has taken action against a licensee, he or she has the right to appeal the action.

Consumer Tips
• Before visiting a professional counselor, call the Committee at 973-504-6582 to make sure the individual is currently licensed and in good standing. Consumers also can search online to find out about a professional counselor’s license status. They can go directly to the online licensee directories by logging onto the Internet and going to www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/director.htm.
• The Committee can also provide you with a professional counselor’s date of licensure, license number and business address. The online licensee directory will provide you with the professional counselor’s license number, business address and the status of the counselor’s license.
• Ask if there are any public disciplinary actions the Committee has taken against the professional counselor. Public actions on file with the Committee include: filed complaints from the Division of Law, consent orders or final orders imposing the revocation of licenses, and other public disciplinary or remedial actions taken against a professional counselor such as a suspension, reprimand, probation or fine.
• If possible, select a professional counselor the way you would a physician, lawyer or dentist: Ask those you know and trust to make a recommendation.
If you have any questions, you may contact the Professional Counselor Examiners Committee at 973-504-6582, or via email at:
AskConsumerAffairs@dca.lps.state.nj.us.

What are my rights as a consumer if I have a complaint about a professional counselor?
Every consumer has a right to file a complaint against a professional counselor either by writing to the mailing address below, or by filling out and submitting the online complaint form for the Professional Counselor Examiners Committee which can be found by logging onto the Internet and going to: http://www.njconsumeraffairs.com/medical.htm#marr4.