Oregon Code § 675.825·Enacted ·Last updated March 01, 2026
Statute Text
Prohibited practices; exceptions; civil penalty.
(1) A person may not:
(a) Attempt to
obtain or obtain a license or license renewal by bribery or fraudulent
representation.
(b) Engage in or
purport to the public to be engaged in the practice of professional counseling
under the title licensed professional counselor unless the person is a
licensee.
(c) Engage in or
purport to the public to be engaged in the practice of marriage and family
therapy under the title of licensed marriage and family therapist unless the
person is a licensee.
(d) Engage in the
practice of professional counseling or marriage and family therapy unless:
(A) The person is
a licensee, registered associate or graduate student pursuing a graduate degree
in counseling or marriage and family therapy; or
(B) The person is
exempted from the licensing requirements of ORS 675.715 to 675.835 by
subsection (3) of this section.
(e) Provide
counseling or therapy services of a psychotherapeutic nature if the persons
license to practice as a professional counselor or as a marriage and family
therapist has been revoked by the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional
Counselors and Therapists because the person engaged in sexual activity with a
client.
(2) A licensed
psychologist whose license, or a regulated social worker whose authorization to
practice regulated social work, was issued prior to October 1, 1991, may use
the title marriage and family therapist.
(3) The licensing
requirements of ORS 675.715 to 675.835 do not apply to a person who is:
(a) Licensed,
certified, registered or similarly regulated under the laws of this state and
who is performing duties within the authorized scope of practice of the
license, certification, registration or regulation.
(b) A recognized
member of the clergy, provided that the person is acting in the persons
ministerial capacity.
(c) Employed by a
local, state or federal agency, a public university listed in ORS 352.002 or
any agency licensed or certified by the state to provide mental health or
health services, if the persons activities constituting professional
counseling or marriage and family therapy are performed within the scope of the
persons employment.
(d) Authorized to
provide addiction treatment services under rules of the Department of Human
Services.
(4) Nothing in
ORS 675.715 to 675.835 limits or prevents the practice of a persons profession
or restricts a person from providing counseling services or services related to
marriage and family if the person:
(a) Does not meet
the requirements of ORS 675.715 (1)(b); or
(b) Does not
practice:
(A) Marriage and
family therapy as defined in ORS 675.705 (7)(a); or
(B) Professional
counseling as defined in ORS 675.705 (8)(a).
(5) Each
violation of this section is a separate violation.
(6) The board may
levy a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 for each separate violation of this
section. [1989 c.721 §18; 1993 c.546 §113; 2009 c.442 §24; 2009 c.549 §9; 2013
c.211 §4; 2019 c.384 §3; 2021 c.677 §12; 2022 c.17 §4]