“My belief is that we are going to eventually discover that the most dramatic health
benefits of humor are not in laughter, but in the cognitive and emotional management
that humorous experiences provide. The experience of humor relieves emotional
distress and assists in changing negative thinking patterns.”
Steven M. Sultanoff, Ph.D.

Section 5751.2

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=wic&group=05001-06000&file=5750-5772.5

5751.2.  (a) Except as provided in this section, persons employed or under contract to provide mental health services pursuant to this part shall be subject to all applicable requirements of law regarding professional licensure, and no person shall be employed in local mental health programs pursuant to this part to provide services for which a license is required, unless the person possesses a valid license.

   (b) Persons employed as psychologists and clinical social workers, while continuing in their employment in the same class as of January 1, 1979, in the same program or facility, including those persons on authorized leave, but not including intermittent personnel, shall be exempt from the requirements of subdivision (a).

   (c) While registered with the licensing board of jurisdiction for the purpose of acquiring the experience required for licensure, persons employed or under contract to provide mental health services pursuant to this part as clinical social workers or marriage and family therapists shall be exempt from subdivision (a).  Registration shall be subject to regulations adopted by the appropriate licensing board.

   (d) The requirements of subdivision (a) shall be waived by the department for persons employed or under contract to provide mental health services pursuant to this part as psychologists who are gaining the experience required for licensure.  A waiver granted under this subdivision may not exceed five years from the date of employment by, or contract with, a local mental health program for persons in the profession of psychology.

   (e) The requirements of subdivision (a) shall be waived by the department for persons who have been recruited for employment from outside this state as psychologists, clinical social workers, or marriage and family therapists and whose experience is sufficient to gain admission to a licensing examination.  A waiver granted under this subdivision may not exceed three years from the date of employment by, or contract with, a local mental health program for persons in these three professions who are recruited from outside this state.