Title 9. Workers' Compensation — Subtitle 6A. Rehabilitation Practitioners

“Rehabilitation practitioner” means an individual who provides vocational rehabilitation services.

“Rehabilitation practitioner” includes:

Employers of rehabilitation practitioners are not required to register individually for their business to provide vocational rehabilitation services.

Exemption of registration applies only to those employers who are not registered rehabilitation practitioners.

Exempt employers may not individually provide vocational rehabilitation services.

The Advisory Committee shall be comprised of registered rehabilitation practitioners, who are registered with the Commission under this subtitle.

The Commission shall appoint members of the Advisory Committee so that its membership reflects the geographic, racial, ethnic, and gender makeup of the population of the State.

review applications for registration submitted to the Commission whenever further clarification regarding the applicant is requested by the Commission; and

after review and evaluation, provide recommendations to the Commission chairman on the applicant.

Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Commission shall establish reasonable fees for registration, registration renewal, and any other service performed by the Commission necessary to carry out the provisions of this subtitle.

The Commission shall pay all money collected under this subtitle into a special fund to be used only to fund the actual direct and indirect costs of regulating the rehabilitation practitioner industry in this State in accordance with the provisions of this subtitle.

Any surplus remaining in the special fund at the end of the fiscal year shall be used to reduce the registration fee for the following fiscal year.

be at least 18 years old; and

satisfy the education, experience, and supervision requirements of § 9-6A-09 of this subtitle.

have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in rehabilitation counseling, human services, psychology, or a related field with at least 1 year of work experience in a human services occupation;

have a master’s or doctoral degree in rehabilitation counseling, human services, psychology, education, or a related field; or

be a certified rehabilitation counselor, certified vocational evaluator, certified disability management specialist, hold an equivalent national certification that is acceptable to the Commission, or have met all of the education and experience requirements to be eligible to be certified.

have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in vocational evaluation, rehabilitation psychology, human services, education, or a related field with 1 year of work experience in that field;

have a master’s or doctoral degree in rehabilitation, vocational evaluation, psychology, human services, education, or a related field; or

be certified or have met all of the educational and experience requirements to be eligible to be certified in vocational evaluation by the Commission on certification of work adjustment and vocational evaluation specialists, or have met all of the education and experience requirements to be eligible for certification.

a rehabilitation counselor who has met the education requirements under subsection (c)(1) or (2) of this section to qualify for registration shall work under the administrative supervision of a certified rehabilitation counselor, certified vocational evaluator, certified disability management specialist, certified case manager, or certified rehabilitation registered nurse; and

a vocational evaluator who has met the education requirements under subsection (d)(1) or (2) of this section shall work under the administrative supervision of a certified vocational evaluator, certified rehabilitation counselor, certified disability management specialist, certified case manager, or certified rehabilitation registered nurse.

a renewal application form; and

a renewal notice that states:

is entitled under this subtitle to be registered;

pays to the Commission the renewal fee set by the Commission; and

provides satisfactory evidence of compliance with continuing education requirements and other qualifications and requirements specified under this subtitle for registration renewal.

fraudulently or deceptively obtains or attempts to obtain a registration for the applicant or for another;

fraudulently or deceptively uses a registration; or

does not comply with the rules and regulations governing the standards of practice with regard to the delivery of vocational rehabilitation services.

shall give notice and hold a hearing in accordance with hearing regulations adopted by the Commission;

may administer oaths in connection with any proceeding under this section; and

may issue subpoenas in connection with any proceeding under this section.