Section 124981.

(a)  No person shall use the title of genetic counselor unless the person has applied for and obtained a license from the department.

(b) The applicant for a genetic counselor license shall meet minimum qualifications that include, but are not limited to, both of the following:

(1) Has earned a master's degree or above from a program specializing in or having substantial course content in genetics.

(2) Has demonstrated competence by an examination administered or approved by the department.

(c) The license shall be valid for three years unless at any time during that period it is revoked or suspended. The license may be renewed prior to the expiration of the three-year period.

(d) To qualify to renew the license, a licenseholder shall have completed 45 hours of continuing education units during the three-year license renewal period. At least 30 hours of the continuing education units shall be in genetics.

(e) The license fee for an original license and license renewal shall not exceed two hundred dollars ($200).

(f) Until the department has finalized regulations that are needed to implement subdivision (b), the department shall license, upon application and payment of the application fee specified in subdivision (e), a genetic counselor applicant who meets the requirements of subdivision (b), is currently credentialed and in good standing with the American Board of Genetic Counseling, and has no history of disciplinary action by the board. When the department has finalized the regulations needed to implement subdivision (b), genetic counselors who have received a license pursuant to this subdivision shall be subject to the regulations implementing this section and Sections 124980 and 124982, and this subdivision shall become inoperative.

(g) The department may revoke the license of a genetic counselor who is licensed pursuant to subdivision (f) if either of the following occur:

(1) The counselor loses his or her credential granted by the American Board of Genetic Counseling or is placed on probationary status.

(2) The counselor has been convicted of a felony charge that is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a genetic counselor. A plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony charge shall be deemed a conviction for the purposes of this paragraph.

(h) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2014, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2014, deletes or extends that date.

(i) The amendments made to this section by the act adding this subdivision shall become operative on July 1, 2011.

(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 550, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2011. Amendment operative July 1, 2011, by subdivision (i) (which operates on Jan. 1). Repealed as of January 1, 2014, by its own provisions. See later operative version added by Sec. 2 of Ch. 550.)