I am in a heated discussion via email with a ministerial colleague who adamantly states Florida licenses Spiritual Advisors/Healers. I say they don't. Does anyone on here have any insight into this?
Licensure does not need to be a matter of debate. I would challenge your friend to show you the state website where the criteria for licensure in these areas is laid out. There will be educational criteria, experience criteria, supervision criteria and criteria regarding continuing education. In my state all such matters are handled by the Dept. of Public Health. I'd simply say, "Put up or shut up." BTW, I've never heard of such a license unless we're talking about some form of pastoral counseling thing.
I live in Florida and never heard of this. Do you want me to grab some business cards from church of people that consider themselves "Spiritual Healers" and let you know?
There is a list of licensed professions in Florida at myfloridalicense.com, which is maintained by the Florida Dept. of Business & Professional Regulation. Lots of professions listed there, from Talent Agencies to CPAs to Barbers to Auctioneers. Don't see anything like a "spiritual healer/advisor" though. Health care professionals are licensed separately by the Florida Dept. of Health. Their list is here. Don't see anything like a "spiritual healer/advisor" there either. A "spiritual healer/advisor" might be eligible for a Florida business license, but obviously so would any other any sort of business.
Cities/counties/states may classify businesses as part of their business licensing programs. It wouldn't surprise me if Florida (or cities/counties in Florida) have business licenses specifically for "spiritual healer/advisors". For example, Tulare County in California has a "Fortune-Teller Business License". But a business license isn't the same as a professional license -- it doesn't mean that they test applicants to make sure that they can read fortunes accurately. The County just wants to keep track of the different people involved in different business activities within their jurisdictions.
Both ACI and NCCA are located in Sarasota, Florida. Between the two, most anything can be licensed/accredited/legitimized/credentialed.
This place can "license" just about anything, too - just like the entities RAM mentioned. List of Accredited Boards Want to be a "spiritual advisor" - they'll hook you up! :smile: It might not cut it with the State. As I mentioned elsewhere, on this same topic - Florida does license its mental health counselors and some LMHCs offer their services as spiritual advisors. I provided an example. That - I believe - is as close as it gets. Johann
Thanks to all. I pretty much did everything suggested and done by a few on here. He is being mislead by an organization but he is stubborn so he will have to suffer the consequences. He is a "Licensed Christian Psychologist" by this entity and claims he is a psychologist in the State of Florida. Even calling himself a "Christian Psychologist" is a violation of the law.
Wow. So this apparently exists (though not entirely legitimately): http://facct93.com/licensureapplication.pdf
sorry for your friend. he will likely make some money but then maybe suffer a penalty. some people get away with breaking the law for some time before getting caught.
I drove by a new fortune telling shop yesterday. I don't know if they use Tarot cards or tea leaves but I'm sure that's not against the law either. Oh well . . .
Actually, fortune-telling is illegal in some places. And some others require a somewhat prohibitively expensive license - maybe $1,000 or more. Not easy everywhere for a nice Romani lady who just wants to open a traditional ofisa... :smile: Anyway, I don't know of an accredited school that has that program. :jester: Johann
Indeed, no credible legitimacy will come from either ACI or NCCA. Unfortunately, both organizations make the recipients of their credentials think they are legitimate. :frown: