House committee substitute makes the following changes to the 2nd edition. 

Section 1 creates new requirements for applicants before the Board of Licensed Professional Counselors seeking licensure as "licensed professional counselor associates."

The committee substitute makes only technical changes to the requirements for an applicant who applies on or before March 1, 2016.

For an applicant who applies after March 1, 2016, through June 30, 2022, the committee substitute adjusts the requirements pertaining to accreditation for institutes of higher education. For these applicants, a master's degree must come from an institution that is either regionally accredited or accredited by an organization both recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).  

An applicant who applies on or after July 1, 2022, must possess a master's degree from an institution accredited by CACREP. These applicants must have earned a minimum of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate training (for earlier applicants, these numbers vary according to the applicant's date of enrollment) and have passed an exam.

Section 2 makes a conforming change.

The above changes are effective October 1, 2015.

Section 3 requires in GS 115C-81 that materials used in a local school administrative unit's reproductive health and safety education program be accepted by experts (was, experts in the field of sexual health education). 

Section 4 amends GS 115C-81 to require that a local school administrative unit's reproductive health and safety education program teach about sex trafficking prevention and awareness and requires collaboration with outside experts, including with law enforcement, to develop a referral protocol for high-risk pupils and minors. 

Sections 3 and 4 apply beginning with the 2016-17 school year. 

Makes conforming changes. 

Changes the long title.