CHAPTER 36-36
GENETIC COUNSELORS
36-36-1 Definitions.
36-36-2 Genetic counseling defined.
36-36-3 Practice of genetic counseling defined.
36-36-4 Unlicensed practice of genetic counseling or use of title prohibited--Violation as misdemeanor.
36-36-5 Application for license--Fee--Qualifications.
36-36-6 Grounds for refusal of license.
36-36-7 Documented referral required--Supervision of patient--Reports--Genetic testing.
36-36-8 Seminars.
36-36-9 Temporary license--Fee--Examination--Expiration.
36-36-10 Supervision of temporary licensee.
36-36-11 Renewal of license--Application--Fee--Continuing education.
36-36-12 Promulgation of rules.
36-36-13 Cancellation, revocation, suspension, or limitation of license for incompetence, unprofessional conduct, or statutory violation.
36-36-14 Reinstatement and renewal of license.
36-36-15 Genetic counselor advisory council--Appointment--Terms--Duties--Board communication.
36-36-1. Definitions.
Terms used in this chapter mean:
(1) "ABGC," the American Board of Genetic Counseling;
(2) "ABMGG," the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics;
(3) "ACGC," the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling;
(4) "Board," The South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners;
(5) "Genetic counselor," a person licensed under this chapter to engage in the practice of genetic counseling;
(6) "Referral," a written or telecommunicated authorization for genetic counseling services from a licensed physician or a licensed certified nurse midwife, licensed certified nurse practitioner, licensed clinical nurse specialist, or a licensed physician assistant, who has an agreement and signed protocols with a licensed physician who authorizes referrals to a genetic counselor; and
(7) "Supervision," the ongoing direct clinical review, for the purposes of training or teaching, by a supervisor approved by the board who monitors the performance or a person's supervised interaction with a client and provides regular documented face-to-face consultation, guidance, and instructions with respect to the clinical skills and competencies of the person supervised. This supervision may be by personal contact or indirect contact by telecommunication.
Source: SL 2009, ch 194, § 1; SL 2016, ch 198, § 1.
36-36-2. Genetic counseling defined.
For the purposes of this chapter, genetic counseling is a communication process, conducted by appropriately trained persons that includes:
(1) Assisting a person, the person's family, a health care provider, or the public with comprehending the issues inherent to genetic counseling. The assistance may include the following:
(a) Appreciating the medical, psychological, and social implications of a disorder including features, variability, usual course, and management options;
(b) Learning how genetic factors contribute to the disorder and affect the chance for recurrence of the condition in other family members;
(c) Understanding available options for coping with, preventing, or reducing the chance of occurrence or recurrence of a condition;
(d) Selecting the most appropriate, accurate, and cost-effective methods of diagnosis, including the ordering of genetic tests consistent with the referral and reporting requirements of this chapter; or
(e) Understanding genetic tests, including diagnostic genetic tests, screening tests, or predispositional genetic tests, coordinating testing for inherited disorders, and interpreting complex genetic test results;
(2) Assessing the likelihood of the occurrence or recurrence of an abnormality in the fetus in structure, function, or metabolism or of any potentially inherited or genetically influenced condition. The assessment may include the following:
(a) Obtaining and analyzing a complete health history of a person and the person's family;
(b) Reviewing pertinent medical records;
(c) Evaluating the risks from exposure to possible mutagens or teratogens; or
(d) Ordering genetic testing or other evaluations, consistent with the referral and reporting requirements of this chapter, to diagnose a condition or determine the carrier status of one or more family members; and
(3) Facilitating an individual's or family's:
(a) Exploration of the perception of risk and burden associated with a genetic disorder;
(b) Decision-making regarding testing or medical interventions consistent with the individual's or family's beliefs, goals, needs, resources, or cultural, ethical, or moral views; and
(c) Adjustment and adaptation to the condition or the genetic risk by addressing needs for psychological, social, and medical support.
Source: SL 2009, ch 194, § 2; SL 2016, ch 198, § 2.
36-36-3. Practice of genetic counseling defined.
For the purposes of this chapter, the practice of genetic counseling is the process of helping people understand and adapt to the medical, psychological, and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease performed pursuant to a referral. This process integrates the following:
(1) Interpretation of family and medical histories to assess the chance of disease occurrence or recurrence;
(2) Education about inheritance, testing, management, prevention, resources, and research;
(3) Ordering genetic testing consistent with the referral and reporting requirements of this chapter; and
(4) Counseling to promote informed decisions and adaptation to the risk or condition.
Source: SL 2009, ch 194, § 3; SL 2016, ch 198, § 3.
36-36-4. Unlicensed practice of genetic counseling or use of title prohibited--Violation as misdemeanor.
No person may engage in the practice of genetic counseling, act or represent himself or herself to be a genetic counselor, or use such titles as genetic counselor, licensed genetic counselor, gene counselor, genetic associate, or any words, letters, abbreviations, or insignia, such as certified genetic counselor (CGC), indicating or implying that such person is a genetic counselor, unless such person holds a license or temporary license and otherwise complies with the provisions of this chapter and the rules adopted pursuant to this chapter. However, any qualified and licensed health care professional who is practicing within the professional's scope of practice may engage in the practice of genetic counseling, without being licensed pursuant to this chapter, but may not use the title, genetic counselor, or any other title indicating or implying that the person is a genetic counselor unless licensed as such in this state. A violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Source: SL 2009, ch 194, § 4.
36-36-5. Application for license--Fee--Qualifications.
Any person desiring to engage in the practice of genetic counseling in this state shall apply to the board for a license and pay the license fee. The application shall contain the information the board may require. The license fee shall be established by the board by rules promulgated pursuant to chapter 1-26. The license fee may not exceed two hundred dollars. The board may grant a license to any applicant who gives satisfactory proof of being of at least eighteen years of age and who is of good moral character and also fulfills the following requirements:
(1) Education at one of the following levels:
(a) Master's degree from a genetic counseling training program that is accredited by the ACGC and approved by the board; or
(b) Doctoral degree from a medical genetics training program that is accredited by the ABMGG and approved by the board; and
(2) Successful completion of all requirements of the certification examination within a period not to exceed four years from initial examination to successful completion and with no more than two attempts.
Source: SL 2009, ch 194, § 5; SL 2016, ch 198, § 4.
36-36-6. Grounds for refusal of license.
The board may, in compliance with chapter 1-26, refuse to grant a license under this chapter for unprofessional, immoral, or dishonorable conduct on the part of the applicant.
Source: SL 2009, ch 194, § 6.
36-36-7. Documented referral required--Supervision of patient--Reports--Genetic testing.
No licensed genetic counselor may provide genetic counseling to individuals, couples, groups, or families without a documented referral from a physician, certified nurse midwife, licensed certified nurse practitioner, licensed clinical nurse specialist, or a licensed physician assistant. The licensed physician, certified nurse midwife, licensed certified nurse practitioner, licensed clinical nurse specialist, or licensed physician assistant shall maintain supervision of the patient, including the regular review of orders of genetic tests. The licensed genetic counselor shall submit reports to the physician, certified nurse midwife, licensed certified nurse practitioner, licensed clinical nurse specialist, or licensed physician assistant on any services provided, including genetic testing. No genetic testing may be provided unless ordered by a licensed genetic counselor, physician, certified nurse midwife, licensed certified nurse practitioner, licensed clinical nurse specialist, or licensed physician assistant.
Source: SL 2009, ch 194, § 7; SL 2016, ch 198, § 5.
36-36-8. Seminars.
A licensed genetic counselor may provide a general seminar without a referral to a group or organization on genetic counseling if the seminar does not include individual, couple, or family specific counseling.
Source: SL 2009, ch 194, § 8.
36-36-9. Temporary license--Fee--Examination--Expiration.
The board may issue a temporary license to an applicant who has paid the temporary license fee, meets all the qualifications for licensure as established in § 36-36-5 with the exception of certification by the ABMGG or ABGC, and has submitted evidence to the board that the applicant is a candidate accepted to write the examination or is awaiting the results of the first examination for which the applicant is eligible after graduation from an approved genetic counseling program. The board shall establish a temporary license fee by rules promulgated pursuant to chapter 1-26. The temporary license fee may not exceed one hundred dollars. A temporary licensee shall take the next available examination. If any temporary licensee fails the first sitting of ABGC or ABMGG certification examination or the temporary license expires, then the applicant may reapply for a second temporary license. A temporary license may not be issued if the applicant has failed the ABGC or ABMGG certification examination more than twice. A temporary license expires on the occurrence of the following:
(1) Issuance of a regular license;
(2) Failure to pass the board-approved examination; or
(3) Expiration of the term for which the temporary license was issued.
Source: SL 2009, ch 194, § 9; SL 2016, ch 198, § 6.
36-36-10. Supervision of temporary licensee.
Any licensee practicing pursuant to the authority of a temporary license shall practice under the supervision of a licensed genetic counselor or a physician approved by the board with current ABMGG certification in clinical genetics.
Source: SL 2009, ch 194, § 10; SL 2016, ch 198, § 7.
36-36-11. Renewal of license--Application--Fee--Continuing education.
Each license issued pursuant to this chapter shall be renewed annually on a date set by the board. The board shall renew a license upon payment of the renewal fee, submission of a renewal application in a form approved by the board, and evidence satisfactory to the board of the applicant's successful completion of continuing education requirements. The board shall establish the renewal fee by rules promulgated pursuant to chapter 1-26. The fee may not exceed one hundred dollars.
Source: SL 2009, ch 194, § 11; SL 2016, ch 198, § 8.
36-36-12. Promulgation of rules.
The board shall promulgate rules pursuant to chapter 1-26 pertaining to fees, licensure, investigations, and continuing education.
Source: SL 2009, ch 194, § 12; SL 2016, ch 198, § 9; SL 2021, ch 168, § 46.
36-36-13. Cancellation, revocation, suspension, or limitation of license for incompetence, unprofessional conduct, or statutory violation.
The board may cancel, revoke, suspend, or limit the license of any genetic counselor issued pursuant to this chapter upon satisfactory proof by a preponderance of the evidence, in compliance with chapter 1-26, of such licensee's professional incompetence, or unprofessional or dishonorable conduct as defined in §§ 36-4-29 and 36-4-30, or proof of a violation of this chapter in any respect.
Source: SL 2009, ch 194, § 13.
36-36-14. Reinstatement and renewal of license.
Upon application, the board may reinstate and renew a license to practice to any person whose license has been cancelled, suspended, or revoked. However, no license that has been cancelled or revoked may be reinstated and renewed prior to one year after the cancellation or revocation. The reinstatement and renewal of any license may be made in such manner and form and under such conditions as the board may require.
Source: SL 2009, ch 194, § 14.
36-36-15. Genetic counselor advisory council--Appointment--Terms--Duties--Board communication.
The board shall appoint a genetic counselor council composed of one genetic counselor and three physicians licensed pursuant to chapter 36-4. The term of office for each member is three years. No member may be appointed to more than three consecutive, full terms. If a vacancy occurs, the board must appoint a new member to fill the unexpired term. The appointment of a member to an unexpired term is not considered a full term.
The council shall meet at least twice each year, at a time and place set by the council, and may hold additional meetings as necessary to conduct business. The council shall meet the requirements of chapter 1-25 regarding open meetings.
The council shall:
(1) Assist the board in all matters related to the licensure, practice, education, continuing education, investigation, and discipline of genetic counselors pursuant to this chapter;
(2) Make recommendations to the board regarding rules promulgated pursuant to this chapter; and
(3) Submit meeting minutes and any recommendations to the board following each council meeting.
The board shall communicate activity on all matters relating to genetic counselors with the council.
Source: SL 2009, ch 194, § 15; SL 2020, ch 167, § 9; SL 2024, ch 152, § 15.
