A Department of Public Health committee on an advisory scope panel discussed a proposal to create a new licensure category for drama therapists in Connecticut and advised the authors on statutory language and implementation issues.

Kat, the person who submitted the proposal, told the group that drama therapy "integrates psychotherapeutic principles with theater, and embodied creative processes for the treatment of emotional, cognitive, behavioral illnesses and social well-being," and said the goal is to recognize drama therapy alongside art and music therapy so the public can understand the profession's scope of practice and qualified practitioners can seek jobs in hospitals, schools and behavioral-health centers. The committee heard that the proposal would tie licensure to a professional credential: the registered drama therapist (RDT) certificate and related postgraduate clinical hours.

Members asked for specifics about education and experience. Kat confirmed the draft envisions a graduate degree in drama therapy or a related field and cited a 1,500-hour figure in the materials for board certification. She and other NADTA-affiliated participants described the credentialing structure: an RDT, an alternate track for people from nonaccredited programs, and a provisional registered drama therapist (PRDT) pathway for recent graduates who have not yet accrued full postgraduate hours. Committee members also discussed an internship component mentioned in the presentation (participants referenced roughly 800 internship hours as part of the certification process) and asked that the statute be drafted so it does not unintentionally exclude qualified practitioners.

Several stakeholders raised concerns about overlap with other licensed professions. Joyce Rio of the Connecticut Occupational Therapy Association said occupational therapists use creative and expressive modalities and urged statutory language that does not prevent other licensed clinicians from using similar methods within their existing scope. Kat said the intention is not to "police" other professionals and offered to include clarifying language, as art and music therapy statutes do, to prevent unintended restrictions.

Committee members also discussed reciprocity and timing. Karen Buckley, vice president of advocacy at the Connecticut Hospital Association, and others cautioned that strict reliance on an external board's credentialing cycles or organizational membership rules could delay otherwise qualified practitioners (for example, if credentialing windows or a membership waiting period exist). Participants suggested either (a) statutorily listing equivalent coursework and hours that Department staff could evaluate for licensure, or (b) allowing DPH authority to accept equivalent credentials or training to reduce barriers for international applicants and military families.

The meeting addressed implementation trade-offs. Karen Buckley noted that new licensure categories often trigger a fiscal note because the Department of Public Health must allocate resources to implement them and that "the licensure fee goes to the general fund," which can complicate DPH staffing decisions. Committee members recommended keeping statutory language as simple as possible while including explicit provisions to avoid excluding recent graduates or practitioners whose credentials would reasonably meet the proposed standard.

Chris Andresen, chief of practitioner licensing and investigations at the Department of Public Health, said the committee will write a brief report summarizing issues and feedback and forward it to the legislature; the group was advised to seek a legislative sponsor and to expect the statutory drafting process may change language before introduction. The panel agreed not to meet again and to circulate draft minutes for public posting.

The next procedural step identified during the meeting is for the proposal authors to prepare draft statutory language (either modeled on existing art/music therapy law or specifying equivalent coursework/hours for DPH review) and to find a legislative champion to request a bill for the public-health committee to consider. No formal vote or legislative action occurred during the meeting.