Starting counseling practice in Costa Rica?

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  • #173216
    halesbales
    Member

    My husband and I are planning our move to Costa Rica. I am a Master’s level Couples and Family Therapist hoping to provide services in Costa Rica independently. Are there any restrictions to providing services in Costa Rica? I have read that one can’t take a job from a local resident and must employ locals to run a business. However, I am confused as to whether this applies to providing specialized services on my own? Thanks for any information.

    #173217
    costaricafinca
    Participant

    The same rules apply. You cannot legally work here until you have permanent residency. There are Costa Rica specialist in this field already practicing.
    Then after 3-4 years, once you haveobtained the legal right to work, you would be required to be get licensed here and must take the exams in Spanish.

    #173218
    halesbales
    Member

    Could you by any chance direct me to a website where the licensing requirements are explained? I have been looking without any luck. I am also wondering about licensing reciprocity with the US. Also, if I understand correctly, one can start a business without permanent residency but must employ locals to run it?

    #173219
    costaricafinca
    Participant

    Yes, you can open up a business and hire local or someone with Permanent residency.

    #173220
    bogino
    Participant

    I would think that with Costa Rica being one of the Happiest places on the planet that the demand for therapists would not be that great at all.

    #173221
    maravilla
    Member

    it’s the gringos who need therapy! there was another woman on another board who wanted to do the same thing, claiming that only a gringo shrink could understand a gringo’s problems, even though said shrink had only lived in CR for a few months.

    #173222
    costaricafinca
    Participant

    I read that one too! It was stated there, that there was no licensing reciprocity with the US.

    #173223
    maravilla
    Member

    also the licensing is in spanish so one would have to have both written or oral skills. and i think that other person decided she would forego any attempt at licensing and continue to practice anyway, but that comes with some inherent risks, not to mention some ethical issues.

    #173224
    costaricafinca
    Participant

    And the overall impression seemed to be that most forum members was that they wouldn’t use anyone who was so openly defiant to go against the rules of the medical profession here.
    Of course, some were OK with it…but probably wouldn’t use her, anyway.

    #173225
    maravilla
    Member

    the whole thing was weird — as though licensing standards were not important at all, and what about liability if you do this and are unlicensed? so the bottom line is that no what your qualifications in the US, you can’t just hang out a shingle here and start seeing patients. too many risks and consequences.

    #173226
    bogino
    Participant

    [quote=”maravilla”]the whole thing was weird — as though licensing standards were not important at all, and what about liability if you do this and are unlicensed? so the bottom line is that no what your qualifications in the US, you can’t just hang out a shingle here and start seeing patients. too many risks and consequences.[/quote]

    We see the same thing here in the US with “Doctor’s” who are not qualified or in many cases not licensed who mostly prey on naive minorities or poorer people and often the consequences are not very pretty.

    #173227
    costaricafinca
    Participant

    This what was was emphasized on the posting.
    Would they accept this in the USA?

    #173228
    maravilla
    Member

    but remember there were a couple of blokes who said if a good US doctor set up a practice here, without being licensed, they would go to him rather than a tico doctor. and if he were so good, why wouldn’t he be licensed, would be my question, but then the practical and logical seem to be lost on a lot of people. what recourse would one have here if they went to an unlicensed practitioner of any kind?

    #173229
    costaricafinca
    Participant

    Again, expats are all around the country, so they not not actually use them anyway if someone set up shop in an ‘out of the away location’.
    And, an unlicensed doctor couldn’t provide free meds through CAJA 😆

    #173230
    VictoriaLST
    Member

    I wonder if the same rules apply if one is internationally certified in the drug and alcohol field?

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