What is the most severe form of disciplinary action that removes an individual from practice?

The most severe form of disciplinary action that removes an individual from practice is certification or license revocation. This action involves permanently or temporarily ending a counselor's ability to practice legally, significantly impacting their career and ability to provide services.

Revocation is usually a result of serious violations of ethical guidelines, laws, or regulations that govern the profession. When a counselor's license is revoked, they lose their legal authorization to practice and must go through a process to regain their certification, which may involve further education, remediation, or demonstrating changed behavior.

Other options, while serious, do not result in removal from practice. Civil penalties may involve fines but do not affect a counselor's ability to work. Formal censure is a public reprimand that indicates professional misconduct but does not remove licensure. Probation allows the counselor to continue practicing under specific conditions rather than barring them from practice entirely. Thus, revocation is clearly the most severe disciplinary action, having significant and lasting consequences for a counselor's professional life.