Code of Maine Rules
02 - DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL REGULATION
514 - BOARD OF COUNSELING PROFESSIONALS LICENSURE
Chapter 4 - LICENSED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS
Section 514-4-2 - Education

Universal Citation: 02 ME Code Rules ยง 514-4-2

Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024

1. Qualifying Degree

The applicant shall provide documented proof of a master's degree or a doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution that consists of a minimum of 60 semester hours or quarter-hour equivalent and meets the criteria of paragraph A, B or C below:

A. A counseling degree from a program that was accredited by CACREP as a marital, couple, and family counseling/therapy program at the time the degree was awarded (subject to the 60 semester hour minimum);

B. A counseling degree from a marital, couple, and family counseling/therapy program that was accredited by COAMFTE at the time the degree was awarded at the doctoral level only, provided that the applicant can demonstrate completion of a clinical practicum as described in Section 1(1)(C)(7) of this chapter, and subject to the 60 semester hour minimum;

C. A counseling degree from a marital, couple and family counseling/therapy program that consisted of a minimum of 60 semester hours or quarter-hour equivalent as an organized sequence of study that includes curricular experiences and demonstrated knowledge that substantially satisfies each of the nine areas of study described in subparagraphs (1) through (9) below;

Except for internship, full area credit will be recognized for a three semester hour course in the designated area or the number or semester hours specified, as the case may be. Except for practicum and internship, partial area credit will be recognized for a course that contains components or significant aspects of an area, and area requirements other than practicum and internship may be satisfied by academic work completed in one or more separate courses. In determining whether a course pertains to an area, the board will consider the content of the course as set forth in course descriptions, catalogs, syllabi, lesson plans, assignment lists, reading lists, or other contemporaneous documents; completed coursework produced by the applicant; any reliable information furnished by the applicant, the instructor who taught the course, a member of the academic department which offered the course, or a senior administrative official of the institution; and the title of the course. No one course will be recognized as satisfying more than one area of study.

In evaluating the applicant's academic credentials, the board shall consider the unavailability of the foregoing materials due to passage of time. In the event of a denial hearing, the board shall give due regard to the credibility of the applicant in evaluating any testimony of the applicant relating to course content, provided that the applicant has first demonstrated to the board a good faith effort to obtain the documentation described in the preceding paragraph.

(1) Marital and Family Studies. Nine semester hours or quarter-hour equivalent in theories of family development, general systems theory, theories of family functioning, the family life cycle, sociology of the family, families under stress, contemporary family forms, family subsystems, family of origin and external societal influences, family pathology such as addiction, child abuse and sexual abuse, and other related topics. Three of the nine semester hours must be in general systems theory.

(2) Marital and Family Therapy. Nine semester hours or quarter-hour equivalent in the study of major marital and family therapy treatment approaches and techniques to provide a substantive understanding of systems change. The course work may include strategic, structural, object relations, integrative, experiential, systems, neoanalytic, communications and behavioral treatment modalities.

(3) Human Development. Six semester hours or quarter-hour equivalent in the study of human development across the life cycle, personality theory and cognitive development.

(4) Human Sexuality. Studies that provide an understanding of human sexuality over the life cycle, sex roles, sexual function and dysfunction.

(5) Diagnosis and Treatment. Studies that provide an understanding of psychopathology, the diagnosis and statistical manual and its use in counseling, psychopathology, the development of treatment plans and the use of related services, and the role of assessment, intake interviews, and reports.

(6) Professional Orientation. Studies that provide an understanding of professional roles and functions, professional organizations and associations, history and trends within the profession, ethical and legal standards, and professional preparation standards and professional credentialing.

(7) Research and Evaluation. Studies that provide an understanding of the types of research, basic statistics, research report development, research implementation, program evaluation, needs assessment, and ethical and legal considerations associated with research and evaluation.

(8) Practicum. A course of clinical instruction that provides practical experience in counseling for the purpose of developing marriage and family counseling skills. These experiences allow students to perform, on a limited basis, some counseling activities that a regularly employed licensed marriage and family therapist would be expected to perform.

(9) Internship. A full academic year of supervised marriage and family counseling experience consisting of at least 900 clock hours, including a minimum of 360 clock hours of direct client contact. The internship provides an opportunity for the student to perform all the activities that a regularly employed marriage and family therapist would be expected to perform.

Alternative Experience. In lieu of subparagraphs (8) and (9) above, an applicant may provide documentation of 1,000 hours of lawfully obtained supervised marriage and family therapy counseling. At least 400 hours must consist of direct clinical contact hours. Documentation must include supervisor affidavits and a copy of the applicant's final evaluation.

An applicant who has not completed an internship that meets the requirements of subparagraph (9) above but has completed an internship consisting of at least 600 clock hours of supervised marriage and family counseling experience and has fulfilled all other requirements of Section 2(1)(C) of this chapter will be deemed to have a qualifying degree for purposes of Section 2(1)(C) of this chapter. Such an applicant must complete additional supervised experience as set forth in Section 4(2) of this chapter.

2. Nonconforming Counseling Degree Until January 1, 2009

Until January 1, 2009, an applicant without a qualifying degree as described in Section 2(1) of this chapter may meet the educational requirement for licensure by providing documented proof of:

A. A master's degree from a marital, couple, and family counseling/therapy program at a regionally accredited institution that was awarded on the basis of at least 48 semester hours of study;

OR

B.
(1) A master's degree from a marital, couple, and family counseling/therapy program at a regionally accredited institution that was awarded on the basis of at least 36 but less than 48 semester hours of study; and

(2) Supplemental graduate level coursework in a marital, couple, and family counseling/therapy program or mental health counseling program at a regionally accredited institution sufficient in amount to equal or exceed 48 semester hours overall, provided that the master's degree and supplemental coursework include curricular experiences and demonstrated knowledge that substantially satisfy each of the nine areas of study described in Section 2(1)(C)(1) through (9) of this chapter.

3. Nonconforming Counseling Degree After January 1, 2009

After January 1, 2009, an applicant without a qualifying degree as described in Section 2(1) of this chapter may meet the educational requirement for licensure by providing documented proof of:

A. A master's degree from a marital, couple, and family counseling/therapy program from a regionally accredited institution that was awarded on the basis of at least 36 but less than 60 semester hours of study; and

B. Supplemental graduate level coursework in a marital, couple, and family counseling/therapy program or mental health counseling program at a regionally accredited institution sufficient in amount to equal or exceed 60 semester hours overall provided that the master's degree and supplemental coursework include curricular experiences and demonstrated knowledge that substantially satisfy each of the nine areas of study described in Section 2(1)(C)(1) through (9) of this chapter.

[NOTE: The board strongly recommends that prospective applicants review the educational requirements of this chapter with their academic advisor before taking supplemental graduate level coursework.]

An applicant applying under Section 2(1)(C) of this chapter who completed 60 semester hours or quarter-hour equivalent, but whose curricular experiences and demonstrated knowledge do not substantially satisfy the required areas of study, may meet the educational requirement for licensure by completing such supplemental graduate level coursework as the board deems necessary to satisfy the deficiencies found.

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