Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024
(a) An applicant for licensure shall have a
minimum of a master's degree in marriage and family therapy, a master's degree in social work or a graduate
degree in a related field. All applicants shall have obtained their degrees from regionally accredited
institutions, so recognized at the time of the granting of the degrees. If the applicant has a graduate
degree in a related field, the applicant shall demonstrate to the Board that he or she has completed
substantial equivalents to the course work at the required levels as set out in (b) below. An applicant with
a graduate degree in a related field which does not provide the training and course work substantially
equivalent in content to those set out in (b) below shall be deemed to meet the educational requirements set
forth in this section upon satisfactory completion of either a post graduate degree recognized by the Board,
which includes the course work at the required levels as stated in (b) below or a program of training and
course work at an institute or training program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage
and Family Therapy Education.
(b) An applicant for licensure
shall complete a minimum of:
1. Eight courses from Areas I, II, and III as
specified in (c) below;
2. One course from Area IV as specified
in (c) below;
3. One course from Area V as specified in (c)
below;
4. Two courses taken in two semesters from Area VI as
specified in (c) below; and
5. One course taken in one semester
from Area VII as specified in (c) below.
(c) An
applicant for licensure shall satisfy the following required areas of course work:
1. Area I: Theoretical Foundations (a minimum of two, three semester hour
or equivalent quarter hour, courses.) Course work in this area shall include topics which deal with the
historical development, theoretical foundations and contemporary conceptual directions of the field of
marriage and family therapy. Course work in this area shall enable students to conceptualize and distinguish
the critical epistemological issues in marriage and family therapy. Course work shall be related conceptually
to clinical concerns.
2. Area II: Assessment and Treatment in
Marriage and Family Therapy (a minimum of four, three semester hour or equivalent quarter hour, courses.)
Course work in this area shall provide a comprehensive survey and substantive understanding of the major
models of marriage and family therapy. Courses shall address marriage and family therapy practice and be
related conceptually to theory. Course work in this area shall address a wide variety of presenting clinical
problems and include assessment, marriage and family therapy methods, and major mental health assessment
methods and instruments.
3. Area III: Human Development and
Family Studies (a minimum of two, three semester hour or equivalent quarter hour, courses.) Course work in
this area shall include:
i. Material on individual development, family
development and family relationships;
ii. Material on issues of
sexuality as they relate to marriage and family therapy theory and practice, including sexual dysfunctions
and difficulties;
iii. Issues of gender and sexual orientation as
they relate to marriage and family therapy theory and practice; and
iv. Material on issues of ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status and culture
as they relate to marriage and family therapy theory and practice.
4. Area IV: Ethics and Professional Development (a minimum of one, three
semester hour or equivalent quarter hour, course.) Course work in this area shall include material on
professional identity, including professional socialization, professional organizations, licensure,
certification, and ethical issues related to the practice and profession of marriage and family therapy.
Generic courses in ethics shall not meet this requirement. Such course work shall inform applicants about
legal responsibilities and liabilities of clinical practice and research, family law, confidentiality issues,
ethics, and the interface between therapist responsibility and the professional, social, and political
context of treatment.
5. Area V: Research (a minimum of one,
three semester hour or equivalent quarter hour, course.) Course work in this area shall include significant
material on quantitative and qualitative research in marriage and family therapy. Course work in this area
shall focus on research methodology, data analysis and the evaluation of research.
6. Area VI: Supervised Clinical Internship Practicum/Course (a minimum of
two, three semester hour or equivalent quarter hour, course).
7.
Area VII: Additional Learning (a minimum of one, three semester hour or equivalent quarter hour, course.)
Course work in this area shall be elective and chosen from a variety of disciplines. This area shall seek to
augment an applicant's individual interest and background in marriage and family therapy. The applicant may
choose courses from a variety of disciplines.
(d) The
Board shall not base its determination as to whether it will recognize an educational institution's program
solely on the failure of any professional organization of marriage and family therapists to accredit the
program.
