Regulation - Licensed Marriage And Family Therapists - Business & Professions - CA

Section § 4980

This law emphasizes the importance of marriage and family therapy for maintaining healthy relationships, which are vital to society. It states that you must have a valid license to practice marriage and family therapy in California, as well as to use related titles or advertise yourself as a therapist. Only those with specific other licenses can practice without claiming to be a licensed marriage and family therapist. The goal is to ensure that individuals offering such crucial services are properly qualified and authorized.

(a)

(1) Many California families and many individual Californians are experiencing difficulty and distress and are in need of wise, competent, caring, compassionate, and effective counseling in order to enable them to improve and maintain healthy family relationships.

(2) Healthy individuals and healthy families and healthy relationships are inherently beneficial and crucial to a healthy society and are our most precious and valuable natural resource. Licensed marriage and family therapists provide a crucial support for the well-being of the people and the State of California.

(b) A person shall not engage in the practice of marriage and family therapy, as defined by Section 4980.02, unless the person holds a valid license as a marriage and family therapist pursuant to this chapter.

(c) Except as provided in subdivision (d), a person shall not do either of the following without a license obtained pursuant to this chapter.

(1) Advertise that the person performs the services of a marriage, family, child, domestic, or marital consultant.

(2) Use the titles listed in paragraph (1) or any similar titles, including the letters “L.M.F.T.,” “M.F.T.,” or “M.F.C.C.,” or another name, word, initial, or symbol in connection with or following the person’s name to imply that the person performs the services suggested by those titles.

(d)

(1) A person licensed under Article 4 (commencing with Section 4996) of Chapter 14 or under Chapter 6.6 (commencing with Section 2900) may engage in the practice of marriage and family therapy and advertise that the person practices marriage and family therapy.

(2) A person described in paragraph (1) shall not advertise that the person holds the marriage and family therapist’s license, including by using the letters “L.M.F.T.,” “M.F.T.,” or “M.F.C.C.,” or another name, word, initial, or symbol in connection with or following the person’s name to imply licensure as a marriage and family therapist, unless the person is licensed pursuant to this chapter.

marriage and family therapy licensed therapist valid license

Section § 4980.01

This law explains who is exempt from certain regulations under this chapter. It clarifies that the chapter doesn't override other professional licensing laws for doctors, social workers, nurses, counselors, or psychologists. It also doesn't apply to religious ministers, legal professionals, or doctors offering counseling as part of their practice. Additionally, unlicensed volunteers or employees working in government or nonprofit educational institutions are exempt if they work under supervision and give clients a specific written notice about complaint procedures. Licensed marriage and family therapists are recognized as healthcare providers and must adhere to particular rules. Finally, individuals registered as associates or licensed under this chapter are always subject to these specific regulations regardless of other exemptions.

(a) This chapter shall not be construed to constrict, limit, or withdraw the Medical Practice Act, the Social Work Licensing Law, the Nursing Practice Act, the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Act, or the Psychology Licensing Law.

(b) This chapter shall not apply to any priest, rabbi, or minister of the gospel of any religious denomination when performing counseling services as part of their pastoral or professional duties, or to any person who is admitted to practice law in the state, or a physician and surgeon who provides counseling services as part of their professional practice.

(c) This chapter shall not apply to an unlicensed or unregistered employee or volunteer working in a governmental entity, a school, a college, a university, or an institution that is both nonprofit and charitable if both of the following apply:

(1) The work of the employee or volunteer is performed under the oversight and direction of the entity.

(2)

(A) On and after July 1, 2020, the employee or volunteer provides a client, prior to initiating psychotherapy services or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, a notice written in at least 12-point type that is in substantially the following form:

NOTICE TO CLIENTS

The (Name of office or unit) of the (Name of agency) receives and responds to complaints regarding the practice of psychotherapy by any unlicensed or unregistered practitioner providing services at (Name of agency). To file a complaint, contact (Telephone number, email address, internet website, or mailing address of agency).

The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided by individuals licensed and registered by the board. If you have a complaint and are unsure if your practitioner is licensed or registered, please contact the Board of Behavioral Sciences at 916-574-7830 for assistance or utilize the board’s online license verification feature by visiting www.bbs.ca.gov.

(B) The delivery of the notice described in subparagraph (A) to the client shall be documented.

(d) A marriage and family therapist licensed under this chapter is a licentiate for purposes of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 805, and thus is a health care provider subject to the provisions of Section 2290.5 pursuant to subdivision (b) of that section.

(e) Notwithstanding subdivisions (b) and (c), all persons registered as associates or licensed under this chapter shall not be exempt from this chapter or the jurisdiction of the board.

Medical Practice Act Social Work Licensing Law Nursing Practice Act

Section § 4980.02

This section explains what it means to practice marriage and family therapy. It involves using psychological techniques to help individuals, couples, or groups with their relationships and mental health issues like emotional disorders or addiction. The law outlines that this practice includes assessment, treatment planning, therapy, client education, case management, and supervision. Importantly, this section clarifies that recent changes are meant to clarify existing practices, not change them.

(a) For the purposes of this chapter, the practice of marriage and family therapy shall mean the application of psychotherapeutic and family systems theories, principles, and methods in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, or groups in order to assess, evaluate, and treat relational issues, emotional disorders, behavioral problems, mental illness, alcohol and substance use, and to modify intrapersonal and interpersonal behaviors.

(b) The application of marriage and family therapy principles and methods includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Assessment, evaluation, and prognosis.

(2) Treatment, planning, and evaluation.

(3) Individual, relationship, family, or group therapeutic interventions.

(4) Relational therapy.

(5) Psychotherapy.

(6) Client education.

(7) Clinical case management.

(8) Consultation.

(9) Supervision.

(10) Use, application, and integration of the coursework and training required by Sections 4980.36, 4980.37, and 4980.41, as applicable.

(c) The amendments to this section made by the act adding this subdivision do not constitute a change in, but are declaratory of, existing law. It is the intent of the Legislature that these amendments shall not be construed to expand or constrict the existing scope of practice of a person licensed pursuant to this chapter.

marriage and family therapy psychotherapy family systems theories

Section § 4980.03

This section of the law defines key terms used in the field of behavioral sciences in California. It clarifies what 'board' refers to, which is the Board of Behavioral Sciences. 'Associate' describes someone with a qualifying master's or doctoral degree working towards licensure. A 'trainee' is a student in such a program. An 'applicant for licensure' has completed education and training for licensure. 'Advertise' involves any public communication about services, except in some religious contexts. 'Experience' relates to the types of experience needed for becoming a licensed marriage and family therapist. 'Supervisor' specifies who can oversee therapists in training, including requirements like holding certain licenses and not having conflicts of interest with the supervisee. 'Client centered advocacy' refers to helping clients get necessary services. 'Accredited' and 'approved' pertain to educational institutions' recognition statuses.

(a) “Board,” as used in this chapter, means the Board of Behavioral Sciences.

(b) “Associate,” as used in this chapter, means an unlicensed person who has earned a master’s or doctoral degree qualifying the person for licensure and is registered with the board as an associate.

(c) “Trainee,” as used in this chapter, means an unlicensed person who is currently enrolled in a master’s or doctoral degree program, as specified in Sections 4980.36 and 4980.37, that is designed to qualify the person for licensure under this chapter, and who has completed no less than 12 semester units or 18 quarter units of coursework in any qualifying degree program.

(d) “Applicant for licensure,” as used in this chapter, means an unlicensed person who has completed the required education and required hours of supervised experience for licensure.

(e) “Advertise,” as used in this chapter, includes, but is not limited to, any public communication, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 651, the issuance of any card, sign, or device to any person, or the causing, permitting, or allowing of any sign or marking on, or in, any building or structure, or in any newspaper or magazine or in any directory, or any printed matter whatsoever, with or without any limiting qualification. Signs within religious buildings or notices in church bulletins mailed to a congregation are not advertising within the meaning of this chapter.

(f) “Experience,” as used in this chapter, means experience in interpersonal relationships, psychotherapy, marriage and family therapy, direct clinical counseling, and nonclinical practice that satisfies the requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist.

(g) “Supervisor,” as used in this chapter, means an individual who meets all of the following requirements:

(1) Has held an active license for at least two years within the five-year period immediately preceding any supervision as any of the following:

(A) A licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed marriage and family therapist, psychologist licensed pursuant to Chapter 6.6 (commencing with Section 2900), licensed clinical social worker, licensed educational psychologist, or equivalent out-of-state license. A licensed educational psychologist may only supervise the provision of educationally related mental health services that are consistent with the scope of practice of an educational psychologist, as specified in Section 4989.14.

(B) A physician and surgeon who is certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or an out-of-state licensed physician and surgeon who is certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

(2) For at least two years within the five-year period immediately preceding any supervision, has practiced psychotherapy, provided psychological counseling pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 4989.14, or provided direct clinical supervision of psychotherapy performed by marriage and family therapist trainees, associate marriage and family therapists, associate professional clinical counselors, or associate clinical social workers. Supervision of psychotherapy performed by a social work intern or a professional clinical counselor trainee shall be accepted if the supervision provided is substantially equivalent to the supervision required for registrants.

(3) Has received training in supervision as specified in this chapter and by regulation.

(4) Has not provided therapeutic services to the supervisee.

(5) Has and maintains a current and active license that is not under suspension or probation as one of the following:

(A) A marriage and family therapist, professional clinical counselor, clinical social worker, or licensed educational psychologist, issued by the board.

(B) A psychologist licensed pursuant to Chapter 6.6 (commencing with Section 2900).

(C) A physician and surgeon who is certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

(6) Is not a spouse, domestic partner, or relative of the supervisee.

(7) Does not currently have or previously had a personal, professional, or business relationship with the supervisee that undermines the authority or effectiveness of the supervision.

(h) “Client centered advocacy,” as used in this chapter, includes, but is not limited to, researching, identifying, and accessing resources, or other activities, related to obtaining or providing services and supports for clients or groups of clients receiving psychotherapy or counseling services.

(i) “Accredited,” as used in this chapter, means a school, college, or university accredited by either the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education or a regional or national institutional accrediting agency that is recognized by the United States Department of Education.

(j) “Approved,” as used in this chapter, means a school, college, or university that possessed unconditional approval by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education at the time of the applicant’s graduation from the school, college, or university.

Board of Behavioral Sciences associate trainee

Section § 4980.04

This section simply gives the official name to this set of laws, which is the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Act.

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Act.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Act name of chapter cited as

Section § 4980.05

This law explains that certain settings, as previously described, are not subject to specific oversight unless detailed in another section. However, individuals or entities in these settings that are licensed or registered under this chapter must comply with the board's regulations. Also, health care entities licensed by the government are not exempt unless they meet the specific criteria mentioned in the other section.

The settings described in Section 4980.01 are exempt settings and do not fall under the jurisdiction of this chapter or the board except as specified in Section 4980.01, and with the following exceptions:

(a) Any individual working or volunteering in an exempt setting who is licensed or registered under this chapter shall fall under the jurisdiction of the board and is not exempt from this chapter.

(b) An entity that is licensed or certified by a government regulatory agency to provide health care services shall not be considered an exempt setting unless it directly meets the criteria described in Section 4980.01.

exempt settings licensed individuals registered individuals

Section § 4980.06

This section defines what a "nonexempt setting" is in the context of marriage and family therapy. Basically, a nonexempt setting is a place not designated as exempt by law. It also explains that a "private practice" is a type of nonexempt setting owned by licensed health professionals where mental health services are provided, and such practices are managed by the owners. A "professional corporation" is a type of private practice formed specifically under the Corporations Code. The law states that anyone practicing marriage and family therapy in nonexempt settings must have an active license or registration, with exceptions for trainees and registration applicants under supervision while gaining required experience.

(a) For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Nonexempt setting” means any type of setting that does not qualify as an exempt setting, as specified in Section 4980.01.

(2) “Private practice” means a type of nonexempt setting that meets all of the following:

(A) The practice is owned by a health professional who is licensed under this division either independently or jointly with one or more other health professionals who are licensed under this division.

(B) The practice provides clinical mental health services, including psychotherapy, to clients.

(C) One or more licensed health professionals are responsible for the practice and for the services provided and set conditions of client payment or reimbursement for the provision of services.

(3) “Professional corporation” means a type of nonexempt setting and private practice that has been formed pursuant to Part 4 (commencing with Section 13400) of Division 3 of Title 1 of the Corporations Code.

(b) An active license or registration number shall be required to engage in the practice of marriage and family therapy, as defined in Section 4980.02, in nonexempt settings at all times with the following exceptions:

(1) A trainee may engage in the practice of marriage and family therapy in a nonexempt setting that is not a private practice or a professional corporation while they are gaining supervised experience that meets the requirements of this chapter under the jurisdiction and supervision of their school as specified in Section 4980.42.

(2) An applicant for registration as an associate may engage in the practice of marriage and family therapy in a nonexempt setting that is not a private practice or a professional corporation before the registration number is issued if they are in compliance with subdivision (b) of Section 4980.43 and are gaining supervised experience that meets the requirements of this chapter.

nonexempt setting private practice licensed health professionals

Section § 4980.08

This law changes the title of "licensed marriage, family and child counselor" to "licensed marriage and family therapist." Any laws or rules that mention the old title should now be understood to mean the new title. This change does not affect what these professionals are allowed to do in their jobs. The new rule started on July 1, 1999.

(a) The title “licensed marriage, family and child counselor” or “marriage, family and child counselor” is hereby renamed “licensed marriage and family therapist” or “marriage and family therapist,” respectively. Any reference in any statute or regulation to a “licensed marriage, family and child counselor” or “marriage, family and child counselor” shall be deemed a reference to a “licensed marriage and family therapist” or “marriage and family therapist.”

(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to expand or constrict the scope of practice of a person licensed pursuant to this chapter.

(c) This section shall become operative July 1, 1999.

licensed marriage and family therapist title change scope of practice

Section § 4980.09

This section updates the titles used for those training to become marriage and family therapists. The term "marriage and family therapist intern" is now "associate marriage and family therapist," and similarly, the abbreviation "MFTI" changes to "AMFT." This change does not affect the scope of what these associates are allowed to do in their practice.

(a)

(1) The title “marriage and family therapist intern” or “marriage and family therapist registered intern” is hereby renamed “associate marriage and family therapist” or “registered associate marriage and family therapist,” respectively. Any reference in statute or regulation to a “marriage and family therapist intern” or “marriage and family therapist registered intern” shall be deemed a reference to an “associate marriage and family therapist” or “registered associate marriage and family therapist.”

(2) Any reference in this chapter to the term “intern” means “associate.” Any reference in statute or regulation to the abbreviation “MFTI” means an “AMFT.”

(b) This section shall not be construed to expand or constrict the scope of practice of a person licensed or registered pursuant to this chapter.

associate marriage and family therapist registered associate MFTI

Section § 4980.10

This law says that if someone provides, offers, or claims they can provide marriage and family therapy services for any kind of payment, even donations, they're practicing marriage and family therapy.

A person engages in the practice of marriage and family therapy when he or she performs or offers to perform or holds himself or herself out as able to perform this service for remuneration in any form, including donations.

marriage and family therapy offer to perform remuneration

Section § 4980.11

If you're a licensed marriage and family therapist from another U.S. state, you can practice in California for up to 30 days a year. But, you must meet certain conditions: your license should be for independent practice and in good standing, your client must be in California, and you already have an ongoing relationship with them. You need to tell your client you're not licensed in California and provide them the Board's website along with your license details. You also need to notify the California Board about your intention to practice, including your license information and other personal details before starting. You agree to follow California's laws while practicing here. This opportunity is available until the end of 2025 and doesn't apply if your California license was suspended or revoked.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 4980, a person who holds a license in another jurisdiction of the United States as a marriage and family therapist may provide marriage and family therapy services in this state for a period not to exceed 30 consecutive days in any calendar year, if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The license from another jurisdiction is at the highest level for independent clinical practice in the jurisdiction in which the license was granted.

(2) The license from another jurisdiction is current, active, and unrestricted.

(3) The client is located in California during the time the person seeks to provide care in California.

(4) The client is a current client of the person and has an established, ongoing client-provider relationship with the person at the time the client became located in California.

(5) The person informs the client of the limited timeframe of the services and that the person is not licensed in California.

(6) The person provides the client with the Board of Behavioral Sciences’ internet website address.

(7) The person informs the client of the jurisdiction in which the person is licensed and the type of license held and provides the client with the person’s license number.

(b) A person who intends to provide marriage and family therapy services pursuant to this section shall provide the board with all of the following information before providing services:

(1) The name under which the person is licensed in another jurisdiction, the person’s mailing address, the person’s phone number, the person’s social security number or individual taxpayer identification number, and the person’s electronic mailing address, if the person has an electronic mailing address.

(2) The jurisdiction in which the person is licensed, the type of license held, and the license number.

(3) The date on which the person will begin providing marriage and family therapy services to the person’s client in California.

(c) A person who provides services pursuant to this section is deemed to have agreed to practicing under the jurisdiction of the board and to be bound by the laws of this state.

(d) This section does not apply to any person licensed by the board whose license has been suspended or revoked.

(e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.

marriage and family therapist 30 consecutive days highest level license

Section § 4980.30

If you want to offer marriage and family therapy services in California, you must apply for a license, pay the required fee, and get the license before you can legally practice or advertise these services.

Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, a person shall not practice, or advertise the performance of, marriage and family therapy services unless the person has applied to the board for a license, paid the license fee required by this chapter, and obtained a license from the board.

marriage and family therapy license application license fee

Section § 4980.31

If you're licensed to provide clinical services, you need to hang your license somewhere obvious at the main place where you see clients in person.

A licensee shall display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensee’s primary place of practice when rendering professional clinical services in person.

license display primary place of practice clinical services

Section § 4980.32

Before starting therapy sessions, therapists must give clients a notice about how they can contact the Board of Behavioral Sciences with complaints. This should be in clear, 12-point type. Starting July 1, 2025, the notice must also include the therapist's full name, license type, number, and expiration date. It's important that this notice delivery is documented.

(a) A licensee or registrant shall provide a client with a notice written in at least 12-point type prior to initiating psychotherapy services, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, that reads as follows:

NOTICE TO CLIENTS

The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of marriage and family therapists. You may contact the board online at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916) 574-7830.

(b) On and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychotherapy services with a client, the notice described in subdivision (a) shall also include the licensee’s or registrant’s full name as filed with the board, the license or registration number, the type of license or registration, and the license or registration expiration date.

(c) Delivery of the notice required by this section to the client shall be documented.

psychotherapy services notice to clients Board of Behavioral Sciences

Section § 4980.34

This section outlines the main duties of a board responsible for overseeing certain mental health professions. They are tasked with licensing marriage and family therapists, social workers, clinical counselors, and educational psychologists. Part of their role includes creating and administering tests to ensure these professionals are competent and knowledgeable. They also enforce laws to protect the public from unethical or incompetent professionals and provide education for consumers.

It is the intent of the Legislature that the board employ its resources for each and all of the following functions:

(a) The licensing of marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, professional clinical counselors, and educational psychologists.

(b) The development and administration of licensing examinations and examination procedures, as specified, consistent with prevailing standards for the validation and use of licensing and certification tests. Examinations shall measure knowledge and abilities demonstrably important to the safe, effective practice of the profession.

(c) Enforcement of laws designed to protect the public from incompetent, unethical, or unprofessional practitioners.

(d) Consumer education.

marriage and family therapists clinical social workers professional clinical counselors

Section § 4980.35

This law emphasizes that while applicants for a marriage and family therapist license must provide accurate application details, the licensing board should also help clarify the requirements and facilitate the process. The board is tasked with distributing information about licensure, aiding educational institutions in meeting curriculum standards, keeping applicants informed about application issues, and reviewing how associates and trainees are supervised. This includes establishing rules about supervisor qualifications, continuing education, and responsibilities, as well as ensuring associates receive quality training and possibly encouraging personal therapy for better professional competence.

(a) The Legislature acknowledges that the basic obligation to provide a complete and accurate application for a marriage and family therapist license lies with the applicant. At the same time, the Legislature recognizes that an effort should be made by the board to ensure that persons who enter degree programs and supervisorial training settings that meet the requirements of this chapter are enabled to discern the requirements for licensing and to take the examination when they have completed their educational and experience requirements.

(b) In order that the board, the educational institutions, and the supervisors who monitor the education and experience of applicants may develop greater cooperation, the board shall do all of the following:

(1) Apply a portion of its limited resources specifically to the task of communicating information about its activities, the requirements and qualifications for licensure, and the practice of marriage and family therapy to the relevant educational institutions, supervisors, professional associations, applicants, trainees, associates, and the consuming public.

(2) Develop policies and procedures to assist educational institutions in meeting the curricula requirements of Sections 4980.36 and 4980.37 and any regulations adopted pursuant to those sections, so that those educational institutions may better provide assurance to their students that the curriculum offered to fulfill the educational requirements for licensure will meet those requirements at the time of the student’s application for licensure.

(3) Notify applicants in the application procedure when applications are incomplete, inaccurate, or deficient, and inform applicants of any remediation, reconsideration, or appeal procedures that may be applicable.

(4) Undertake, or cause to be undertaken, further comprehensive review, in consultation with educational institutions, professional associations, supervisors, associates, and trainees, of the supervision of associates and trainees, which shall include, but not be limited to, the following, and shall propose regulations regarding the supervision of associates and trainees that may include, but not be limited to, the following:

(A) Supervisor qualifications.

(B) Continuing education requirements of supervisors.

(C) Registration or licensing of supervisors, or both.

(D) Responsibilities of supervisors in general.

(E) The board’s authority in cases of noncompliance or negligence by supervisors.

(F) The associate’s and trainee’s need for guidance in selecting well-balanced and high-quality professional training opportunities within his or her community.

(G) The role of the supervisor in advising and encouraging his or her associate or trainee regarding the necessity or value and appropriateness of the associate or trainee engaging in personal psychotherapy, so as to enable the associate or trainee to become a more competent marriage and family therapist.

marriage and family therapist license application educational requirements

Section § 4980.36

This section outlines requirements for individuals seeking a license or registration as marriage and family therapists (MFT) in California. It applies to those starting graduate studies before August 1, 2012, and continuing their education after that date, as well as to students who begin after this date. Applicants need a relevant master's or doctoral degree from an approved or accredited institution. The program must integrate therapy principles, cultural awareness, and mental health recovery practices throughout its curriculum. The degree must include at least 60 semester or 90 quarter units of coursework, covering topics like psychotherapeutic theories, practicum experience, diagnostics, cultural competency, and specific areas like substance abuse and ethics. Changes in this law aim to better prepare therapists without changing the practice scope.

(a) This section shall apply to the following:

(1) Applicants for licensure or registration who begin graduate study before August 1, 2012, and do not complete that study on or before December 31, 2018.

(2) Applicants for licensure or registration who begin graduate study before August 1, 2012, and who graduate from a degree program that meets the requirements of this section.

(3) Applicants for licensure or registration who begin graduate study on or after August 1, 2012.

(b) To qualify for a license or registration, applicants shall possess a doctoral or master’s degree meeting the requirements of this section in marriage, family, and child counseling, marriage and family therapy, couple and family therapy, psychology, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, or either counseling or clinical mental health counseling with an emphasis in either marriage, family, and child counseling or marriage and family therapy. The degree shall be obtained from a school, college, or university approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, or accredited by either the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, or a regional or national institutional accrediting agency that is recognized by the United States Department of Education. The board has the authority to make the final determination as to whether a degree meets all requirements, including, but not limited to, course requirements, regardless of accreditation or approval.

(c) A doctoral or master’s degree program that qualifies for licensure or registration shall be a single, integrated program that does the following:

(1) Integrate all of the following throughout its curriculum:

(A) Marriage and family therapy principles.

(B) The principles of mental health recovery-oriented care and methods of service delivery in recovery-oriented practice environments, among others.

(C) An understanding of various cultures and the social and psychological implications of socioeconomic position, and an understanding of how poverty and social stress impact an individual’s mental health and recovery.

(2) Allow for innovation and individuality in the education of marriage and family therapists.

(3) Encourage students to develop the personal qualities that are intimately related to effective practice, including, but not limited to, integrity, sensitivity, flexibility, insight, compassion, and personal presence.

(4) Permit an emphasis or specialization that may address any one or more of the unique and complex array of human problems, symptoms, and needs of Californians served by marriage and family therapists.

(5) Provide students with the opportunity to meet with various consumers and family members of consumers of mental health services to enhance understanding of their experience of mental illness, treatment, and recovery.

(d) The degree described in subdivision (b) shall contain no less than 60 semester or 90 quarter units of instruction that includes, but is not limited to, the following requirements:

(1) Both of the following:

(A) No less than 12 semester or 18 quarter units of coursework in theories, principles, and methods of a variety of psychotherapeutic orientations directly related to marriage and family therapy and marital and family systems approaches to treatment and how these theories can be applied therapeutically with individuals, couples, families, adults, including elder adults, children, adolescents, and groups to improve, restore, or maintain healthy relationships.

(B) Practicum that involves direct client contact, as follows:

(i) A minimum of six semester or nine quarter units of practicum in a supervised clinical placement that provides supervised fieldwork experience.

(ii) A minimum of 150 hours of face-to-face experience counseling individuals, couples, families, or groups.

(iii) A student must be enrolled in a practicum course while counseling clients, except as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 4980.42.

(iv) The practicum shall provide training in all of the following areas:

(I) Applied use of theory and psychotherapeutic techniques.

(II) Assessment, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment planning.

(III) Treatment of individuals and premarital, couple, family, and child relationships, including trauma and abuse, dysfunctions, healthy functioning, health promotion, illness prevention, and working with families.

(IV) Professional writing, including documentation of services, treatment plans, and progress notes.

(V) How to connect people with resources that deliver the quality of services and support needed in the community.

(v) Educational institutions are encouraged to design the practicum required by this subparagraph to include marriage and family therapy experience in low income and multicultural mental health settings.

(vi) In addition to the 150 hours required in clause (ii), 75 hours of either of the following, or a combination thereof:

(I) Client centered advocacy, as defined in Section 4980.03.

(II) Face-to-face experience counseling individuals, couples, families, or groups.

(2) Instruction in all of the following:

(A) Diagnosis, assessment, prognosis, treatment planning, and treatment of mental disorders, including severe mental disorders, evidence-based practices, psychological testing, psychopharmacology, and promising mental health practices that are evaluated in peer-reviewed literature.

(B) Developmental issues from infancy to old age, including instruction in all of the following areas:

(i) The effects of developmental issues on individuals, couples, and family relationships.

(ii) The psychological, psychotherapeutic, and health implications of developmental issues and their effects.

(iii) Aging and its biological, social, cognitive, and psychological aspects. This coursework shall include instruction on the assessment and reporting of, as well as treatment related to, elder and dependent adult abuse and neglect.

(iv) A variety of cultural understandings of human development.

(v) The understanding of human behavior within the social context of socioeconomic status and other contextual issues affecting social position.

(vi) The understanding of human behavior within the social context of a representative variety of the cultures found within California.

(vii) The understanding of the impact that personal and social insecurity, social stress, low educational levels, inadequate housing, and malnutrition have on human development.

(C) The broad range of matters and life events that may arise within marriage and family relationships and within a variety of California cultures, including instruction in all of the following:

(i) A minimum of seven contact hours of training or coursework in child abuse assessment and reporting as specified in Section 28, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

(ii) Spousal or partner abuse assessment, detection, intervention strategies, and same gender abuse dynamics.

(iii) Cultural factors relevant to abuse of partners and family members.

(iv) Childbirth, child rearing, parenting, and stepparenting.

(v) Marriage, divorce, and blended families.

(vi) Long-term care.

(vii) End-of-life and grief.

(viii) Poverty and deprivation.

(ix) Financial and social stress.

(x) Effects of trauma.

(xi) The psychological, psychotherapeutic, community, and health implications of the matters and life events described in clauses (i) to (x), inclusive.

(D) Cultural competency and sensitivity, including a familiarity with the racial, cultural, linguistic, and ethnic backgrounds of persons living in California.

(E) Multicultural development and cross-cultural interaction, including experiences of race, ethnicity, class, spirituality, sexual orientation, gender, and disability, and their incorporation into the psychotherapeutic process.

(F) The effects of socioeconomic status on treatment and available resources.

(G) Resilience, including the personal and community qualities that enable persons to cope with adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or other stresses.

(H) Human sexuality, including the study of physiological, psychological, and social cultural variables associated with sexual behavior and gender identity, and the assessment and treatment of psychosexual dysfunction.

(I) Substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, and addiction, including, but not limited to, instruction in all of the following:

(i) The definition of substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, and addiction. For purposes of this subparagraph, “co-occurring disorders” means a mental illness and substance abuse diagnosis occurring simultaneously in an individual.

(ii) Medical aspects of substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders.

(iii) The effects of psychoactive drug use.

(iv) Current theories of the etiology of substance abuse and addiction.

(v) The role of persons and systems that support or compound substance abuse and addiction.

(vi) Major approaches to identification, evaluation, and treatment of substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, and addiction, including, but not limited to, best practices.

(vii) Legal aspects of substance abuse.

(viii) Populations at risk with regard to substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders.

(ix) Community resources offering screening, assessment, treatment, and follow up for the affected person and family.

(x) Recognition of substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, and addiction, and appropriate referral.

(xi) The prevention of substance use disorders and addiction.

(J) California law and professional ethics for marriage and family therapists, including instruction in all of the following areas of study:

(i) Contemporary professional ethics and statutory, regulatory, and decisional laws that delineate the scope of practice of marriage and family therapy.

(ii) The therapeutic, clinical, and practical considerations involved in the legal and ethical practice of marriage and family therapy, including, but not limited to, family law.

(iii) The current legal patterns and trends in the mental health professions.

(iv) The psychotherapist-patient privilege, confidentiality, the patient dangerous to self or others, and the treatment of minors with and without parental consent.

(v) A recognition and exploration of the relationship between a practitioner’s sense of self and human values and the practitioner’s professional behavior and ethics.

(vi) The application of legal and ethical standards in different types of work settings.

(vii) Licensing law and licensing process.

(e) The degree described in subdivision (b) shall, in addition to meeting the requirements of subdivision (d), include instruction in case management, systems of care for the severely mentally ill, public and private services and supports available for the severely mentally ill, community resources for persons with mental illness and for victims of abuse, disaster and trauma response, advocacy for the severely mentally ill, and collaborative treatment. This instruction may be provided either in credit level coursework or through extension programs offered by the degree-granting institution.

(f) The changes made to law by this section are intended to improve the educational qualifications for licensure in order to better prepare future licentiates for practice, and are not intended to expand or restrict the scope of practice for marriage and family therapists.

marriage and family therapy graduate study requirements educational qualifications

Section § 4980.37

This law section details the educational requirements for applicants seeking licensure or registration as marriage and family therapists who began their studies before August 1, 2012, and completed them by December 31, 2018. To qualify, they need a recognized doctoral or master's degree in fields like marriage and family therapy, which must include a minimum number of course units and specific coursework areas. There's also a requirement for a supervised practicum involving face-to-face counseling experience. Additionally, alternative qualifications include degrees approved by certain accreditation bodies. The law emphasizes an integrated and diverse educational program focusing on diagnosing and treating mental disorders, marriage and family dynamics, and cross-cultural competency.

(a) This section shall apply to applicants for licensure or registration who began graduate study before August 1, 2012, and completed that study on or before December 31, 2018. Those applicants may alternatively qualify under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 4980.36.

(b) To qualify for a license or registration, applicants shall possess a doctoral or master’s degree in marriage, family, and child counseling, marriage and family therapy, couple and family therapy, psychology, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, or either counseling or clinical mental health counseling with an emphasis in either marriage, family, and child counseling or marriage and family therapy. The degree shall be obtained from a school, college, or university accredited by a regional or national institutional accrediting agency that is recognized by the United States Department of Education or approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. The board has the authority to make the final determination as to whether a degree meets all requirements, including, but not limited to, course requirements, regardless of accreditation or approval. In order to qualify for licensure pursuant to this section, a doctoral or master’s degree program shall be a single, integrated program primarily designed to train marriage and family therapists and shall contain no less than 48 semester units or 72 quarter units of instruction. This instruction shall include no less than 12 semester units or 18 quarter units of coursework in the areas of marriage, family, and child counseling, and marital and family systems approaches to treatment. The coursework shall include all of the following areas:

(1) The salient theories of a variety of psychotherapeutic orientations directly related to marriage and family therapy, and marital and family systems approaches to treatment.

(2) Theories of marriage and family therapy and how they can be utilized in order to intervene therapeutically with couples, families, adults, children, and groups.

(3) Developmental issues and life events from infancy to old age and their effect on individuals, couples, and family relationships. This may include coursework that focuses on specific family life events and the psychological, psychotherapeutic, and health implications that arise within couples and families, including, but not limited to, childbirth, child rearing, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, marriage, divorce, blended families, stepparenting, abuse and neglect of older and dependent adults, and geropsychology.

(4) A variety of approaches to the treatment of children.

The board shall, by regulation, set forth the subjects of instruction required in this subdivision.

(c)

(1) In addition to the 12 semester or 18 quarter units of coursework specified in subdivision (b), the doctoral or master’s degree program shall contain not less than six semester units or nine quarter units of supervised practicum in applied psychotherapeutic technique, assessments, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment planning, and treatment of premarital, couple, family, and child relationships, including dysfunctions, healthy functioning, health promotion, and illness prevention, in a supervised clinical placement that provides supervised fieldwork experience within the scope of practice of a marriage and family therapist.

(2) For applicants who enrolled in a degree program on or after January 1, 1995, the practicum shall include a minimum of 150 hours of face-to-face experience counseling individuals, couples, families, or groups.

(3) The practicum hours shall be considered as part of the 48 semester or 72 quarter unit requirement.

(d) As an alternative to meeting the qualifications specified in subdivision (b), the board shall accept as equivalent degrees those master’s or doctoral degrees granted by educational institutions whose degree program is approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education.

(e) In order to provide an integrated course of study and appropriate professional training, while allowing for innovation and individuality in the education of marriage and family therapists, a degree program that meets the educational qualifications for licensure or registration under this section shall do all of the following:

(1) Provide an integrated course of study that trains students generally in the diagnosis, assessment, prognosis, treatment planning, and treatment of mental disorders.

(2) Prepare students to be familiar with the broad range of matters that may arise within marriage and family relationships.

(3) Train students specifically in the application of marriage and family relationship counseling principles and methods.

(4) Encourage students to develop those personal qualities that are intimately related to the counseling situation such as integrity, sensitivity, flexibility, insight, compassion, and personal presence.

(5) Teach students a variety of effective psychotherapeutic techniques and modalities that may be utilized to improve, restore, or maintain healthy individual, couple, and family relationships.

(6) Permit an emphasis or specialization that may address any one or more of the unique and complex array of human problems, symptoms, and needs of Californians served by marriage and family therapists.

(7) Prepare students to be familiar with cross-cultural mores and values, including a familiarity with the wide range of racial and ethnic backgrounds common among California’s population, including, but not limited to, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans.

(f) Educational institutions are encouraged to design the practicum required by this section to include marriage and family therapy experience in low income and multicultural mental health settings.

marriage and family therapy educational requirements licensure qualifications

Section § 4980.38

This law requires educational institutions that prepare students for certain licenses or registrations to inform them if their degree programs satisfy specific legal requirements. The institutions must certify this notification to the board. Also, applicants for licensure must provide a certification from their school confirming that their completed courses meet certain specified requirements.

(a) Each educational institution preparing applicants to qualify for registration or licensure shall notify each of its students by means of its public documents or otherwise in writing that its degree program is designed to meet the requirements of Section 4980.36 or 4980.37, and shall certify to the board that it has so notified its students.

(b) An applicant for registration or licensure shall submit to the board a certification by the applicant’s educational institution that the institution’s required curriculum for graduation and any associated coursework completed by the applicant does one of the following:

(1) Meets all of the requirements set forth in Section 4980.36.

(2) Meets all of the requirements set forth in Section 4980.37 and paragraphs (4) and (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 4980.41.

educational institutions degree program requirements student notification

Section § 4980.39

If you want to be licensed after meeting educational requirements, you'll need at least 10 hours of coursework on aging and long-term care, including topics like elder abuse. This study can also count towards other required courses, but it must be certified by your school's academic officer. You can't get your license until you complete this requirement.

(a) An applicant for licensure whose education qualifies him or her under Section 4980.37 shall complete, as a condition of licensure, a minimum of 10 contact hours of coursework in aging and long-term care, which may include, but is not limited to, the biological, social, and psychological aspects of aging. On and after January 1, 2012, this coursework shall include instruction on the assessment and reporting of, as well as treatment related to, elder and dependent adult abuse and neglect.

(b) Coursework taken in fulfillment of other educational requirements for licensure pursuant to this chapter, or in a separate course of study, may, at the discretion of the board, fulfill the requirements of this section.

(c) In order to satisfy the coursework requirement of this section, the applicant shall submit to the board a certification from the chief academic officer of the educational institution from which the applicant graduated stating that the coursework required by this section is included within the institution’s required curriculum for graduation, or within the coursework, that was completed by the applicant.

(d) The board shall not issue a license to the applicant until the applicant has met the requirements of this section.

aging coursework long-term care elder abuse training

Section § 4980.395

If you're applying to be a marriage and family therapist in California after July 1, 2023, you need to complete at least three hours of training on providing mental health services through telehealth, including laws and ethics. You can get this training as part of your graduate program or through a specific continuing education course. Also, current license holders must do this training before their first license renewal after this date, and keep proof of it, just in case the board asks for it. This is a one-time requirement, so get it done early.

(a) On or after July 1, 2023, an applicant for licensure as a marriage and family therapist shall show, as part of the application, that they have completed a minimum of three hours of training or coursework in the provision of mental health services via telehealth, which shall include law and ethics related to telehealth. This requirement shall be met in one of the following ways:

(1) Obtained as part of their qualifying graduate degree program. To satisfy this requirement, the applicant shall submit to the board a written certification from the registrar or training director of the educational institution or program from which the applicant graduated stating that the coursework required by this section is included within the institution’s curriculum required for graduation at the time the applicant graduated, or within the coursework that was completed by the applicant.

(2) Obtained by completing a continuing education course that meets the requirements of Section 4980.54. To satisfy this requirement, the applicant shall submit to the board a certification of completion.

(b) As a one-time requirement, a licensee before the time of their first renewal after July 1, 2023, or an applicant for reactivation or reinstatement to an active license status on or after July 1, 2023, shall have completed a minimum of three hours of training or coursework in the provision of mental health services via telehealth, which shall include law and ethics related to telehealth, using one of the methods specified in subdivision (a).

(c) Proof of compliance with subdivision (b) shall be certified under penalty of perjury that they are in compliance with this section and shall be retained for submission to the board upon request.

telehealth training marriage and family therapist mental health services

Section § 4980.396

If you're applying to become a marriage and family therapist in California after January 1, 2021, you must show you've completed at least six hours of training in assessing and handling suicide risks. You can meet this requirement by having this coursework as part of your graduate program, through hands-on experience like internships, or by taking a continuing education class. Existing therapists also need to complete this training before their first license renewal after January 1, 2021. When proving you've done this, you need to swear you've met the requirement and keep proof in case the board asks for it.

(a) On or after January 1, 2021, an applicant for licensure as a marriage and family therapist shall show, as part of the application, that they have completed a minimum of six hours of coursework or applied experience under supervision in suicide risk assessment and intervention. This requirement shall be met in one of the following ways:

(1) Obtained as part of their qualifying graduate degree program. To satisfy this requirement, the applicant shall submit to the board a written certification from the registrar or training director of the educational institution or program from which the applicant graduated stating that the coursework required by this section is included within the institution’s curriculum required for graduation at the time the applicant graduated, or within the coursework that was completed by the applicant.

(2) Obtained as part of their applied experience. Applied experience can be met in any of the following settings: practicum or associateship that meets the requirement of this chapter, formal postdoctoral placement that meets the requirements of Section 2911, or other qualifying supervised experience. To satisfy this requirement, the applicant shall submit to the board a written certification from the director of training for the program or primary supervisor where the qualifying experience has occurred stating that the training required by this section is included within the applied experience.

(3) By taking a continuing education course that meets the requirements of Section 4980.54. To satisfy this requirement, the applicant shall submit to the board a certification of completion.

(b) As a one-time requirement, a licensee prior to the time of their first renewal after January 1, 2021, or an applicant for reactivation or reinstatement to an active license status on or after January 1, 2021, shall have completed a minimum of six hours of coursework or applied experience under supervision in suicide risk assessment and intervention, using one of the methods specified in subdivision (a).

Proof of compliance with this section shall be certified under penalty of perjury that they are in compliance with this section and shall be retained for submission to the board upon request.

marriage and family therapist suicide risk assessment intervention training

Section § 4980.397

If you're registering or applying to become a licensed marriage and family therapist in California, you need to pass two tests set by the board: a California law and ethics exam and a clinical exam. When you register as an associate marriage and family therapist, you must take the law and ethics exam within your first year. You can only take the clinical exam after completing the necessary supervised work experience, finishing your education requirements, and passing the law and ethics test.

(a) A registrant or an applicant for licensure as a marriage and family therapist shall pass the following two examinations as prescribed by the board:

(1) A California law and ethics examination.

(2) A clinical examination.

(b) Upon registration with the board, an associate marriage and family therapist shall, within the first year of registration, take an examination on California law and ethics.

(c) A registrant or an applicant for licensure may take the clinical examination only upon meeting all of the following requirements:

(1) Completion of all required supervised work experience.

(2) Completion of all education requirements.

(3) Passage of the California law and ethics examination.

marriage and family therapist law and ethics exam clinical examination

Section § 4980.398

This law outlines requirements for licensure for certain applicants in a healthcare or related field. If someone has passed the standard written test before but not the clinical vignette test, they need to pass the clinical exam to get licensed. Those who failed the written test previously must pass the California law and ethics exam and the clinical exam. Finally, applicants eligible for the standard written test must also take the California law and ethics exam and the clinical exam. This rule has been in effect since January 1, 2016.

(a) Each applicant who had previously taken and passed the standard written examination but had not passed the clinical vignette examination shall also obtain a passing score on the clinical examination in order to be eligible for licensure.

(b) An applicant who had previously failed to obtain a passing score on the standard written examination shall obtain a passing score on the California law and ethics examination and the clinical examination.

(c) An applicant who had obtained eligibility for the standard written examination shall take the California law and ethics examination and the clinical examination.

(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

clinical examination licensure eligibility passing score

Section § 4980.399

If you want to become licensed or maintain your registration, you need to pass a California law and ethics exam. Registrants must take this exam before renewing their registration. If you don't pass, you can retake the exam by paying the necessary fees. The board will not give you a new registration number if you haven't passed the exam. Additionally, you need to complete at least three hours of continuing education on California law and ethics during each renewal period, even if you've passed the exam. This education must come from a board-approved provider.

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 4980.398, each applicant and registrant shall obtain a passing score on a board-administered California law and ethics examination in order to qualify for licensure.

(b) A registrant shall participate in a board-administered California law and ethics examination before their registration renewal.

(c) If an applicant fails the California law and ethics examination, they may retake the examination, upon payment of the required fees, without further application.

(d) The board shall not issue a subsequent registration number unless the applicant has passed the California law and ethics examination.

(e) A registrant shall complete a minimum of three hours of continuing education on the subject of California law and ethics during each renewal period to be eligible to renew their registration, regardless of whether they have passed the California law and ethics examination. The coursework shall be obtained from a board-accepted provider of continuing education, as specified in Section 4980.54.

law and ethics exam board-administered exam California law

Section § 4980.40

To get a license, an applicant must meet specific qualifications: They're expected to have the relevant education from designated sections, be at least 18 years old, complete two years of supervised work, and pass exams focused on California law, ethics, and clinical skills. Additionally, people who have committed serious crimes, especially involving child sexual abuse, or those needing to register as sex offenders, will not be granted a license.

An applicant for licensure shall satisfy all of the following qualifications:

(a) Meet the educational requirements of Section 4980.36 or both Sections 4980.37 and 4980.41, as applicable.

(b) Be at least 18 years of age.

(c) Have at least two years of supervised experience as specified in this chapter and its corresponding regulations.

(d) Successfully pass a California law and ethics examination and a clinical examination. An applicant who has successfully passed a previously administered written examination may be subsequently required to take and pass another written examination.

(e) Not be subject to denial of licensure under Section 480. The board shall not issue a registration or license to any person who has been convicted of a crime in this or another state or in a territory of the United States that involves sexual abuse of children or who is required to register pursuant to Section 290 of the Penal Code or the equivalent in another state or territory, in accordance with Section 480.

licensure qualifications supervised experience law and ethics exam

Section § 4980.41

If you want to become a licensed marriage and family therapist in California, you'll need to take specific courses and training. These include classes in California law and ethics, child abuse assessment, human sexuality, substance dependency, spousal abuse, psychological testing, and psychopharmacology. These courses can be part of your master’s or doctoral degree or taken separately, but they must meet certain criteria. These requirements aim to ensure therapists are well-prepared for their profession.

(a) An applicant for licensure whose education qualifies him or her under Section 4980.37 shall complete the following coursework or training in order to be eligible to sit for the licensing examinations as specified in subdivision (d) of Section 4980.40:

(1) A two semester or three quarter unit course in California law and professional ethics for marriage and family therapists, which shall include, but not be limited to, the following areas of study:

(A) Contemporary professional ethics and statutory, regulatory, and decisional laws that delineate the profession’s scope of practice.

(B) The therapeutic, clinical, and practical considerations involved in the legal and ethical practice of marriage and family therapy, including family law.

(C) The current legal patterns and trends in the mental health profession.

(D) The psychotherapist-patient privilege, confidentiality, the patient dangerous to self or others, and the treatment of minors with and without parental consent.

(E) A recognition and exploration of the relationship between a practitioner’s sense of self and human values and his or her professional behavior and ethics.

This course may be considered as part of the 48 semester or 72 quarter unit requirements contained in Section 4980.37.

(2) A minimum of seven contact hours of training or coursework in child abuse assessment and reporting as specified in Section 28 and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

(3) A minimum of 10 contact hours of training or coursework in human sexuality as specified in Section 25, and any regulations promulgated thereunder. When coursework in a master’s or doctor’s degree program is acquired to satisfy this requirement, it shall be considered as part of the 48 semester or 72 quarter unit requirement contained in Section 4980.37.

(4) For persons who began graduate study on or after January 1, 1986, a master’s or doctor’s degree qualifying for licensure shall include specific instruction in alcoholism and other chemical substance dependency as specified by regulation. When coursework in a master’s or doctor’s degree program is acquired to satisfy this requirement, it shall be considered as part of the 48 semester or 72 quarter unit requirement contained in Section 4980.37. Coursework required under this paragraph may be satisfactory if taken either in fulfillment of other educational requirements for licensure or in a separate course. The applicant may satisfy this requirement by successfully completing this coursework from a master’s or doctoral degree program at an accredited or approved institution, as described in subdivision (b) of Section 4980.37, or from a board-accepted provider of continuing education, as described in Section 4980.54.

(5) For persons who began graduate study during the period commencing on January 1, 1995, and ending on December 31, 2003, a master’s or doctor’s degree qualifying for licensure shall include coursework in spousal or partner abuse assessment, detection, and intervention. For persons who began graduate study on or after January 1, 2004, a master’s or doctor’s degree qualifying for licensure shall include a minimum of 15 contact hours of coursework in spousal or partner abuse assessment, detection, and intervention strategies, including knowledge of community resources, cultural factors, and same gender abuse dynamics. Coursework required under this paragraph may be satisfactory if taken either in fulfillment of other educational requirements for licensure or in a separate course. The applicant may satisfy this requirement by successfully completing this coursework from a master’s or doctoral degree program at an accredited or approved institution, as described in subdivision (b) of Section 4980.37, or from a board-accepted provider of continuing education, as described in Section 4980.54.

(6) For persons who began graduate study on or after January 1, 2001, an applicant shall complete a minimum of a two semester or three quarter unit survey course in psychological testing. When coursework in a master’s or doctor’s degree program is acquired to satisfy this requirement, it may be considered as part of the 48 semester or 72 quarter unit requirement of Section 4980.37.

(7) For persons who began graduate study on or after January 1, 2001, an applicant shall complete a minimum of a two semester or three quarter unit survey course in psychopharmacology. When coursework in a master’s or doctor’s degree program is acquired to satisfy this requirement, it may be considered as part of the 48 semester or 72 quarter unit requirement of Section 4980.37.

(b) The requirements added by paragraphs (6) and (7) of subdivision (a) are intended to improve the educational qualifications for licensure in order to better prepare future licentiates for practice and are not intended in any way to expand or restrict the scope of practice for licensed marriage and family therapists.

marriage and family therapists California law professional ethics

Section § 4980.42

This law allows trainees in certain work settings to perform activities as part of their supervised study, ensuring they use the title "trainee." They can gain experience hours and counsel clients outside of their required practicum, with conditions on enrollment in practicum courses. If the trainee's enrollment lapses less than 90 days, they can still counsel clients if they were enrolled immediately before and after the gap. All experience hours must follow additional chapter rules, and must be coordinated between the school and the work site, with agreements detailing responsibilities and supervision methods. The school must approve the site and provide regular reports on the trainee's progress. If a trainee gains experience at a different institution than the degree-granting one, they must prove compliance with these conditions.

(a) Trainees performing services in any work setting specified in Section 4980.43.3 may perform those activities and services as a trainee, provided that the activities and services constitute part of the trainee’s supervised course of study and that the person is designated by the title “trainee.”

(b) Trainees subject to Section 4980.37 may gain hours of experience and counsel clients outside of the required practicum. This subdivision shall apply to hours of experience gained and client counseling provided on and after January 1, 2012.

(c) Trainees subject to Section 4980.36 may gain hours of experience outside of the required practicum but must be enrolled in a practicum course to counsel clients. Trainees subject to Section 4980.36 may counsel clients while not enrolled in a practicum course if the period of lapsed enrollment is less than 90 calendar days, and if that period is immediately preceded by enrollment in a practicum course and immediately followed by enrollment in a practicum course or completion of the degree program.

(d) All hours of experience gained pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c) shall be subject to the other requirements of this chapter.

(e) All hours of experience gained as a trainee shall be coordinated between the school and the site where the hours are being accrued. The school shall approve each site and shall have a written agreement with each site that details each party’s responsibilities, including the methods by which supervision shall be provided. The agreement shall provide for regular progress reports and evaluations of the student’s performance at the site. If an applicant has gained hours of experience while enrolled in an institution other than the one that confers the qualifying degree, it shall be the applicant’s responsibility to provide to the board satisfactory evidence that those hours of trainee experience were gained in compliance with this section.

trainee services supervised course of study required practicum

Section § 4980.43

To get licensed, applicants must have a registered associate status to earn supervised experience hours. However, hours earned before registration can count if they apply for registration within 90 days of earning their degree, complete fingerprinting at approved workplaces, and eventually receive registration. Work in private practice isn't allowed until registration is granted. Applicants need at least 3,000 hours of supervised experience over at least 104 weeks, with specific requirements including hours after their degree and conditions on the number and type of hours. Some hours must be direct clinical contact, and others can involve nonclinical activities relevant to family therapy.

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), all applicants shall have an active associate registration with the board in order to gain postdegree hours of supervised experience.

(b)

(1) Postdegree hours of experience gained before the issuance of an associate registration shall be credited toward licensure if all of the following apply:

(A) The registration applicant applies for the associate registration and the board receives the application within 90 days of the granting of the qualifying master’s degree or doctoral degree.

(B) For applicants completing graduate study on or after January 1, 2020, the experience is obtained at a workplace that, prior to the registration applicant gaining supervised experience hours, requires completed Live Scan fingerprinting. The applicant shall provide the board with a copy of that completed State of California “Request for Live Scan Service” form with the application for licensure.

(C) The board subsequently grants the associate registration.

(2) The applicant shall not be employed or volunteer in a private practice or a professional corporation until the applicant has been issued an associate registration by the board.

(c) Supervised experience that is obtained for purposes of qualifying for licensure shall be related to the practice of marriage and family therapy and comply with the following:

(1) A minimum of 3,000 hours completed during a period of at least 104 weeks.

(2) A maximum of 40 hours in any seven consecutive days.

(3) A minimum of 1,700 hours obtained after the qualifying master’s or doctoral degree was awarded.

(4) A maximum of 1,300 hours obtained prior to the award date of the qualifying master’s or doctoral degree.

(5) A maximum of 750 hours of counseling and direct supervisor contact prior to the award date of the qualifying master’s or doctoral degree.

(6) Hours of experience shall not be gained prior to completing either 12 semester units or 18 quarter units of graduate instruction.

(7) Hours of experience shall not have been gained more than six years prior to the date the application for licensure was received by the board, except that up to 500 hours of clinical experience gained in the supervised practicum required by subdivision (c) of Section 4980.37 and subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 4980.36 shall be exempt from this six-year requirement.

(8) A minimum of 1,750 hours of direct clinical counseling with individuals, groups, couples, or families, that includes not less than 500 total hours of experience in diagnosing and treating couples, families, and children.

(9) A maximum of 1,200 hours gained under the supervision of a licensed educational psychologist providing educationally related mental health services that are consistent with the scope of practice of an educational psychologist, as specified in Section 4989.14.

(10) A maximum of 1,250 hours of nonclinical practice, consisting of direct supervisor contact, administering and evaluating psychological tests, writing clinical reports, writing progress or process notes, client-centered advocacy, and workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences directly related to marriage and family therapy that have been approved by the applicant’s supervisor.

(11) It is anticipated and encouraged that hours of experience will include working with elders and dependent adults who have physical or mental limitations that restrict their ability to carry out normal activities or protect their rights.

This subdivision shall only apply to hours gained on and after January 1, 2010.

(d) An individual who submits an application for licensure between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2020, may alternatively qualify under the experience requirements of this section that were in place on January 1, 2015.

associate registration supervised experience postdegree hours

Section § 4980.43

If you're training to become a licensed therapist in California, you must be supervised at all times. Your supervisor is responsible for making sure you provide quality mental health services. Just chatting or peer talks don't count as supervision. Effective supervision involves several things: making sure your counseling matches your level of training, giving feedback on your patient assessments and treatments, and ensuring you can handle your work environment and clients. It also includes addressing any personal dynamics that might affect your work, ensuring you follow therapy laws, reviewing your treatment records, and with client consent, observing your sessions directly or through recordings.

(a) All trainees, associates, and applicants for licensure shall be under the supervision of a supervisor at all times.

(b) As used in this chapter, the term “supervision” means responsibility for, and control of, the quality of mental health and related services provided by the supervisee. Consultation or peer discussion shall not be considered supervision and shall not qualify as supervised experience. Supervision includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Ensuring the extent, kind, and quality of counseling performed is consistent with the education, training, and experience of the supervisee.

(2) Monitoring and evaluating the supervisee’s assessment, diagnosis, and treatment decisions and providing regular feedback.

(3) Monitoring and evaluating the supervisee’s ability to provide services at the site or sites where he or she is practicing and to the particular clientele being served.

(4) Monitoring and addressing clinical dynamics, including, but not limited to, countertransference-, intrapsychic-, interpersonal-, or trauma-related issues that may affect the supervisory or practitioner-patient relationship.

(5) Ensuring the supervisee’s compliance with laws and regulations governing the practice of marriage and family therapy.

(6) Reviewing the supervisee’s progress notes, process notes, and other patient treatment records, as deemed appropriate by the supervisor.

(7) With the client’s written consent, providing direct observation or review of audio or video recordings of the supervisee’s counseling or therapy, as deemed appropriate by the supervisor.

supervision trainees associates

Section § 4980.43

This law section specifies the requirements for direct supervision when gaining clinical experience as a trainee or associate in mental health services. Each week of credited experience must include at least one hour of supervision, with adjustments made based on the amount of counseling completed. Supervision can be individual, triadic, or group, with defined formats for each. Supervisors are responsible for maintaining confidentiality and assessing the suitability of videoconferencing for supervision. They must document their assessments and can provide alternative supervision if necessary. Once the required experience hours are completed, ongoing supervision requirements decrease unless specified otherwise. This section is valid until January 1, 2026.

(a) Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:

(1) Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.

(2) A trainee shall receive an average of at least one hour of direct supervisor contact for every five hours of direct clinical counseling performed each week in each setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.

(3) An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.

(4) Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.

(b)

(1) For purposes of this chapter, “one hour of direct supervisor contact” means any of the following:

(A) Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.

(B) Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.

(C) Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. A supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “face-to-face contact” means in-person contact, contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing, or some combination of these.

(c) The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.

(d)

(1) Within 60 days of the commencement of supervision, a supervisor shall conduct a meeting with the supervisee during which the supervisor shall assess the appropriateness of allowing the supervisee to receive supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. This assessment of appropriateness shall include, but is not limited to, the abilities of the supervisee, the preferences of both the supervisee and supervisor, and the privacy of the locations of the supervisee and supervisor while supervision is conducted.

(2) The supervisor shall document the results of the assessment made pursuant to paragraph (1), and shall not utilize supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing if their assessment finds it is not appropriate.

(e) Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.

(f) Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisor’s vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements of this chapter.

(g) Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, associates and applicants for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as defined in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, shall be at the supervisor’s discretion.

(h) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.

supervision requirements direct supervisor contact clinical counseling

Section § 4980.43

This law outlines guidelines for supervision requirements for trainees and associates gaining clinical experience. Supervisors must provide at least one hour of supervision per week in each work setting, with additional hours required if more than 10 hours of counseling is performed weekly. No more than six hours of supervision can be credited in a week, and a portion of the required 104 weeks must include individual or triadic supervision. Supervision can be face-to-face or, in certain settings, via videoconferencing, as long as confidentiality laws are adhered to. Alternative supervisors can step in during a supervisor's vacation or sick leave. The details outlined take effect starting January 1, 2026.

(a) Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:

(1) Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.

(2) A trainee shall receive an average of at least one hour of direct supervisor contact for every five hours of direct clinical counseling performed each week in each setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.

(3) An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.

(4) Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.

(b) For purposes of this chapter, “one hour of direct supervisor contact” means any of the following:

(1) Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.

(2) Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.

(3) Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. A supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.

(c) Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.

(d) Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisor’s vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements of this chapter.

(e) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a supervisee working in an exempt setting described in Section 4980.01 may obtain the required weekly direct supervisor contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.

(f) Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, associates and applicants for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as defined in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, shall be at the supervisor’s discretion.

(g) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2026.

supervision requirements clinical experience trainee supervision

Section § 4980.43

If you're training to become a licensed counselor or therapist, you need to work as an employee or volunteer, not as an independent contractor. Experience must be supervised and can't be gained in private practices for trainees. For associates, once registered, they can work in settings that regularly provide mental health services, but not under relatives or in any compromised supervisor relationships. You're paid by your employer, not clients, and you shouldn't have any ownership in the business. Even if you're volunteering, it still counts as employment if you're reimbursed for actual expenses. You can use telehealth for providing services. Schools and supervisors should encourage therapy for their students and interns to better prepare them.

(a) A trainee, associate, or applicant for licensure shall only perform mental health and related services as an employee or volunteer, and not as an independent contractor. The requirements of this chapter regarding hours of experience and supervision shall apply equally to employees and volunteers. A trainee, associate, or applicant for licensure shall not perform any services or gain any experience within the scope of practice of the profession, as defined in Section 4980.02, as an independent contractor. While an associate may be either a paid employee or a volunteer, employers are encouraged to provide fair remuneration.

(1) If employed, an associate shall provide the board, upon application for licensure, with copies of the W-2 tax forms for each year of experience claimed.

(2) If volunteering, an associate shall provide the board, upon application for licensure, with a letter from the associate’s employer verifying the associate’s status as a volunteer during the dates the experience was gained.

(b)

(1) A trainee shall not perform services in a private practice or a professional corporation. A trainee may be credited with supervised experience completed in a setting that meets all of the following:

(A) Is not a private practice or professional corporation.

(B) Lawfully and regularly provides mental health counseling or psychotherapy.

(C) Provides oversight to ensure that the trainee’s work at the setting meets the experience and supervision requirements in this chapter and is within the scope of practice for the profession, as defined in Section 4980.02.

(2) Only experience gained in the position for which the trainee volunteers or is employed shall qualify as supervised experience.

(c)

(1) An associate may be credited with supervised experience completed in any setting that meets both of the following:

(A) Lawfully and regularly provides mental health counseling or psychotherapy.

(B) Provides oversight to ensure that the associate’s work at the setting meets the experience and supervision requirements in this chapter and is within the scope of practice for the profession, as defined in Section 4980.02.

(2) Only experience gained in the position for which the associate volunteers or is employed shall qualify as supervised experience.

(3) An applicant for registration as an associate shall not be employed or volunteer in a private practice or professional corporation until the applicant has been issued an associate registration by the board.

(d) Any experience obtained under the supervision of a spouse, relative, or domestic partner shall not be credited toward the required hours of supervised experience. Any experience obtained under the supervision of a supervisor with whom the applicant has had or currently has a personal, professional, or business relationship that undermines the authority or effectiveness of the supervision shall not be credited toward the required hours of supervised experience.

(e) A trainee, associate, or applicant for licensure shall not receive any remuneration from patients or clients and shall only be paid by their employer, if an employee.

(f) A trainee, associate, or applicant for licensure shall have no proprietary interest in their employer’s business and shall not lease or rent space, pay for furnishings, equipment, or supplies, or in any other way pay for the obligations of their employer.

(g) A trainee, associate, or applicant for licensure who provides voluntary services in any lawful work setting and who only receives reimbursement for expenses actually incurred shall be considered an employee. The board may audit an applicant for licensure who receives reimbursement for expenses and the applicant for licensure shall have the burden of demonstrating that the payment received was for reimbursement of expenses actually incurred.

(h) A trainee, associate, or applicant for licensure who receives a stipend or educational loan repayment from a program designed to encourage demographically underrepresented groups to enter the profession or to improve recruitment and retention in underserved regions or settings shall be considered an employee. The board may audit an applicant who receives a stipend or educational loan repayment and the applicant shall have the burden of demonstrating that the payment received was for the specified purposes.

(i) An associate or a trainee may provide services via telehealth that are in the scope of practice outlined in this chapter.

(j) Each educational institution preparing applicants pursuant to this chapter shall consider requiring, and shall encourage, its students to undergo individual, marital, conjoint, family, or group counseling or psychotherapy, as appropriate. Each supervisor shall consider, advise, and encourage the supervisor’s associates and trainees regarding the advisability of undertaking individual, marital, conjoint, family, or group counseling or psychotherapy, as appropriate. Insofar as it is deemed appropriate and is desired by the applicant, educational institutions and supervisors are encouraged to assist the applicant to locate counseling or psychotherapy at a reasonable cost.

trainee requirements associate experience supervision rules

Section § 4980.43

This section outlines where trainees, associates, or those applying for mental health licensure can work. They must perform services only at approved locations by their employer. Associates in private practices or corporations need supervision from individuals who are employed, contracted, or owners of the practice. The supervisor should either provide psychotherapeutic services or have a proper contract to access clinical records, with client permission. Supervisors cannot oversee more than six unlicensed individuals for supervision. There must be a written agreement detailing oversight if the supervisor isn't employed by the supervisee's employer.

(a) A trainee, associate, or applicant for licensure shall only perform mental health and related services at the places where their employer permits business to be conducted.

(b) An associate who is employed by or is volunteering in a private practice or a professional corporation shall be supervised by an individual who is both of the following:

(1) Is employed by or contracted by the associate’s employer or is an owner of the private practice or professional corporation.

(2) Either provides psychotherapeutic services to clients for the associate’s employer, or meets both of the following:

(A) The supervisor and the associate’s employer have a written contract providing the supervisor the same access to the associate’s clinical records provided to employees of that employer.

(B) The associate’s clients authorize the release of their clinical records to the supervisor.

(c) At any one time, supervisors in nonexempt settings shall not serve as individual or triadic supervisors for more than a total of six persons who are not fully licensed at the highest level for independent clinical practice and who are receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services in a nonexempt setting.

(d) A written oversight agreement, as specified by the board by regulation, shall be executed between the supervisor and employer when the supervisor is not employed by the supervisee’s employer or is a volunteer. The supervisor shall evaluate the site or sites where the supervisee will be gaining experience to determine that the site or sites comply with the requirements of this chapter.

mental health services trainee work locations associate supervision

Section § 4980.43

This law states that the board has the right to check the records of anyone supervising to make sure they've met the required qualifications. Supervisors need to keep records of their qualifications for seven years after they stop supervising and must provide these records if the board asks to audit them.

The board may audit the records of any supervisor to verify the completion of the supervisor qualifications specified by this chapter and by regulation. A supervisor shall maintain records of completion of the required supervisor qualifications for seven years after termination of the supervision and shall make these records available to the board for auditing purposes upon request.

supervisor qualifications record keeping audit

Section § 4980.44

This law requires associate marriage and family therapists in California who are not yet licensed to inform their clients that they are unlicensed, providing their registration number and the name of their employer. They must also disclose if they are supervised by a licensed therapist or another qualified professional. In any advertisements, associates must clearly state that they are registered, include their registration number, name their employer, and confirm they are under supervision. Additionally, they can't use the abbreviation 'AMFT' without also using the full title 'registered associate marriage and family therapist' in ads.

An associate marriage and family therapist employed under this chapter shall comply with the following requirements:

(a) Inform each client or patient prior to performing any mental health and related services that the person is an unlicensed registered associate marriage and family therapist, provide the person’s registration number and the name of the person’s employer, and indicate whether the person is under the supervision of a licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed clinical social worker, licensed professional clinical counselor, psychologist licensed pursuant to Chapter 6.6 (commencing with Section 2900), licensed educational psychologist, or a licensed physician and surgeon certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

(b)

(1) Any advertisement by or on behalf of a registered associate marriage and family therapist shall include, at a minimum, all of the following information:

(A) That the person is a registered associate marriage and family therapist.

(B) The associate’s registration number.

(C) The name of the person’s employer.

(D) That the person is supervised by a licensed person.

(2) The abbreviation “AMFT” shall not be used in an advertisement unless the title “registered associate marriage and family therapist” appears in the advertisement.

associate marriage and family therapist unlicensed registration number

Section § 4980.46

If you're a licensed marriage and family therapist running a business under a fake name, you can't choose a name that's misleading. Also, before treatment starts, you need to tell your patients your real name and that you're the owner.

Any licensed marriage and family therapist who owns a business using a fictitious business name shall not use any name that is false, misleading, or deceptive, and shall inform the patient, prior to the commencement of treatment, of the name and license designation of the owner or owners of the practice.

licensed marriage and family therapist fictitious business name misleading business names

Section § 4980.48

This law requires that marriage and family therapist trainees must explicitly inform their clients that they are not licensed and working under supervision. They must provide the name of their employer and the type of supervisor overseeing their work. If a trainee's services are advertised, the ads need to include the trainee’s name, the supervisor’s license info, and the fact that they are under supervision. Ads should also specify that the individual is a trainee.

(a) A trainee shall, prior to performing any professional services, inform each client or patient that the trainee is an unlicensed marriage and family therapist trainee, provide the name of the trainee’s employer, and indicate whether the trainee is under the supervision of a licensed marriage and family therapist, a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed professional clinical counselor, a licensed psychologist, a licensed physician certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, or a licensed educational psychologist.

(b) Any person that advertises services performed by a trainee shall include the trainee’s name, the supervisor’s license designation or abbreviation, and the supervisor’s license number.

(c) Any advertisement by or on behalf of a marriage and family therapist trainee shall include, at a minimum, all of the following information:

(1) That the trainee is a marriage and family therapist trainee.

(2) The name of the trainee’s employer.

(3) That the trainee is supervised by a licensed person.

marriage and family therapist trainee unlicensed client notification

Section § 4980.49

If you're a marriage and family therapist, you must keep your clients' therapy records for at least seven years after their therapy ends. For clients under 18, hold onto their records until seven years after they turn 18. You can keep these records in either paper or electronic format. This rule is only for records from therapy sessions that ended on or after January 1, 2015.

(a) A marriage and family therapist shall retain a client’s or patient’s health service records for a minimum of seven years from the date therapy is terminated. If the client or patient is a minor, the client’s or patient’s health service records shall be retained for a minimum of seven years from the date the client or the patient reaches 18 years of age. Health service records may be retained in either a written or an electronic format.

(b) This section shall apply only to the records of a client or patient whose therapy is terminated on or after January 1, 2015.

marriage and family therapist retain health records patient health service records

Section § 4980.50

If you want to become a licensed marriage and family therapist in California, you need to meet certain education and experience requirements and pass specific exams. The board exams you on your skills and knowledge at least twice a year. If your application is complete and you haven't done anything that disqualifies you, you can't be denied the chance to take the exam. Even if there's a complaint against you, as long as it's under investigation, you can still take the clinical exam, but you might not get a license until the investigation is over. If you've failed parts of the exam before, you might not get another chance until complaints against you are resolved. Exam materials can be destroyed after two years. You have seven years to pass the clinical exam after your first try, and your passing score will be valid for seven years. Successfully passing everything leads to getting your therapist license from the board.

(a) Every applicant who meets the educational and experience requirements and applies for a license as a marriage and family therapist shall be examined by the board. The examinations shall be as set forth in subdivision (d) of Section 4980.40. The examinations shall be given at least twice a year at a time and place and under supervision as the board may determine. The board shall examine the candidate with regard to the candidate’s knowledge and professional skills and judgment in the utilization of appropriate techniques and methods.

(b) The board shall not deny any applicant who has submitted a complete application for examination, admission to the licensure examinations required by this section if the applicant meets the educational and experience requirements of this chapter, and has not committed any acts or engaged in any conduct that would constitute grounds to deny licensure.

(c) The board shall not deny any applicant, whose application for licensure is complete, admission to the clinical examination, nor shall the board postpone or delay any applicant’s clinical examination, solely upon the receipt by the board of a complaint alleging acts or conduct that would constitute grounds to deny licensure.

(d) If an applicant for examination who has passed the California law and ethics examination is the subject of a complaint or is under board investigation for acts or conduct that, if proven to be true, would constitute grounds for the board to deny licensure, the board shall permit the applicant to take the clinical examination for licensure, but may notify the applicant that licensure will not be granted pending completion of the investigation.

(e) Notwithstanding Section 135, the board may deny any applicant who has previously failed either the California law and ethics examination or the clinical examination permission to retake either examination pending completion of the investigation of any complaints against the applicant. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the board from denying an applicant admission to any examination or refusing to issue a license to any applicant when an accusation or statement of issues has been filed against the applicant pursuant to Sections 11503 and 11504 of the Government Code, respectively, or the applicant has been denied in accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 485.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board may destroy all examination materials two years following the date of an examination.

(g) An applicant for licensure shall not be eligible to participate in the clinical examination if the applicant fails to obtain a passing score on the clinical examination within seven years from their initial attempt, unless the applicant takes and obtains a passing score on the current version of the California law and ethics examination.

(h) A passing score on the clinical examination shall be accepted by the board for a period of seven years from the date the examination was taken.

(i) An applicant for licensure who has qualified pursuant to this chapter shall be issued a license as a marriage and family therapist in the form that the board deems appropriate.

marriage and family therapist licensure examination clinical examination

Section § 4980.54

This law is about the requirements for continuing education for licensed and registered marriage and family therapists. It states that therapists must complete a certain number of hours of continuing education every two years to renew their licenses. The board can verify these requirements through audits. Continuing education must be relevant to the profession and can include courses in mental health topics such as menopause and maternal mental health. Providers of continuing education need board approval and must follow established procedures. Exceptions to these requirements can be made for good reasons, decided by the board.

(a) The Legislature recognizes that the education and experience requirements in this chapter constitute only minimal requirements to ensure that an applicant is prepared and qualified to take the licensure examinations as specified in subdivision (d) of Section 4980.40 and, if an applicant passes those examinations, to begin practice.

(b) In order to continuously improve the competence of licensed and registered marriage and family therapists and as a model for all psychotherapeutic professions, the Legislature encourages all licensees and registrants to regularly engage in continuing education related to the profession or scope of practice as defined in this chapter.

(c)

(1) Except as provided in subdivision (f), the board shall not renew any license pursuant to this chapter unless the applicant certifies to the board, on a form prescribed by the board, that the applicant has completed not less than 36 hours of approved continuing education in or relevant to the field of marriage and family therapy in the preceding two years, as determined by the board.

(2) The board shall not renew any registration pursuant to this chapter unless the registrant certifies under penalty of perjury to the board, and on a form prescribed by the board, that they have completed not less than three hours of continuing education on the subject of California law and ethics during the preceding year.

(d) The board shall have the right to audit the records of any applicant to verify the completion of the continuing education requirement. Applicants shall maintain records of completion of required continuing education coursework for a minimum of two years and shall make these records available to the board for auditing purposes upon request.

(e)

(1) In determining its continuing education requirements, the board shall consider including a course in menopausal mental health.

(2) In determining its continuing education requirements, the board shall consider including a course in maternal mental health.

(f) The board may establish exceptions from the continuing education requirements of this section for good cause, as defined by the board.

(g) The continuing education shall be obtained from one of the following sources:

(1) A school, college, or university that is accredited or approved, as defined in Section 4980.03. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as requiring coursework to be offered as part of a regular degree program.

(2) Other continuing education providers, as specified by the board by regulation.

(h) The board shall establish, by regulation, a procedure for identifying acceptable providers of continuing education courses, and all providers of continuing education, as described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (g), shall adhere to procedures established by the board. The board may revoke or deny the right of a provider to offer continuing education coursework pursuant to this section for failure to comply with this section or any regulation adopted pursuant to this section.

(i) Training, education, and coursework by approved providers shall incorporate one or more of the following:

(1) Aspects of the discipline that are fundamental to the understanding or the practice of marriage and family therapy.

(2) Aspects of the discipline of marriage and family therapy in which significant recent developments have occurred.

(3) Aspects of other disciplines that enhance the understanding or the practice of marriage and family therapy.

(j) A system of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists shall include courses directly related to the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of the client population being served.

(k) The continuing education requirements of this section shall comply fully with the guidelines for mandatory continuing education established by the Department of Consumer Affairs pursuant to Section 166.

marriage and family therapists continuing education license renewal

Section § 4980.55

This law suggests that marriage and family therapists should share their professional background, specialties, and any other relevant information about themselves with their clients during therapy at a suitable time. This is to enhance transparency and respect towards their clients.

As a model for all therapeutic professions, and to acknowledge respect and regard for the consuming public, all licensed marriage and family therapists are encouraged to provide to each client, at an appropriate time and within the context of the psychotherapeutic relationship, an accurate and informative statement of the therapist’s experience, education, specialities, professional orientation, and any other information deemed appropriate by the licensee.

marriage and family therapists therapeutic relationship client information

Section § 4980.57

If you're a licensee who started graduate study before January 1, 2004, you need to take a continuing education course on assessing and addressing spousal or partner abuse during your first license renewal period. This course must be at least seven hours long and should cover topics like community resources, cultural factors, and abuse in same-gender relationships. If you completed a similar course or have relevant experience before this law took effect, you can ask the board to approve it instead. These courses count towards the 36 hours of continuing education you need for renewal.

(a) The board shall require a licensee who began graduate study prior to January 1, 2004, to take a continuing education course during his or her first renewal period after the operative date of this section in spousal or partner abuse assessment, detection, and intervention strategies, including community resources, cultural factors, and same gender abuse dynamics. On and after January 1, 2005, the course shall consist of not less than seven hours of training. Equivalent courses in spousal or partner abuse assessment, detection, and intervention strategies taken prior to the operative date of this section or proof of equivalent teaching or practice experience may be submitted to the board and at its discretion, may be accepted in satisfaction of this requirement.

(b) Continuing education courses taken pursuant to this section shall be applied to the 36 hours of approved continuing education required under subdivision (c) of Section 4980.54.

spousal abuse assessment partner abuse detection intervention strategies

Section § 4980.60

This section allows the board responsible for overseeing marriage and family therapy to create, change, or remove rules and regulations as needed to ensure the profession operates properly and maintains high standards. Any rules related to advertising and professional behavior must align with existing standards and laws. These rules apply to everyone licensed in this field.

(a) The board may adopt those rules and regulations as may be necessary to enable it to carry into effect the provisions of this chapter. The adoption, amendment, or repeal of those rules and regulations shall be made in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(b) The board may, by rules or regulations, adopt, amend, or repeal rules of advertising and professional conduct appropriate to the establishment and maintenance of a high standard of integrity in the profession, provided that the rules or regulations are not inconsistent with Section 4982. Every person who holds a license to practice marriage and family therapy shall be governed by the rules of professional conduct.

rules and regulations board authority professional conduct

Section § 4980.70

This law says that the board has the authority to hire more staff if needed to effectively implement the rules and tasks outlined in this chapter, unless Section 159.5 states otherwise.

Except as provided by Section 159.5, the board may employ whatever additional personnel is necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

board powers additional personnel staff hiring

Section § 4980.72

This law allows someone who is already a licensed marriage and family therapist in another U.S. state to get a California license if they meet certain conditions. These include having an active, unrestricted license for at least two years, holding a master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited school, complying with fingerprinting rules, and completing specific coursework. The applicant must also pass a California law and ethics exam, while the clinical exam can be waived. They must show training in child abuse assessment, as well as experience in suicide risk assessment and intervention.

The board may issue a license to a person who, at the time of submitting an application for a license pursuant to this chapter, holds a license in another jurisdiction of the United States as a marriage and family therapist at the highest level for independent clinical practice if all of the following requirements are met:

(a) The applicant’s license in the other jurisdiction has been current, active, and unrestricted in that jurisdiction for at least two years immediately before the date the application was received by the board. The applicant shall disclose to the board for review any past restrictions or disciplinary action on an out-of-state license, and the board shall consider these actions in determining whether to issue a license to the applicant.

(b) The applicant’s degree that qualified the person for the out-of-state license is a master’s or doctoral degree that was obtained from an accredited or approved institution.

(c) The applicant complies with the fingerprint requirements established by Section 144.

(d) The applicant completes the coursework specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) from an accredited institution or an approved institution or from an acceptable provider of continuing education as specified in Section 4980.54. Undergraduate coursework shall not satisfy these requirements.

(1) A minimum of 12 hours of coursework in California law and professional ethics that includes, but is not limited to, instruction in advertising, scope of practice, scope of competence, treatment of minors, confidentiality, dangerous clients, psychotherapist-client privilege, recordkeeping, client access to records, state and federal laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information, dual relationships, child abuse, elder and dependent adult abuse, online therapy, insurance reimbursement, civil liability, disciplinary actions and unprofessional conduct, ethics complaints and ethical standards, termination of therapy, standards of care, relevant family law, therapist disclosures to clients, the application of legal and ethical standards in different types of work settings, and licensing law and the licensing process.

(2) At least one semester unit, or 15 hours, of instruction that includes an understanding of various California cultures and the social and psychological implications of socioeconomic position.

(e) The applicant obtains a minimum of seven contact hours of training or coursework in child abuse assessment and reporting, as specified in Section 28, and any regulations promulgated pursuant to that section.

(f) On or after January 1, 2021, the applicant shall show proof of completion of at least six hours of coursework or applied experience under supervision in suicide risk assessment and intervention using one of the methods specified in Section 4980.396.

(g) The applicant passes the board-administered California law and ethics examination specified in subdivision (d) of Section 4980.40. The clinical examination specified in subdivision (d) of Section 4980.40 shall be waived for an applicant qualifying under this section.

(h) This section was developed based on an examination of the licensure requirements for marriage and family therapists on a national level. This section shall not be construed to apply to any provisions under this division or Division 3 (commencing with Section 5000) other than this act.

marriage and family therapist out-of-state license independent clinical practice

Section § 4980.74

This law is about recognizing education and work experience from outside California for those applying to become licensed marriage and family therapists. If someone studied in a different state and their education is similar to California's standards, it's accepted. The same goes for work experience; it counts if it’s roughly equivalent to what's needed in California. If an applicant has less than 3,000 hours of supervised experience, time spent practicing in another place may count, up to 1,200 hours. Additionally, applicants from other places may not need to take the California clinical exam if they passed an equivalent test and their former license is current and in good standing.

(a) This section applies to persons with education gained from an out-of-state school or experience gained outside of California who apply for licensure or registration and who do not qualify for a license under Section 4980.72.

(b) The board shall accept education gained from an out-of-state school for purposes of satisfying licensure or registration requirements if the education is substantially equivalent, as defined in Section 4980.78, and the applicant complies with Section 4980.76, if applicable. The applicant’s degree title need not be identical to that required by Section 4980.36 or 4980.37.

(c) The board shall accept experience gained outside of California for purposes of satisfying licensure or registration requirements if the experience is substantially equivalent to the experience required by this chapter. If the applicant has fewer than 3,000 hours of qualifying supervised experience, the board shall accept as qualifying supervised experience the amount of time the applicant held an active license in good standing in another state or country as a marriage and family therapist at the highest level for independent clinical practice at a rate of 100 hours per month, up to a maximum of 1,200 hours.

(d) An applicant who obtained a license or registration in another state or country may qualify for licensure with the board without taking the clinical examination specified in Section 4980.40 if both of the following conditions are met:

(1) The applicant obtained a passing score on the clinical licensing examination set forth in regulation as accepted by the board.

(2) The applicant’s license or registration in that state or country is active, in good standing at the time of the application, and is not revoked, suspended, surrendered, denied, or otherwise restricted or encumbered.

out-of-state education marriage and family therapist licensure requirements

Section § 4980.76

If you want to get a license or registration with a degree from a school outside the U.S., you need to have your degree analyzed by an official evaluation service that's part of NACES. You'll also need to give any other paperwork the board asks for.

An applicant for licensure or registration with a degree obtained from an educational institution outside the United States shall provide the board with a comprehensive evaluation of the degree performed by a foreign credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), and shall provide any other documentation the board deems necessary.

foreign degree evaluation credential evaluation service NACES

Section § 4980.78

This law outlines the requirements for people educated outside of California who want to become licensed marriage and family therapists in the state. To qualify, their education must be similar to what is required in California. This means they must have a degree with a specified number of course units, supervised practicum experience, and specific coursework in areas like law, ethics, mental health principles, and cultural awareness. Some exemptions and remedial opportunities are available, such as being exempt from practicum if already licensed elsewhere or completing missing coursework as an associate. As of 2021, they must also complete suicide risk assessment training. Importantly, the title of their degree does not have to match exactly what California requires.

(a) This section applies to persons with education gained from an out-of-state school who apply for licensure or registration and who do not qualify for a license under Section 4980.72.

(b) For purposes of Section 4980.74, education is substantially equivalent if all of the following requirements are met:

(1) The degree is obtained from an accredited institution or approved institution and consists of, at a minimum, the following:

(A)

(i) For an applicant who obtained a degree within the timeline prescribed by subdivision (a) of Section 4980.36, the degree shall contain no less than 60 semester units or 90 quarter units of instruction.

(ii) Up to 12 semester units or 18 quarter units of instruction may be remediated, if missing from the degree. The remediation may occur while the applicant is registered as an associate.

(B) For an applicant who obtained a degree within the timeline prescribed by subdivision (a) of Section 4980.37, the degree shall contain no less than 48 semester units or 72 quarter units of instruction.

(C)

(i) Six semester units or nine quarter units of supervised practicum, including, but not limited to, a minimum of 150 hours of face-to-face experience counseling individuals, couples, families, or groups, and an additional 75 hours of either face-to-face experience counseling individuals, couples, families, or groups or client centered advocacy, or a combination of face-to-face experience counseling individuals, couples, families, or groups and client centered advocacy.

(ii) An out-of-state applicant who holds a valid license in good standing in another state or country as a marriage and family therapist at the highest level for independent clinical practice is exempt from the practicum requirement specified in clause (i).

(D) Twelve semester units or 18 quarter units in the areas of marriage, family, and child counseling and marital and family systems approaches to treatment, as specified in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 4980.36.

(2) The applicant shall complete coursework in California law and ethics as follows:

(A) An applicant who completed a course in law and professional ethics for marriage and family therapists as specified in paragraph (8) of subdivision (a) of Section 4980.81, that did not contain instruction in California law and ethics, shall complete a 12-hour course in California law and professional ethics. The content of the course shall include, but not be limited to, advertising, scope of practice, scope of competence, treatment of minors, confidentiality, dangerous patients, psychotherapist-patient privilege, recordkeeping, patient access to records, state and federal laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information, dual relationships, child abuse, elder and dependent adult abuse, online therapy, insurance reimbursement, civil liability, disciplinary actions and unprofessional conduct, ethics complaints and ethical standards, termination of therapy, standards of care, relevant family law, therapist disclosures to patients, the application of legal and ethical standards in different types of work settings, and licensing law and licensing process. The coursework shall be from an accredited institution, an approved institution, or from a continuing education provider identified as acceptable by the board pursuant to Section 4980.54. This coursework shall be completed before registration as an associate.

(B) An applicant who has not completed a course in law and professional ethics for marriage and family therapists as specified in paragraph (8) of subdivision (a) of Section 4980.81 shall complete this required coursework. The coursework shall contain content specific to California law and ethics. This coursework shall be completed before registration as an associate.

(3) The applicant completes the educational requirements specified in Section 4980.81 not already completed in the applicant’s education. The coursework shall be from an accredited institution, an approved institution, or from a continuing education provider that is identified as acceptable by the board pursuant to Section 4980.54. Undergraduate courses shall not satisfy this requirement.

(4) The applicant completes the following coursework not already completed in the applicant’s education from an accredited institution, an approved institution, or from a continuing education provider that is identified as acceptable by the board pursuant to Section 4980.54. Undergraduate courses shall not satisfy this requirement.

(A) At least three semester units, or 45 hours, of instruction regarding the principles of mental health recovery-oriented care and methods of service delivery in recovery-oriented practice environments, including structured meetings with various consumers and family members of consumers of mental health services to enhance understanding of their experience of mental illness, treatment, and recovery.

(B) At least one semester unit, or 15 hours, of instruction that includes an understanding of various California cultures and the social and psychological implications of socioeconomic position.

(5) An applicant may complete any units and course content requirements required under paragraphs (3) and (4) not already completed in the applicant’s education while registered as an associate, unless otherwise specified.

(6) On and after January 1, 2021, an applicant for licensure shall show proof of completion of at least six hours of coursework or applied experience under supervision in suicide risk assessment and intervention using one of the methods specified in Section 4980.396.

(7) The applicant’s degree title need not be identical to that required by subdivision (b) of Section 4980.36.

out-of-state education licensure requirements supervised practicum

Section § 4980.81

This section outlines the educational requirements for individuals applying for licensure or registration under Section 4980.78. Applicants must complete specific coursework, including, but not limited to, learning about diagnosing and treating mental disorders, psychological testing, psychopharmacology, and developmental issues. Additionally, applicants must receive education on the dynamics of family and marriage relationships, child and elder abuse reporting, multicultural development, human sexuality, substance use disorders, and professional ethics and laws in marriage and family therapy. These requirements are designed to ensure a comprehensive understanding of various issues that marriage and family therapists may encounter in their practice.

This section applies to persons subject to Section 4980.78 who apply for licensure or registration.

(a) For purposes of Section 4980.78, an applicant shall meet all of the following educational requirements:

(1) A minimum of two semester units of instruction in the diagnosis, assessment, prognosis, treatment planning, and treatment of mental disorders, including severe mental disorders, evidence-based practices, and promising mental health practices that are evaluated in peer-reviewed literature.

(2) At least one semester unit or 15 hours of instruction in psychological testing and at least one semester unit or 15 hours of instruction in psychopharmacology.

(3)

(A) Developmental issues from infancy to old age, including demonstration of at least one semester unit, or 15 hours, of instruction that includes all of the following subjects:

(i) The effects of developmental issues on individuals, couples, and family relationships.

(ii) The psychological, psychotherapeutic, and health implications of developmental issues and their effects.

(iii) The understanding of the impact that personal and social insecurity, social stress, low educational levels, inadequate housing, and malnutrition have on human development.

(B) An applicant who is deficient in any of these subjects may remediate the coursework by completing three hours of instruction in each deficient subject.

(4)

(A) The broad range of matters and life events that may arise within marriage and family relationships and within a variety of California cultures, including instruction in all of the following:

(i) A minimum of seven contact hours of training or coursework in child abuse assessment and reporting as specified in Section 28 and any regulations promulgated under that section.

(ii) A minimum of 10 contact hours of coursework that includes all of the following:

(I) The assessment and reporting of, as well as treatment related to, elder and dependent adult abuse and neglect.

(II) Aging and its biological, social, cognitive, and psychological aspects.

(III) Long-term care.

(IV) End-of-life and grief.

(iii) A minimum of 15 contact hours of coursework in spousal or partner abuse assessment, detection, intervention strategies, and same-gender abuse dynamics.

(iv) Cultural factors relevant to abuse of partners and family members.

(v) Childbirth, child rearing, parenting, and stepparenting.

(vi) Marriage, divorce, and blended families.

(vii) Poverty and deprivation.

(viii) Financial and social stress.

(ix) Effects of trauma.

(x) The psychological, psychotherapeutic, community, and health implications of the matters and life events described in clauses (i) to (ix), inclusive.

(5) At least one semester unit, or 15 hours, of instruction in multicultural development and cross-cultural interaction, including experiences of race, ethnicity, class, spirituality, sexual orientation, gender, and disability, and their incorporation into the psychotherapeutic process.

(6) A minimum of 10 contact hours of training or coursework in human sexuality, as specified in Section 25 and any regulations promulgated under that section, including the study of physiological, psychological, and social cultural variables associated with sexual behavior and gender identity, and the assessment and treatment of psychosexual dysfunction.

(7) A minimum of 15 contact hours of coursework in substance use disorders, and a minimum of 15 contact hours of coursework in co-occurring disorders and addiction. The following subjects shall be included in this coursework:

(A) The definition of substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, and addiction. For purposes of this subparagraph, “co-occurring disorders” means a mental illness and substance abuse diagnosis occurring simultaneously in an individual.

(B) Medical aspects of substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders.

(C) The effects of psychoactive drug use.

(D) Current theories of the etiology of substance abuse and addiction.

(E) The role of persons and systems that support or compound substance abuse and addiction.

(F) Major approaches to identification, evaluation, and treatment of substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, and addiction, including, but not limited to, best practices.

(G) Legal aspects of substance abuse.

(H) Populations at risk with regard to substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders.

(I) Community resources offering screening, assessment, treatment, and followup for the affected person and family.

(J) Recognition of substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, and addiction, and appropriate referral.

(K) The prevention of substance use disorders and addiction.

(8) A minimum of a two semester or three quarter unit course in law and professional ethics for marriage and family therapists, including instruction in all of the following subjects:

(A) Contemporary professional ethics and statutory, regulatory, and decisional laws that delineate the scope of practice of marriage and family therapy.

(B) The therapeutic, clinical, and practical considerations involved in the legal and ethical practice of marriage and family therapy, including, but not limited to, family law.

(C) The current legal patterns and trends in the mental health professions.

(D) The psychotherapist-patient privilege, confidentiality, the patient dangerous to self or others, and the treatment of minors with and without parental consent.

(E) A recognition and exploration of the relationship between a practitioner’s sense of self and human values and their professional behavior and ethics.

(F) The application of legal and ethical standards in different types of work settings.

(G) Licensing law and licensing process.

licensure educational requirements mental disorders treatment psychological testing

Licensed Marriage And Family Therapists

Licensed Marriage and Family TherapistsRegulation

Section § 4980

Section § 4980.01

Section § 4980.02

Section § 4980.03

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Section § 4980.05

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Section § 4980.396

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Section § 4980.54

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Section § 4980.60

Section § 4980.70

Section § 4980.72

Section § 4980.74

Section § 4980.76

Section § 4980.78

Section § 4980.81

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