House Bill 854

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 73-54-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY LICENSE TO PROVIDE THAT THE APPLICANT'S DEGREE MAY BE FROM AN INSTITUTION ACCREDITED BY THE COUNCIL FOR ACCREDITATION OF COUNSELING AND RELATED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS (CACREP) AND TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CLIENT CONTACT HOURS THAT THE APPLICANT MUST HAVE COMPLETED IN A CLINICAL PRACTICUM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 73-54-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

73-54-17. (1) Any person who applies for a marriage and family therapy license after September 1, 2000, shall be issued that license by the board if he or she meets the qualifications set forth in Section 73-54-13, and submits the required application fees, and provides satisfactory evidence to the board that he or she:

(a) Meets educational and experience qualifications as follows:

(i) Holds a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from an institution of higher education in a program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), or that was in COAMFTE candidacy status at the time of graduation and subsequently received COAMFTE accreditation;

(ii) Following the receipt of the first qualifying degree, has at least two (2) years of supervised experience in marriage and family therapy, or its equivalent, acceptable to the board; and

(iii) Has completed at least one hundred (100) hours of marriage and family therapy supervision following receipt of the first qualifying degree, as defined by the board; and

(b) Passes the national Examination in Marital and Family Therapy prescribed by the Association for Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards; and

(c) Has been successfully cleared through a criminal history records check, including a fingerprint and an acceptable sex offender check, by appropriate governmental authorities as prescribed by the board.

(2) Any person who applies for a marriage and family therapy associate license after September 1, 2011, shall be issued that license by the board for a period of twenty-four (24) months, which may be renewed biennially for a period not to exceed a total of forty-eight (48) months, if the applicant meets the qualifications set forth in Section 73-54-13, submits the required application fees, and provides satisfactory evidence to the board that he or she:

(a) Holds a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from an institution of higher education in a program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), or that was in COAMFTE candidacy status at the time of graduation and subsequently received COAMFTE accreditation; or holds a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage, couple and family counseling from an institution of higher education that is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP);

(b) Completed a clinical practicum that consisted of a minimum of * * *~~five hundred (500)~~ three hundred (300) client contact hours and one hundred (100) hours of clinical supervision before receipt of the qualifying degree;

(c) Passes the national Examination in Marital and Family Therapy prescribed by the Association for Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards;

(d) Provides all professional services under the supervision of a qualified supervisor in accordance with a supervision contract approved by the board; and

(e) Has been successfully cleared through a criminal history records check, including a fingerprint and an acceptable sex offender check, by appropriate governmental authorities as prescribed by the board.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.