§ 90-270.54. Requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 90‑270.54. Requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist.

(a)        Each applicantshall be issued a license by the Board to engage in the practice of marriageand family therapy as a licensed marriage and family therapist if the applicantmeets the qualifications set forth in G.S. 90‑270.52(a) and providessatisfactory evidence to the Board that the applicant:

(1)        Meets educationaland experience qualifications as follows:

a.         Educationalrequirements: Possesses a minimum of a master's degree from a recognizededucational institution in the field of marriage and family therapy, or arelated  degree, which degree is evidenced by the applicant's officialtranscripts. An applicant with a related degree may meet the educationalrequirements if the applicant presents satisfactory evidence of post‑master'sor post‑doctoral training taken in the field of marriage and familytherapy from a program recognized by the Board regardless whether the trainingwas taken at a nondegree granting institution or in a nondegree program, aslong as the training, by itself or in combination with any other training, isthe equivalent in content and quality, as defined in the rules of the Board, ofa master's or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy;

b.         Experiencerequirements: Has at least 1,500 hours of supervised clinical experience in thepractice of marriage and family therapy, not more than 500 hours of which wereobtained while the candidate was a student in a master's degree program and atleast 1,000 of which were obtained after the applicant was granted a degree inthe field of marriage and family therapy or a related degree (with ongoingsupervision consistent with standards approved by the Board); and

(2)        Passes anexamination approved by the Board.

(b)        Any person who is acertified marriage and family therapist on January 1, 1995, shall be deemed tobe a licensed marriage and family therapist as of that date. Valid andunexpired certificates operate as licenses for the purposes of this Articleuntil the date set for renewal of the certificate, at which time the Boardshall issue the certificate holder a license in accordance with G.S. 90‑270.58. (1979, c. 697,s. 1; 1981, c. 611, s. 2; 1985, c. 223, s. 1; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 564,s. 2; 2009‑393, s. 6.)