Marriage and Family Therapists
Special Requirements
DEGREE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:
A. The applicant shall have completed a graduate degree from a program that prepares individuals to practice marriage and family therapy or a discipline related to the practice of marriage and family therapy from a college or university which is accredited by a regional accrediting agency and which meets the following criteria:
1. There must be a sequence of academic study with the expressed intent to prepare students to practice marriage and family therapy as documented by the institution;
2. There must be an identifiable marriage and family therapy training faculty and an identifiable body of students who complete that sequence of academic study; and
3. The academic unit must have clear authority and primary responsibility for the core and specialty areas.
B. Programs that are approved by CACREP as programs in marriage and family counseling/therapy or by COAMFTE are recognized as meeting the definition of a graduate degree program that prepares individuals to practice marriage and family therapy or a discipline related to the practice of marriage and family therapy.
COURSE WORK REQUIREMENTS:
A. The applicant shall have completed 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate study in the following core areas with a minimum of six semester hours or nine quarter hours completed in each of core areas identified in subdivisions 1 and 2 of this subsection, and three semester hours or 4.0 quarter hours in each of the core areas identified in subdivisions 3 through 6 of this subsection (suggested courses are listed in parentheses after each core area):
1. Marriage and family studies (marital and family development; family systems theory);
2. Marriage and family therapy (systemic therapeutic interventions and application of major theoretical approaches);
3. Human development (theories of counseling; psychotherapy techniques with individuals; human growth and lifespan development; personality theory; psychopathology; human sexuality; multicultural issues);
4. Professional studies (professional identity and function; ethical and legal issues);
5. Research (research methods; quantitative methods; statistics);
6. Assessment and treatment (appraisal, assessment and diagnostic procedures); and
7. Supervised internship of 600 hours to include 240 hours of direct client contact. Three hundred of the internship hours and 120 of the direct client contact hours shall be with couples and families.
B. If the graduate hours in marriage and family therapy were begun prior to January 19, 2000, the board may accept those hours if they meet the requirements which were in effect on July 9, 1997.
LICENSURE BY EXAMINATION:
Every applicant for examination for licensure by the board shall:
1. Meet the education and experience requirements prescribed in 18VAC115-50-50, 18VAC115-50-55 and 18VAC115-50-60.
2. Submit to the board office in one package, the following items, not less than 90 days prior to the date of the examination:
a. A completed application;
b. The application processing and initial licensure fee prescribed in 18VAC115-50-20;
c. Documentation, on the appropriate forms, of the successful completion of the residency requirements of 18VAC115-50-60 along with documentation of the supervisor's out-of-state license where applicable;
d. Official transcript or transcripts in the original sealed envelope with the registrar's signature across the sealed envelope flap submitted from the appropriate institutions of higher education directly to the applicant, verifying satisfactory completion of the education requirements set forth in 18VAC115-50-50 and 18VAC115-50-55. Previously submitted transcripts for registration of supervision do not have to be resubmitted; and
e. Verification on a board-approved form that any out-of-state license, certification or registration is in good standing.
LICENSURE BY ENDORSEMENT:
A. Every applicant for licensure by endorsement shall submit in one package:
1. A completed application;
2. The application processing and initial licensure fee and
3. Documentation of licensure as follows:
a. Verification of all professional licenses or certificates ever held in any other jurisdiction. In order to qualify for endorsement the applicant shall have no unresolved action against a license or certificate. The board will consider history of disciplinary action on a case-by-case basis;
b. Documentation of a marriage and family therapy license obtained by standards specified in subsection B; or
c. If currently holding an unrestricted license as a professional counselor in Virginia, documentation of successful completion of the requirements set forth in 18VAC115-50-50, 18VAC115-50-55 and 18VAC115-50-60.
B. Every applicant for licensure by endorsement shall meet one of the following:
1. Educational requirements consistent with those specified in 18VAC115-50-50 and 18VAC115-50-55 and experience requirements consistent with those specified in 18VAC115-50-60; or
2. If an applicant does not have educational and experience credentials consistent with those required by this chapter, he shall provide:
a. Documentation of education and supervised experience that met the requirements of the jurisdiction in which he was initially licensed as verified by an official transcript and a certified copy of the original application materials; and
b. Evidence of post-licensure clinical practice for five of the last six years immediately preceding his licensure application in Virginia.
3. In lieu of transcripts verifying education and documentation verifying supervised experience, the board may accept verification from the credentials registry of the American Association of State Counseling Boards or any other board-recognized entity.
Required Fees:
The board has established fees for the following:
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Registration of supervision
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$50
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Add or change supervisor
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$25
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Initial licensure by examination: Processing and initial licensure
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$140
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Initial licensure by endorsement: Processing and initial licensure
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$140
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Active annual license renewal
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$105
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Inactive annual license renewal
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$55
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Penalty for late renewal
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$35
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Reinstatement of a lapsed license
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$165
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Verification of license to another jurisdiction
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$25
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Additional or replacement licenses
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$5
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Additional or replacement wall certificates
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$15
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Returned check
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$35
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Reinstatement following revocation or suspension
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$500
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One-time fee reduction for renewal of an active license due on June 30, 2007
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$52
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One-time fee reduction for renewal of an inactive license due on June 30, 2007
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$27
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For More Information, Contact:
Virginia Department Of Health Professions
Board Of Counseling
6603 West Broad St., 5th Floor
Richmond, VA 23230-1712
Phone: 804.662.9912
TTY: 804.662.7197
Fax: 804.662.7250
http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/
[email protected]
National Board Of Certified Counselors
3 Terrace Way, Suite D
Greensboro, NC 27403-3660
Phone: 336.547.0607
Phone: 888.817.8283
Fax: 336.547.0017
http://www.nbcc.org/
[email protected]
The data sources for the information displayed here include: Virginia Career VIEW Research. (Using onet28)
