Bill Text: MS HB1167 | 2024 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Marriage and family therapists; revise requirements for licensure.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2024-04-02 - Died In Committee [HB1167 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2024-HB1167-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Business and Commerce
By: Representative Yancey
House Bill 1167
(As Passed the House)
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 AN APPLICANT'S DEGREE MAY BE 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; TO PROVIDE THAT THE APPLICANT SHALL COMPLETE A CLINICAL PRACTICUM THAT MEETS THE ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS OF COAMFTE OR CACREP PROGRAMS; TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY ASSOCIATE LICENSE TO PROVIDE THAT THE REQUIRED CLINICAL PRACTICUM SHALL MEET THE ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS OF COAMFTE OR CACREP PROGRAMS; 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; 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);
(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) Completed a clinical practicum that meets the accreditation requirements of COAMFTE or CACREP programs and 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 * * * meets the
accreditation requirements of COAMFTE or CACREP programs 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, 2024.
