Substitute House Bill No. 7081, also known as Public Act No. 25-76, aims to enhance licensure portability for marriage and family therapists in Connecticut. The bill repeals and replaces Section 20-195c of the general statutes, establishing new requirements for licensure as a marital and family therapist and a marital and family therapist associate. Key insertions include provisions allowing the Department to grant licensure without examination to applicants currently licensed in another state, territory, or commonwealth of the United States, provided that the standards in their jurisdiction are deemed equivalent or higher than those in Connecticut. Additionally, the bill introduces a new provision allowing graduates of relevant programs to practice for up to 120 days under supervision after completing their degree.

The bill also modifies the renewal process for licenses, specifying that marital and family therapist licenses can be renewed annually with a fee of $200, while marital and family therapist associate licenses have different renewal terms based on when they were issued. Continuing education requirements are outlined, including training on cultural competency and mental health conditions common to veterans. Notably, the bill deletes a previous provision that allowed applicants from states with lower licensure standards to substitute work experience for certain educational requirements. Overall, the legislation aims to streamline the licensure process and ensure that therapists meet high professional standards.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 20-195c
PH Joint Favorable Substitute: 20-195c
File No. 122: 20-195c
File No. 813: 20-195c
Public Act No. 25-76: 20-195c