Subject to certain exceptions, present law generally requires that a person be licensed as a marital and family therapist in order to: (1) Advertise the performance of marital and family therapy or counseling service by such person; or (2) Use a title or description such as "licensed or certified marital or marriage therapist, counselor, advisor, or consultant," or any other name, style or description denoting that the person is a marital and family therapist or practices marital and family therapy. Among the requirements for initial licensure as a marital and family therapist is having met standards set by the board for professional counselors, marital and family therapists and clinical pastoral therapists (the "board") no less stringent than the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy's standards for a clinical member so long as such standards specify a minimum of a master's level degree and passing an examination. Present law specifies that the licensure requirement does not apply to a person if the person is preparing for the practice of marital and family therapy under qualified supervision in a training institution or facility or supervisory arrangement recognized and approved by the board; provided, that such person is designated by a title clearly indicating training status. This bill specifies that the exemption does not apply to activities and services of a student intern or trainee in marriage and family therapy who is pursuing a program of studies in marriage and family therapy at an accredited institution of higher learning if these activities are performed under supervision and are a part of a supervised program of study. This bill authorizes a person enrolled in an accredited program to use the title "student therapist" as an alternative to titles authorized for trainees under present law. This bill also authorizes a person who is under supervision and pursuing independent licensure in marriage and family therapy and has completed a graduate degree to use "pre-licensed marriage and family therapist" or postgraduate designations. For purposes of determining students and postgraduate degree holders who are under supervision for purposes of the exception to the licensure requirement, present law defines "approved supervisor" to mean a licensed marital and family therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist who is either an American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy-approved supervisor or a board-approved marriage and family supervisor. This bill redefines "approved supervisor" to mean a licensed marriage and family therapist, or any other licensed mental health professional who is either an American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy-approved supervisor or a supervisor-in-training under supervision mentoring with a current American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy-approved supervisor. This bill renames the "temporary license" for a professional counselor or marital and family therapist to an "associate license". The requirements for an associate license for a professional counselor are unchanged. The requirements for an associate license for a marital and family therapist are changed as follows: (1) The time within which the exam must be taken is changed from the next exam offering after issuance of the associate license to within nine months of issuance of the associate license; (2) The requirement that an associate licensee pass the exam within two years of issuance of the associate license is removed; and (3) The period of validity of an associate license is increased from three to four years. ON MARCH 10, 2025, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1095, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 makes the following revisions:  Clarifies that a special deputy as described in the bill must be a private special deputy, which is defined as a person who is employed and compensated by a resort area owner or management company to act as security and law enforcement for the resort area and whose qualifications and training requirements are equivalent to or superior to those required for a law enforcement officer under the standards established by the peace officer standards and training commission for law enforcement officers.  Requires the commission to issue a certificate of compliance to a person appointed as a private special deputy as described in the bill on or after January 1, 2026. ON MARCH 27, 2025, THE SENATE SUBSTITUTED HOUSE BILL 959 FOR SENATE BILL 789, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 789, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #2 makes the following revisions:  removes, as of July 1, 2025, the present law provision authorizing the board for professional counselors, marital and family therapists and clinical pastoral therapists ("board") to license, without examination, a professional counselor applicant who is currently licensed in another state if the applicant's qualifications meet present law licensure requirements to, instead authorize the board to license, without examination, a professional counselor applicant with a valid, unencumbered license issued by another state, territory, or federal district of the United States at an equivalent level of licensure under either of the following conditions:  The applicant has a 60-hour graduate degree in counseling or a related field that meets present law requirements, and has actively practiced without supervision at the level of licensure for which the applicant has applied for at least two of the three most recent years.  The applicant has a conferred graduate degree consisting of a minimum of 52 hours in counseling or a related field from an accredited program that were earned prior to 2016, has practiced as a licensed professional counselor for a minimum of 25 years, and meets present law requirements.  Requires, as of July 1, 2025, a professional counselor applicant at the highest level of licensure to meet present law licensure requirements, as well as the requirements of either condition described above. The licensure requirements under present law are having (i) completed coursework specifically related to the diagnosis, treatment, appraisal, and assessment of mental disorders; and (ii) completed two years of postgraduate supervised experience required for licensure in a clinical setting that provides substantial opportunities to diagnose, treat, appraise, and assess mental disorders.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 63-22-113(a), 63-22-113, 63-22-115(a)(2), 63-22-115, 63-22-121