Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 536-X-4 — Board Approved Marriage and Family Therapy Designation Requirements and Additional Guidelines

Family Therapy Designation Requirements and Additional Guidelines

536 Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy

Ala. Admin. Code r. 536-X-4-.01 Requirements For Designation: Marriage And Family Therapy Intern

(1) Submission of a completed application on the forms prescribed by the board (See 536-X-5 APPENDICES 2: FORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS); and submission of applicable fees prescribed by the Board (See 536-X-5 APPENDICES 1: FEES).

(2) Evidence that the applicant is of good moral character and has not or is not engaged in any practice or conduct that would make the applicant ineligible to receive a license pursuant to the Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Act;

(3) Student or graduate of a regionally accredited educational institute in a masters or doctoral graduate training in marriage and family therapy (or an allied field with graduate level course work in marriage and family therapy) that meets the Board course requirements;

(4) Submission of a contract for supervision (see 536-X-1-.01 (11): Definition of Terms: Supervision). Students in a COAMFTE program currently under program supervision have met this requirement.

(5) An MFT Intern designation must be renewed every two (2) years if applicable. In order to renew the Intern must have completed the required Continuing Education Units (see 536-X-6 Required Relevant Professional and Continuing Education Experience); and submission of applicable fees for license renewal prescribed by the Board (see 536-X-5 APPENDICES 1: Fees).

(6) It is the responsibility of the candidate and the supervisor to ensure that direct client contact hours and supervision hours are concurrent. This applies for hours toward the internship and post-degree requirements. Individuals who have graduated from a COAMFTE program have met this requirement for their internship, but must document their post-degree hours.

History

• Author: The Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-17A-1 thru 34-17A-26.
• New Rule: Filed November 15, 2000; effective December 20, 2000. Amended: Filed March 21, 2005; effective April 25, 2005. Amended: Filed July 10, 2006; effective August 14, 2006. Amended: Filed February 8, 2012; effective March 14, 2012. Amended: Filed June 19, 2019; effective August 3, 2019. Amended: Published January 31, 2025; effective March 17, 2025.
• Editor's note: Chapter 536-X-3 was renumbered to Chapter 536-X-4 as per certification filed July 10, 2006; effective August 14, 2006.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 536-X-4-.02 Requirements For Designation: Associate Licensed Marriage And Family Therapist(LMFT-A) y Therapist (LMFT)

Currentness

(1) Submission of a completed application on the forms prescribed by the Board (see 536-X-5 APPENDICES 2: FORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS); and submission of applicable fees for application and license prescribed by the Board (see 536-X-5 APPENDICES 1: FEES).

(2) Evidence that the applicant is of good moral character and has not and is not engaged in any practice or conduct that would make the applicant ineligible to receive a designation pursuant to the Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Act;

(3) Graduation from a regionally accredited educational institute with a masters or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy (or in an allied field with graduate level course work in marriage and family therapy) that meets the Board course requirements. (see 536-X-5: BOARD COURSE REQUIREMENTS).

(4) Completion of an internship either during the qualifying degree and/or as a post degree experience consisting of the following:

(a) minimum of 12 months of internship;

(b) minimum of 100 supervision hours based on the ratio of one (1) supervision hour for every five (5) direct client contact hours completed concurrently; fifty (50) of these hours must be individual supervision. Group supervision is encouraged. The supervision must be provided by a State Board Approved Supervisoror an AAMFT Approved Supervisior

(c) minimum of five hundred (500) direct client contact hours obtained concurrently with the required supervision; at least two hundred fifty (250) of these direct client contact hours must be with couples or families physically present in the therapy room;

(d) It is the responsibility of the candidate and the supervisor to ensure that direct client contact hours and supervision hours are concurrent. This applies for hours toward the internship and post-degree requirements.

(5) Submission of a contract for supervision that must be approved by the Board (see 536-X-1-.01 (11): Definition of Terms: Supervision).

(6) In order for a MFT Associate to be renewed, the Associate must have completed the required Continuing Education Units during the previous twenty-four (24) months. (see 536-X-6 REQUIRED RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL AND CONTINUING EDUCATION EXPERIENCE); and submission of applicable fees for license renewal prescribed by the Board (see 536-X-5: APPENDICES 1: FEES).

History

• Author: The Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-17A-1 thru 34-17A-26.
• New Rule: Filed November 15, 2000; effective December 20, 2000. Amended (Rule Number Only): Filed March 21, 2005; effective April 25, 2005. Repealed and New Rule: Filed July 10, 2006; effective August 14, 2006. Amended: Filed April 19, 2007; effective May 24, 2007. Amended: Filed February 8, 2012; effective March 14, 2012. Amended: Filed June 19, 2019; effective August 3, 2019. Amended: Published December 31, 2024; effective February 14, 2025.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 536-X-4-.03 Requirements For Designation: LMFT Supervisor

Candidate {#sec-536-x-4-.03 omnilex-key=us-al-regs-official--chapter-536-x-4--536-X-4-.03}

(1) Is a fully Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT;

(2) Submission, of a completed application on the forms prescribed by the Board (see 536-X-5 APPENDICES 2: FORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS); and submission of applicable fees for application and license prescribed by the Board (see 536-X-5 APPENDICES 1: FEES).

(3) Submission of a contract for supervision with a supervisor mentor:

(a) A plan for the completion of supervision of supervision by a Board approved LMFT Supervisor Mentor; and

(b) A plan for completion of a graduate course in supervision or the equivalent in continuing education supervision workshops. The course or workshops must contain a minimum of fifteen (15) contact hours.

Note: LMFT Supervisor Candidate contracts are valid for a maximum of three (3) years.

History

• Author: The Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-17A-1 thru 34-17A-26.
• New Rule: Filed November 15, 2000; effective December 20, 2000. Amended: Filed April 15, 2002; effective May 20, 2002. Amended (Rule Number Only): Filed March 21, 2005; effective April 25, 2005. Amended: Filed July 10, 2006; effective August 14, 2006. Amended: Filed December 22, 2009; effective January 26, 2010. Amended: Filed February 8, 2012; effective March 14, 2012. Amended: Filed June 19, 2019; effective August 3, 2019. Amended: Published December 31, 2024; effective February 14, 2025.
• Editor's note: As per certification filed March 21, 2005; effective April 25, 2005, previous Rule 536-X-3-.05 was renumbered to 536-X-3-.04. Chapter 536-X-3 was renumbered to Chapter 536-X-4 and Rule 536-X-4-.03 - Endorsement Of An Individual Who Is Licensed/ Registered As An MFT Under The Laws Of Another State Or Territory Of The United States Or Of A Foreign Country was repealed and Rule 536-X-4-.04 was renumbered to 536-X-4-.03 as per certification filed July 10, 2006; effective August 14, 2006.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 536-X-4-.04 Requirements For Designation: LMFT Approved

Supervisor {#sec-536-x-4-.04 omnilex-key=us-al-regs-official--chapter-536-x-4--536-X-4-.04}

(1) Is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT);

(2) Submission of a completed application on the forms prescribed by the Board (see 536-X-5 APPENDICES 2: FORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS); and submission of applicable fees for application and license prescribed by the Board (see 536-X-5 APPENDICES 1: FEES).

(3) Completion of five (5) continuing education hours on supervision every two years.

(4) The supervisor candidate must provide a minimum of nine (90) hours of clinical supervision to MFTs and/or MFT trainees during a period of not less than 12 months. During this time, the candidate must actively supervise at least two supervisees for at least six months as determined by the supervisor mentor based on training needs.

(5) LMFT Supervisor Mentors and AAMFT Approved Supervisors must verify all mentoring hours. Supervisor candidates are advised to collect these reports from each mentor whenever moving to a different mentor.

(6) Completion of eighteen (18) hours of mentoring from a Board approved LMFT Supervisor Mentor. Mentoring should continue throughout the entire training period, even if the eighteen (18) hours have been completed. If the training period extends beyond one year, at least nine (9) hours of mentoring must be obtained in the final year of candidacy. Mentoring should occur at least once per month when supervisor candidates are supervising MFT interns or MFT associate licensees.

(7) The Supervisor Candidate is responsible for logging monthly supervisee direct client contact hours, supervision hours and type of supervision for each supervisee, and supervision of supervision hours. These monthly logs will be submitted with the Candidate’s final application.

(8) AAMFT Approved Supervisors and AAMFT Approved Supervisor Candidates meet the requirements for Alabama MFT Approved Supervisors.

History

• Author: The Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-17A-1 thru 34-17A-26.
• New Rule: Filed November 15, 2000; effective December 20, 2000. Amended: Filed April 15, 2002; effective May 20, 2002. Amended: Filed November 12, 2002; effective December 17, 2002. Amended (Rule Number Only): Filed March 21, 2005; effective April 25, 2005. Amended: Filed July 10, 2006; effective August 14, 2006. Amended: Filed December 22, 2009; effective January 26, 2010. Amended: Filed February 8, 2012; effective March 14, 2012. Amended: Filed June 19, 2019; effective August 3, 2019. Amended: Published January 31, 2025; effective March 17, 2025.
• Editor's note: As per certification filed March 21, 2005; effective April 25, 2005, previous Rule 536-X-3-.06 was renumbered to 536-X-3-.05. Chapter 536-X-3 was renumbered to Chapter 536-X-4 and Rule 536-X-4-.05 was renumbered to 536-X-4-.04 as per certification filed July 10, 2006; effective August 14, 2006.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 536-X-4-.05 Requirements For Designation: LMFT Supervisor

Mentor {#sec-536-x-4-.05 omnilex-key=us-al-regs-official--chapter-536-x-4--536-X-4-.05}

(1) LMFT Approved Supervisor who has provided a minimum of one hundred twenty (1200) hours of supervision beyond that required to become an LMFT Approved Supervisor or is an AAMFT Approved Supervisor.

(2) Submission of a completed application on the forms prescribed by the Board (see 536-X-5 APPENDICES 2: FORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS); and submission of applicable fees for application and license prescribed by the Board (see 536-X-5 APPENDICES 1: FEES).

Note: AAMFT Approved Supervisors meet the requirements to be an ABEMFT LMFT Supervisor Mentors.

History

• Author: The Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-17A-1 thru 34-17A-26.
• New Rule: Filed November 15, 2000; effective December 20, 2000. Amended (Rule Number Only): Filed March 21, 2005; effective April 25, 2005. Amended (Rule Number Only): Filed July 10, 2006; effective August 14, 2006. Amended: Filed December 22, 2009; effective January 26, 2010. Amended: Filed February 8, 2012; effective March 14, 2012. Amended: Filed June 19, 2019; effective August 3, 2019.
• Editor's note: As per certification filed March 21, 2005; effective April 25, 2005, previous Rule 536-X-3-.07 was renumbered to 536-X-3-.06. Chapter 536-X-3 was renumbered to Chapter 536-X-4 and Rule 536-X-4-.06 was renumbered to 536-X-4-.05 as per certification filed July 10, 2006; effective August 14, 2006.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 536-X-4-.06 Guidelines For: Case By Case Supervision

(1) When supervision by a LMFT Supervisor, LMFT Supervisor Candidate, AAMFT Approved Supervisor, AAMFT Supervisor Candidate or LMFT Supervisor Mentor is not available, the Board can approve supervision on a case by case basis using the following guidelines:

(a) For applications in which the approval of supervision is considered on a case by case basis by the Board, each supervisor’s education, clinical, and supervisory experience in marriage and family therapy will be considered when assessing the total education and clinical experience of the applicant.

(b) Consideration of Case by Case Approved Supervision will be limited to cases in which the availability of Board Approved or AAMFT Supervisors would result in a substantial travel or financial hardship.

History

• Author: The Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-17A-1 thru 34-17A-26.
• New Rule: Filed November 15, 2000; effective December 20, 2000. Amended: Filed April 15, 2002; effective May 20, 2002. Amended: Filed November 12, 2002; effective December 17, 2002. Amended (Rule Number Only): Filed March 21, 2005; effective April 25, 2005. Amended: Filed July 10, 2006; effective August 14, 2006. Amended: Filed February 8, 2012; effective March 14, 2012. Amended: Filed June 19, 2019; effective August 3, 2019.
• Editor's note: As per certification filed March 21, 2005; effective April 25, 2005, previous Rule 536-X-3-.08 was renumbered to 536-X-3-.07. Chapter 536-X-3 was renumbered to Chapter 536-X-4 and Rule 536-X-4-.07 was renumbered to 536-X-4-.06 as per certification filed July 10, 2006; effective August 14, 2006.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 536-X-4-.07 Guidelines For: Examination Application

Requirements {#sec-536-x-4-.07 omnilex-key=us-al-regs-official--chapter-536-x-4--536-X-4-.07}

The following are necessary requirements in order to take the Board approved marriage and family therapy examination:

(1) Submission of a completed application on the forms prescribed by the Board (see 536-X-5 APPENDICES 2: FORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS); and submission of applicable fees for application and license prescribed by the Board (see 536-X-5 APPENDICES 1: FEES).

(2) Has met all requirements for becoming an MFT Associate

OR

(3) The Program Director writes a letter of ve3rification that the student is in good standing and is within six months of graduating from a COAMFTE or CACREP MCFC accredited program.

(a) See 536-X-4-.02: Requirements for designation: Marriage and Family Therapy Associate (MFT Associate.

History

• Author: The Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-17A-1 thru 34-17A-26.
• New Rule: Filed February 8, 2012; effective March 14, 2012. Amended: Filed June 19, 2019; effective August 3, 2019.