Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 536-X-5 — Board Course Requirements

536 Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy

Ala. Admin. Code r. 536-X-5-.01 Board Course Requirements

A master’s degree in marriage and family therapy consisting of a minimum of forty-eight (48) graduate semester hours or seventy-two (72) graduate quarter hours at a regionally accredited college or university.

All applicants shall have a master’s degree from a COAMFTE (Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education) or CACREP Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling accredit program (Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs), or the content equivalent of COAMFTE or CACREP MCFC. Content equivalent is minimally defined as graduate course work in the six designated areas and other clinical treatment areas (e.g., assessment, abnormal psychology, group therapy, play-therapy, and sex-therapy) equaling 48 semester hours.

Graduate coursework will consist of the six areas deemed essential educational training for the practice of marriage and family therapy. This coursework will embrace a family systems perspective of human and family development and of treatment of individuals, couples, and families, either alone or in a group. This coursework will address the practice of marriage and family therapy through utilization of established principles that recognize the interrelated nature of the individual problems and dysfunctions in family members in order to assess and treat emotional, mental, and behavioral disorders.

Course equivalents: one (1) course = three (3) semester credits or four (4) quarter credits from a recognized educational institution; or forty-two (42) didactic contact hours (lecture hours)

(1) Marriage and Family Studies (one (1) course minimum, with two (2) course minimum in Human Development or two (2) courses, minimum with one (1) course minimum in Human Development). Courses in this area should present a fundamental introduction to systems theory. The student should learn to think in systems terms across a wide variety of family and other social structures and a diverse range of presenting issues (i.e., gender, culture, substance abuse). Topic areas include: systems theory, family development, subsystems, blended families, gender issues in families, cultural issues in families, etc. All courses in this area must have a major focus from a systems theory orientation. Survey or overview courses in which systems is one of several theories covered do not qualify for this area. Courses in which systems theory is the major focus and other theories are studies in relation to systems theory are acceptable.

(2) Marriage and Family Therapy (three (3) courses, minimum). Courses in this area should have a major focus on advanced family systems theories and systemic therapeutic interventions. This area is intended to provide a substantive understanding of the major theories of systems change and the applied practices evolving from each theoretical orientation. Major theoretical approaches might include: strategic, structural, object relations family therapy, behavioral family therapy, communications family therapy, intergenerational family therapy, and systemic sex therapy. Survey or overview courses in which family therapy is one of several types of theories covered do not qualify for this area.

(3) Human Development (one (1) course minimum, with two (2) course minimum in Marriage and Family Studies or two (2) courses, minimum with one (1) course minimum in Marriage and Family Studies). Courses in this area should provide knowledge of individual personality development and its normal and abnormal manifestations. The student should have relevant coursework in human development across the life span which includes special issues that affect an individual’s development (i.e., culture, gender, and human sexuality). The material should be integrated with systems concepts. Topic areas may include human development, child/adolescent development, psychopathology, personality, theory, human sexuality, etc. Test and measurements courses do not qualify for this area.

(4) Professional Ethics (one (1) course, minimum). Courses in this area are intended to contribute to the professional development of the therapist. Areas of study should include the therapist’s legal responsibilities and liabilities, professional issues and ethics as a marriage and family therapist, professional socialization, and the role of the professional organization, licensure or certification legislation, independent practice and interprofessional cooperation. Religious ethics courses and moral theology courses do not qualify for this area.

(5) Research (one (1) course, minimum). Courses in this area should assist in understanding and performing research. Topic areas may include: research methodology, quantitative methods, and statistics. Individual personality, test and measurement and library research courses do not qualify for this area.

(6) Mental Health Diagnosis (one (1) course, minimum). The course in this area should assist in understanding and treating psychological diagnosis related to the International Classification of Diseases and/or the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Topic areas may include: major mental disorders and learning disorders, personality disorders, neuro-biological disorders, intellectual disabilities, acute medical conditions, addictions, sexual disorders, and psycho-developmental and environmental factors contributing to disorders.

Note: Graduates of programs, which at the time of the applicant’s graduation were COAMFTE MCFC accredited or candidate programs, are deemed to have met the Board course requirements.

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 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: Chapter 536-X-4 was renumbered to Chapter 536-X-5 as per certification filed July 10, 2006; effective August 14, 2006.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 536-X-5-A1 Appendices 1

FEES

$325 License Fee for LMFT. License is valid until December 31st of the year following original licensing year. Upon receipt of notice of approval for application for licensure, the applicant shall within sixty (60) days submit the license fee. Failure to submit such license fee within the above prescribed time shall be deemed sufficient reason for cancellation of said application.$325 License Renewal Fee for LMFT if paid by December 31 expiration date. On or before October 1 of the renewal period; an application for renewal will be forwarded to the licensee. Renewed License is valid for two (2) years.$200 Fine for late renewal of LMFT license if renewed by March 1 of renewal period. If not renewed by March 1 of the renewal period, the license is considered expired.$150 One-time fee required of all first time applicants for Board review of credentials$150 Renewal fee for Intern $ 25 Transfer fee for Intern to Associate designation $200 Renewal fee for Associate $200 Application and approval fee for LMFT Supervisor Candidate status (valid for three (3) years) $100 Application and approval fee for LMFT Approved Supervisor status (valid until renewal date for LMFT license) $100 Renewal fee for LMFT Approved Supervisor status (valid for two (2) years) $100 Application and approval fee for LMFT Approved Supervisor Mentor (valid until renewal date for LMFT license). $100 Renewal fee for LMFT Approved Supervisor Mentor (valid for two (2) years)$ 50 Certificate Replacement Fee$ 25 License Verification Fee (License Roster available at no cost on web –site) $ 50 Mailing Labels for Licensees

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 September 5, 2001; effective October 10, 2001. Amended: Filed April 15, 2002; effective May 20, 2002. Amended: Filed March 21, 2005; effective April 25, 2005. Amended: Filed July 10, 2006; effective August 14, 2006. Amended: Filed November 21, 2008; effective December 26, 2008. Amended: Filed February 8, 2012; effective March 14, 2012. Amended: Filed June 19, 2019; effective August 3, 2019.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 536-X-5-A2 Appendices 2

FORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS

Application for Marriage and Family Therapy Intern Application for Marriage and Family Therapy Intern Renewal Application for Marriage and Family Therapy Associate Application for Marriage and Family Therapy Associate Renewal Application for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Application for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Renewal Application for Endorsement for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Application for Supervisor in Training Application for Approved Supervisor Application for Approved Supervisor Renewal Application for Approved Supervisor of Supervision Application for Approved Supervisor of Supervision Renewal Application for Permission to take the Marriage and Family Therapy Examination Application for Inactive Status of License Application for Restoration of License Application for Case by Case Approved Supervision CEU Reporting Form

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 March 21, 2005; effective April 25, 2005. Amended: Filed July 10, 2006; effective August 14, 2006.