Title of Regulation: 18VAC115-50. Regulations Governing the Practice of Marriage and Family Therapy (amending 18VAC115-50-40, 18VAC115-50-60).

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: September 2, 2009.

Agency Contact: Evelyn B. Brown, Executive Director, Board of Counseling, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4488, FAX (804) 527-4435, or email evelyn.brown@dhp.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The requirements for a residency in marriage and family therapy are amended to specify that at least 100 of the required 200 hours of face-to-face supervision must be provided by a person holding a license as a marriage and family therapist. The requirements for licensure by endorsement are amended to repeal the provision that allows a person holding a license as a licensed professional counselor to be licensed by endorsement without taking and passing the national examination in marriage and family therapy.

In the adoption of the final regulation, the board amended the requirement so that 100 of the 200 hours of supervision could be either individually or in group.

Summary of Public Comments and Agency's Response: No public comments were received by the promulgating agency.

18VAC115-50-40. Application for licensure by endorsement.

A. Every applicant for licensure by endorsement shall submit in one package:

1. A completed application;

2. The application processing and initial licensure fee prescribed in 18VAC115-50-20; and

3. Documentation of licensure as follows:

a. Verification of all professional licenses or certificates ever held in any other jurisdiction. In order to qualify for endorsement the applicant shall have no unresolved action against a license or certificate. The board will consider history of disciplinary action on a case-by-case basis; [ and ]

b. Documentation of a marriage and family therapy license obtained by standards specified in subsection B of this section; or.

c. If currently holding an unrestricted license as a professional counselor in Virginia, documentation of successful completion of the requirements set forth in 18VAC115-50-50, 18VAC115-50-55 and 18VAC115-50-60.

B. Every applicant for licensure by endorsement shall meet one of the following:

1. Educational requirements consistent with those specified in 18VAC115-50-50 and 18VAC115-50-55 and experience requirements consistent with those specified in 18VAC115-50-60; or

2. If an applicant does not have educational and experience credentials consistent with those required by this chapter, he shall provide:

a. Documentation of education and supervised experience that met the requirements of the jurisdiction in which he was initially licensed as verified by an official transcript and a certified copy of the original application materials; and

b. Evidence of clinical practice for five of the last six years immediately preceding his licensure application in Virginia.

3. In lieu of transcripts verifying education and documentation verifying supervised experience, the board may accept verification from the credentials registry of the American Association of State Counseling Boards or any other board-recognized entity.

18VAC115-50-60. Residency.

A. Registration.

1. Applicants who render counseling services shall:

a. With their supervisor, register their supervisory contract on the appropriate forms for board approval before starting to practice under supervision;

b. Have submitted an official transcript documenting a graduate degree as specified in 18VAC115-50-50 to include completion of the internship requirement specified in 18VAC115-50-55; and

c. Pay the registration fee.

2. After September 3, 2008, applicants who are beginning their residencies in exempt settings shall register supervision with the board to assure acceptability at the time of application.

B. Residency requirements.

1. The applicant shall have completed at least two years of supervised post-graduate degree experience, representing no fewer than 4,000 hours of supervised work experience, to include 200 hours of supervision with the supervisor in the practice of marriage and family therapy. Residents shall receive a minimum of one hour and a maximum of four hours of supervision for every 40 hours of supervised work experience. No more than 100 hours of the supervision may be acquired through group supervision, with the group consisting of no more than six residents. One hour of group supervision will be deemed equivalent to one hour of individual supervision.

2. Of the 4,000 hours stipulated, at least 2,000 hours must be acquired in direct client contact of which 1,000 hours shall be with couples or families or both.

3. The residency shall consist of practice in the core areas set forth in 18VAC115-50-55.

4. The residency shall begin after the completion of a master's degree in marriage and family therapy or a related discipline as set forth in 18VAC115-50-50.

5. A graduate-level internship completed in a program that meets the requirements set forth in 18VAC115-50-50 may count for no more than 600 of the required 4,000 hours of experience. The internship shall include 20 hours of individual on-site supervision, and 20 hours of individual or group off-site supervision. Internship hours shall not begin until completion of 30 semester hours toward the graduate degree.

6. A graduate-level degree internship completed in a COAMFTE-approved program or a CACREP-approved program in marriage and family counseling/therapy may count for no more than 900 of the required 4,000 hours of experience.

7. In order for a graduate level internship to be counted toward a residency, either the clinical or faculty supervisor shall be licensed as set forth in subsection C of this section.

8. Residents shall not call themselves marriage and family therapists, solicit clients, bill for services rendered or in any way represent themselves as marriage and family therapists. During the residency, they may use their names, the initials of their degree and the title "Resident in Marriage and Family Therapy." Clients shall be informed in writing of the resident's status, along with the name, address and telephone number of the resident's supervisor.

9. Residents shall not engage in practice under supervision in any areas for which they do not have appropriate education.

10. Residents who do not become candidates for licensure after five years of supervised training shall submit an explanation to the board stating reasons the residency should be allowed to continue.

C. Supervisory qualifications. A person who provides supervision for a resident in marriage and family therapy shall:

1. Hold an active, unrestricted license as a marriage and family therapist, professional counselor, clinical psychologist, clinical social worker or psychiatrist in the jurisdiction where the supervision is being provided;

2. Document two years post-licensure marriage and family therapy experience; and

3. Have received professional training in supervision, consisting of three credit hours or 4.0 quarter hours in graduate-level coursework in supervision or at least 20 hours of continuing education in supervision offered by a provider approved under 18VAC115-50-96. Persons who have provided supervision for a residency prior to September 3, 2008, shall complete such coursework or continuing education by September 3, 2010. At least one-half of the [ face-to-face 200 hours of ] supervision shall be rendered by a licensed marriage and family therapist.

D. Supervisory responsibilities.

1. The supervisor shall complete evaluation forms to be given to the resident at the end of each three-month period. The supervisor shall report the total hours of residency and evaluate the applicant's competency to the board.

2. Supervision by an individual whose relationship to the resident is deemed by the board to compromise the objectivity of the supervisor is prohibited.

3. The supervisor shall assume full responsibility for the clinical activities of residents as specified within the supervisory contract, for the duration of the residency.

[ FORMS (18VAC115-50)

Marriage and Family Therapist Licensure Application, MFT Form 2 (rev. 8/08).

Verification of Licensure, MFT Form 2-VL (rev. 8/08).

Verification of Supervision – Post-Graduate Degree Supervised Experience, MFT Form 2-VS (rev. 8/08).

Licensure Verification of Out-of-State Supervisor, MFT Form 1-LV (rev. 8/08).

Quarterly Evaluation, MFT Form 1-QE (rev. 8/08).

Coursework Outline Form for Marriage and Family Therapist Licensure, MFT Form 2-CO (rev. 8/08).

Verification of Internship, MFT Form 2-VI (rev. 8/08).

Verification of Internship Hours Towards the Residency, MFT Form 2-IR (rev. 8/08).

Supervision Outline Examination Applicants Only, MFT Form 2-SO (rev. 8/08).

Verification of Clinical Practice, Endorsement Applicants Only, Form MFT-ECP (rev. 8/08).

Registration of Supervision Instructions (rev. 4/09).

Registration of Supervision - for Marriage and Family Therapist Licensure, MFT Form 1 (rev. 8/08) A (rev. 4/09).

Application for Reinstatement of a Lapsed License (rev. 8/07).

Continuing Education Summary Form (LMFT) (rev. 8/07). ]