Section 43-10A-13. Requirements for licensure in marriage and family therapy

   (a) The education, experience, and training requirements for licensure in marriage and family therapy are as follows:

   (1) For licensure as an associate marriage and family therapist, a master's degree in a program in marriage and family therapy or a program including a master's degree and additional post-master's degree course work, both of which programs shall include three courses in marriage and family studies, three courses in marriage and family therapy, three courses in human development, one course in marriage and family therapy ethics, and one course in research, or from any program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, which degree shall have been granted by a recognized educational institution; completion of a one-year practicum in marriage and family therapy under supervision before or after the granting of the master's degree, which practicum shall include 500 hours of direct clinical experience in marriage and family therapy and 100 hours of supervision of such experience; and registration with the board of an acceptable contract for obtaining the post-master's experience under direction and supervision required for licensure as a marriage and family therapist; and

   (2) For licensure as a marriage and family therapist:

      (A) Licensure as an associate marriage and family therapist and two years of full-time post-master's experience or its equivalent in the practice of marriage and family therapy under direction and supervision as an associate marriage and family therapist, which shall include a minimum of 2,000 hours of direct clinical experience and 100 hours of supervision of such experience and which shall be completed within a period of not less than two years and not more than five years;

      (B) A master's degree from a program in any specialty, any allied profession, applied child and family development, applied sociology, or from any program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, which degree shall have been granted by a recognized educational institution and shall include, as part of the degree program or as additional post-master's degree course work, at least two courses in marriage and family studies, two courses in marriage and family therapy, and, after July 1, 2000, one course in marriage and family therapy ethics; and three years' full-time post-master's experience or its equivalent under direction and supervision in the practice of any specialty, which shall include a minimum of 2,500 hours of direct clinical experience, one year of which may have been in an approved practicum before or after the granting of the master's degree which shall include a minimum of 500 hours of direct clinical experience, and two years of which shall have been in the practice of marriage and family therapy which shall include a minimum of 2,000 hours of direct clinical experience, and 200 hours of supervision of such experience all of which shall be completed within a period of not less than three years and not more than five years; or

      (C) A doctorate degree from a program in any specialty, any allied profession, applied child and family development, applied sociology, or from any program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, which degree shall have been granted by a recognized educational institution and shall include, as part of a master's or doctoral degree program or as additional postgraduate degree course work, at least two courses in marriage and family studies, two courses in marriage and family therapy, and, after July 1, 2000, one course in marriage and family therapy ethics; two years' full-time post-master's experience under direction in the practice of marriage and family therapy which shall include a minimum of 1,500 hours of direct clinical experience, one year of which may have been in an approved internship program before or after the granting of the doctoral degree, which shall include a minimum of 500 hours of direct clinical experience, and one year of which shall have been full-time post-master's experience, which shall include a minimum of 1,000 hours of direct clinical experience; and 100 hours of supervision of such experience in the practice of marriage and family therapy, 50 hours of which may have been obtained while a student or intern in an accredited doctoral program.

(b) Persons intending to apply for licensure as a marriage and family therapist and who have completed one of the graduate degrees required for such licensure may register a contract with the board for obtaining the required post-master's experience under direction and supervision.

(c) Associate marriage and family therapists may only use the title "associate marriage and family therapist" and may practice marriage and family therapy only under direction and supervision and only for a period not to exceed five years while obtaining the post-master's experience required for licensure as a marriage and family therapist.

Code 1981, § 43-7A-13, enacted by Ga. L. 1984, p. 1406, § 1; Ga. L. 1988, p. 580, § 1; Ga. L. 1989, p. 825, § 3; Ga. L. 1994, p. 97, § 43; Ga. L. 1995, p. 874, § 1; Ga. L. 1996, p. 843, § 3; Ga. L. 1997, p. 452, § 2; Ga. L. 2002, p. 415, § 43; Ga. L. 2013, p. 141, § 43/HB 79.