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AN ACT relating to marriage and family therapists. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
Section 1. KRS 335.330 is amended to read as follows: 3
(1) An applicant for licensure as a marriage and family therapist shall pay the board an 4
initial fee which shall be established by administrative regulation promulgated by 5
the board. The applicant shall show the board that the applicant has: 6
(a)[(1)] Completed a master's or doctoral degree program in marriage and family 7
therapy, from a regionally-accredited educational institution, or a master's, 8
post-master's, or doctoral program approved by the Commission on 9
Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education or any of its 10
successor organizations, or an equivalent course of study as defined by the 11
board by promulgation of administrative regulations, subject to the 12
following:[.] 13
1.[(a)] The degree or equivalent course of study shall contain specific 14
coursework on psychopathology and the Diagnostic and Statistical 15
Manual; and 16
2.[(b)] In determining equivalency, the board shall use the criteria for 17
marriage and family therapy education and clinical training approved by 18
the United States Department of Education; 19
(b)[(2)] Completed each of the following: 20
1.[(a)] At least two (2) years' experience in the practice of marriage and 21
family therapy, acceptable to the board and subsequent to being granted 22
a master's degree; and 23
2.[(b)] A minimum of two hundred (200) hours of clinical supervision 24
acceptable to the board and subsequent to being granted a master's 25
degree; and 26
(c)[(3)] Passed a written examination prescribed by the board by promulgation 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1937
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of administrative regulations. 1
(2) If the board identifies any technical error in the application; 2
(a) The board shall notify the applicant of the error within one (1) week of its 3
discovery; 4
(b) The applicant shall correct the error within two (2) weeks; and 5
(c) The board shall review the correction within one (1) week of the submitted 6
correction. 7
(3) The board shall issue the license within two (2) weeks of the date the application 8
is complete. 9
Section 2. KRS 335.332 is amended to read as follows: 10
(1) A person who fills all of the requirements of KRS 335.330 shall apply to the board 11
for a marriage and family therapist associate permit in order to practice and earn the 12
experience required for license application. 13
(2) A marriage and family therapy associate shall engage in the practice of marriage 14
and family therapy while receiving qualifying experience [by contracting, in 15
writing, ]with an approved supervisor or an approved acting supervisor, as defined 16
by the board in administrative regulations, who shall assume responsibility for and 17
supervise the marriage and family therapy associate's practice as directed by the 18
board by promulgation of administrative regulations. A marriage and family 19
therapy associate shall not engage in the practice of marriage and family therapy 20
without a board approved supervisor or an approved acting supervisor[No 21
marriage and family therapy associate shall enter into a practice of marriage and 22
family therapy until this contract has been approved by the board, and the marriage 23
and family therapy associate shall cease the practice of marriage and family therapy 24
immediately upon termination of the contract. At the termination of the contract, the 25
marriage and family therapy associate shall apply for licensure as a marriage and 26
family therapist or request an extension of the contract from the board]. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1937
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(3) The fees and all other requirements for a marriage and family therapist associate 1
permit shall be established by the board by promulgation of administrative 2
regulations. 3
Section 3. KRS 335.340 is amended to read as follows: 4
(1) (a) Licensure issued under KRS 335.330 shall be renewed annually upon 5
payment of a fee to be established by administrative regulation promulgated 6
by the board not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150). 7
(b) The board shall issue the renewal licensure within two (2) weeks after 8
receiving the renewal request. 9
(2) On January 1, 1999, all persons authorized to use the title "certified marriage and 10
family therapist" shall be deemed "licensed marriage and family therapists" until 11
the date of their second annual license renewal. As of that date, each formerly 12
certified licensee seeking license renewal shall provide the board with verification 13
of education or experience relating to psychopathology, as determined by 14
administrative regulations promulgated by the board, to include: 15
(a) Coursework in psychopathology; 16
(b) Supervised experience with a focus on diagnosis; or 17
(c) Completion of equivalent continuing education units relating to 18
psychopathology. 19
This subsection shall not apply to license renewals for those persons also licensed 20
or certified by another mental health profession which authorizes diagnosis within 21
its scope of practice. 22
(3) A ninety (90) day grace period shall be granted during which time licensees may 23
continue to practice and may renew their licenses upon payment of the renewal fee 24
plus a late renewal fee as promulgated by administrative regulation of the board. 25
Any license not renewed during this period shall expire. The board may reinstate an 26
expired license within three (3) years of its expiration date upon payment of the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1937
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renewal fee and satisfaction of other requirements. 1
(4) A suspended license is subject to expiration and termination and shall be renewed 2
as provided in this chapter. Renewal shall not entitle the licensee to engage in the 3
practice of marriage and family therapy until the suspension has ended, or is 4
otherwise removed by the board and the right to practice is restored by the board. 5
(5) A revoked license is subject to expiration or termination but may not be renewed. If 6
it is reinstated, the licensee shall pay the renewal fee as set forth in subsection (1) of 7
this section. 8
(6) A person who fails to reinstate his or her license within three (3) years of its 9
termination may not have it renewed, restored, reissued, or reinstated. A person 10
may apply for and obtain a new license by meeting the current requirements of this 11
chapter. 12
(7) The board shall require that a person applying for renewal or reinstatement of 13
licensure show evidence of completion of continuing education as prescribed by the 14
board by administrative regulations, not to exceed twenty (20) clock hours per 15
renewal period. 16
Section 4. A NEW SECTION OF KRS 335.300 TO 335.399 IS CREATED TO 17
READ AS FOLLOWS: 18
(1) The board shall grant a reciprocal license to an applicant who: 19
(a) Holds an active license from another state to practice as an independent 20
marriage and family therapist; 21
(b) Is in good standing with the certifying or licensing board of that state; 22
(c) Is of good moral character; 23
(d) Has not had disciplinary actions of a serious nature brought against them 24
by a registration, certification, or licensing board or agency; 25
(e) Has met the examination requirement in Section 1 of this Act; and 26
(f) Has paid the application fee to the board. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1937
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(2) The applicant shall be exempt from the requirements of subsection (1)(a) and (b) 1
of Section 1 of this Act. 2