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.
Ala. Admin. Code r. 536-X-5-.01
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 by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVII, Issue No. 09, June 28, 2019, eff. 8/3/2019.Chapter 536-X-4 was renumbered to Chapter 536-X-5 as per certification filed July 10, 2006; effective August 14, 2 006.
Author: The Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy
Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-17A-1 thru 34-17A-26.
Author: The Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy
Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 34-17A-1 thru 34-17A-26.