Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0450-02-.05

Current through October 22, 2024

Section 0450-02-.05 - PROCEDURES FOR LICENSURE

To become licensed as a marital and family therapist in Tennessee a person must comply with the following procedures and requirements:

(1) Licensed Marital and Family Therapist by Examination

(a) An application shall be requested from the Board's administrative office or shall be downloaded from the Internet.

(b) An applicant shall respond truthfully and completely to every question or request for information contained in the application form and submit it along with all documentation and fees required by the form and this rule to the board's administrative office. It is the intent of this rule that all steps necessary to accomplish the filing of the required documentation be completed prior to filing an application and that all documentation be filed simultaneously.

(c) Applications for licensure will be accepted throughout the year and files which are completed on or before the 30th day prior to the meeting will ordinarily be processed at the next board. meeting scheduled for the purpose of reviewing files. Supporting documents requested in these instructions must be received in the board office within 60 days of receipt of your application or the file will be closed.

(d) An applicant shall pay, at the time of application, the nonrefundable application fee as provided in rule 0450-02-.06.

(e) An applicant shall submit verification of having completed a supervised practicum or internship pursuant to the authority granted in T.C.A. § 63-22-106 and 63-22-115.

(f) An applicant shall submit with his application, a certified photocopy of his birth certificate.

(g) An applicant shall submit a clear and recognizable recently taken, bust photograph which shows the full head face forward from at least the top of the shoulders up.

(h) It is the applicant's responsibility to request a graduate transcript from his degree granting institution, pursuant to T.C.A. § 63-22-106, be submitted directly from the school to the board's administrative office. The institution granting the degree must be accredited at the time the degree was granted. The transcript must show that the degree has been conferred and carry the official seal of the institution and reference the name under which the applicant has applied for licensure. The transcript must show a masters or doctoral degree with a major in marriage and family therapy or equivalent. The applicant must demonstrate to the board, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the degreed program documented by the transcript meets the requirements of T.C.A. § 63-22-106. The educational requirement contained in this rule must be completed prior to the date of application for licensure.

(i) An applicant shall complete and submit the worksheet for reporting course work.

(j) An applicant shall submit evidence of good moral character. Such evidence shall include at least two recent, within the preceding 12 months, original letters from professionals attesting to the applicant's personal character and professional ethics and typed on the signator's letterhead.

(k) An applicant shall submit evidence of 1,000 hours of clinical practice and 200 hours of supervision by an approved supervisor over a period of not less than two years.

(l) An applicant, upon being deemed eligible by the board, shall be required to pass the written and oral examinations, pursuant to rule 0450-02-.08.

(m) An applicant shall disclose the circumstances surrounding any of the following:

1. Conviction of any criminal law violation of any country, state, or municipality, except minor traffic violations.

2. The denial of certification or licensure application by any other state or the discipline of the certificate holder or licensee in any state.

3. Loss or restriction of certification or licensure privileges.

4. Any civil suit judgment or civil suit settlement in which the applicant was a party defendant including, without limitation, actions involving malpractice, breach of contract, antitrust activity or any other civil action remedy recognized under any country's or state's statutory, common, or case law.

(n) An applicant shall cause to be submitted to the Board's administrative office directly from the vendor identified in the Board's licensure application materials, the result of a criminal background check.

(o) Where necessary, all documents required to be submitted shall be translated into English and such translation certified along with the original document as to authenticity by the issuing source.

(p) Application review and licensure decisions shall be governed by rule 0450-02-.07.

(q) Personal resumes are not acceptable and will not be reviewed.

(r) The burden is on the applicant to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that he possess the qualifications for licensure by examination.

(2) Licensed Marital and Family Therapist by Upgrade:

(a) An application shall be requested from the Board's administrative office or shall be downloaded from the Internet.

(b) Requests for upgrade will be accepted throughout the year and files which are completed on or before the 30th day prior to the meeting will ordinarily be processed at the next board meeting scheduled for the purpose of reviewing files. Supporting documents requested in these instructions must be received in the board office within 60 days of receipt of your application or the file will be closed.

(c) An individual seeking to upgrade shall pay the nonrefundable upgrade review fee, pursuant to rule 0450-02-.06, upon submission of the upgrade application.

(d) An applicant shall respond truthfully and completely to every question or request for information contained in the form, and submit it along with all documentation and fees required by the form and this rule to the board's administrative office. It is the intent of this rule that all activities necessary to accomplish the filing of the required documentation be completed prior to filing an application and that all documentation be filed simultaneously.

(e) An individual currently registered with the board may upgrade his certification to licensure by providing a copy of his current CMFT certificate and do the following:

1. Submit evidence of current clinical membership in AAMFT; or

2. Submit evidence that he has received 200 hours of clinical supervision pursuant to rule 0450-02-.10, or

3. Provide verification to the board's satisfaction that he has had 15 years of clinical practice as a certified marital and family therapist.

(f) An applicant shall disclose the circumstances surrounding any of the following:

1. Conviction of any criminal law violation of any country, state, or municipality, except minor traffic violations.

2. The denial of licensure application by any other state or the discipline of the certificate holder or licensee in any state.

3. Loss or restriction of certification or licensure.

(g) An applicant shall cause to be submitted to the Board's administrative office directly from the vendor identified in the Board's licensure application materials, the result of a criminal background check.

(h) Where necessary, all documents required to be submitted shall be translated into English and such translation certified along with the original document as to authenticity by the issuing source.

(i) Upgrade review and licensure decisions shall be governed by rule 0450-02-.07.

(j) Personal resumes are not acceptable and will not be reviewed.

(k) The burden is on the applicant to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that he possesses the qualifications to upgrade to licensure status.

(3) Licensed Marital and Family Therapist by Reciprocity

(a) The Board may issue a license to any individual who holds a current marital and family therapist certificate or license from another state if the applicant meets the qualifications for licensure stated in Rule 0450-02-.04(3).

(b) An application shall be requested from the Board's administrative office or shall be downloaded from the Internet. An applicant shall pay, at the time of application, the nonrefundable application fee as provided in rule 0450-02-.06.

(c) Applications for licensure will be accepted throughout the year and files which are completed on or before the 30th day prior to the meeting will ordinarily be processed at the next board meeting scheduled for the purpose of reviewing files. Supporting documents requested in these instructions must be received in the board office within 60 days of receipt of your application or the file will be closed.

(d) An applicant shall respond truthfully and completely to every question or request for information contained in the application form and submit it along with all documentation and fees required by the form and this rule to the board's administrative office. It is the intent of this rule that all steps necessary to accomplish the filing of the required documentation be completed prior to filing an application and that all documentation be filed simultaneously.

(e) An individual seeking to upgrade shall pay the nonrefundable application fee, pursuant to rule 0450-02-.06, upon submission of the application.

(f) An applicant shall submit a clear and recognizable recently taken, bust photograph which shows the full head face forward from at least the top of the shoulders up.

(g) An applicant shall submit with his application a certified photocopy of his birth certificate.

(h) An applicant shall submit evidence of good moral character. Such evidence shall include two recent, within the preceding 12 months, two original letters from professionals attesting to the applicant's personal character and professional ethics and typed on the signator's letterhead.

(i) An applicant shall submit a copy of his original certificate or license with number from other state in effect at the time the original license was issued.

(j) An applicant must submit a copy of his renewal certificate with the number from the other state and expiration date.

(k) The applicant shall provide the board with a copy of his state's certification or licensing law and rules in effect at the time the applicant was credentialed.

(l) The applicant shall direct the appropriate certification or licensing agency in his state to send an official statement which indicates that such certificate or license is in effect and in good standing and under what provision such certificate or license was issued (i.e., grandfathering, examination, reciprocity, endorsement, etc.).

(m) An applicant shall disclose the circumstances surrounding any of the following:

1. Conviction of any criminal law violation of any country, state, or municipality, except minor traffic violations.

2. The denial of certification or licensure application by any other state or the discipline of the certificate holder or the licensee in any state.

3. Loss or restriction of certification or license.

4. Any civil suit judgment or civil suit settlement in which the applicant was a party defendant including, without limitation, actions involving malpractice, breach of contract, antitrust activity or any other civil action remedy recognize under any country's or state's statutory, common, or case law.

(p) Application review and licensure decisions shall be governed by rule 0450-02-.07.

(q) Personal resumes are not acceptable and will not be reviewed.

(r) The burden is on the applicant to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that his credentials at the time of certification/license in the other state was issued based on requirements that were at least equal to Tennessee's current requirements.

(s) An applicant shall submit evidence of two years post-masters supervised MFT practice, pursuant to rule 0450-02-.10.

(4) Licensed Marital and Family Therapists by Endorsement:

(a) The board may issue a license to an individual who holds current clinical certification by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, however, an applicant for licensure by endorsement will be required to take the oral section of the examination, pursuant to rule 0450-02-.08.

(b) An application shall be requested from the Board's administrative office or shall be downloaded from the Internet.

(c) Applications will be accepted throughout the year and files which are completed on or before the 30th day prior to the meeting will ordinarily be processed at the next board meeting scheduled for the purpose of reviewing files. Supporting documents requested in these instructions must be received in the board office within 60 days of receipt of your application or the file will be closed.

(d) An applicant shall respond truthfully and completely to every question or request for information contained in the application form and submit it along with all documentation and fees required by the form and this rule to the board administrative office. It is the intent of this rule that all steps necessary to accomplish the filing of the required documentation be completed prior to filing an application and that all documentation be filed simultaneously.

(e) An applicant shall pay, at the time of application, the nonrefundable application fee as provided in rule 0450-02-.06.

(f) An applicant shall submit a clear and recognizable recently taken, bust photograph which shows the full head face forward from at least the top of the shoulders up.

(g) An applicant shall submit a certified photocopy of his birth certificate.

(h) An applicant shall submit evidence of good moral character. Such evidence shall include two original letters from professionals attesting to the applicant's personal character and professional ethics and typed on the signator's letterhead.

(i) An applicant shall submit evidence of holding a current clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

(j) An applicant shall disclose the circumstances surrounding any of the following:

1. Conviction of any criminal law violation of any country, state, or municipality, except minor traffic violations.

2. The denial of certification or licensure application by any other state or the discipline of the certificate holder or the licensee in any state.

3. Loss or restriction of certification or licensure.

(k) An applicant shall cause to be submitted to the Board's administrative office directly from the vendor identified in the Board's licensure application materials, the result of a criminal background check.

(l) Where necessary, all documents required to be submitted shall be translated into English and such translation certified along with the original document as to authenticity by the issuing source.

(m) Application review and licensure decisions shall be governed by rule 0450-02-.07.

(n) Personal resumes are not acceptable and will not be reviewed.

(o) The burden is on the applicant to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that he meets the qualifications for licensure.

(5) Temporary Licensure for Marriage and Family Therapists.

(a) A temporary license may be issued by the board to an applicant for marital and family therapist who has completed the academic course work and training (except for the required post-masters supervised clinical experience) required for licensure as a marital and family therapist.

(b) A temporary license obtained pursuant to this section authorizes an applicant to perform the functions of a marital and family therapist as defined by T.C.A. § 63-22-115(a)(5) while working under the supervision of an approved supervisor as defined by T.C.A. § 63-22-115(a)(2) and (9). Said supervisor shall be in good standing with their respective licensing boards and professional associations.

1. As part of the application process for temporary licensure, the applicant must submit, on a form provided by the Board, information about the proposed supervisor. Should the proposed supervisor(s) meet the requirements indicated in (5)(b) above, the board will approve that person to do the supervision. Any change in supervisor must be approved by the board, in writing, in advance.

2. The holder of a temporary license as a marital and family therapist shall not represent himself or herself to be a licensed marital and family therapist. He/she may only represent him/herself to be a "marital therapy intern," a "family therapy trainee," or other such title or designation that clearly reflects trainee status and temporary licensure.

(c) In order to receive a temporary license, an applicant must submit to the board a completed application for temporary licensure as a LMFT, and meet all the requirements of Rule 0450-02-.05(1) or (3), except as noted in this paragraph, including payment of all the appropriate fees.

(d) No person may be issued more than one (1) temporary license, nor shall a temporary license be valid for more than three (3) years.

(e) If an applicant is granted a temporary license, the license shall remain valid for a period of not more than three (3) years or until the board grants or denies the regular license application or it shall become invalid for reasons such as, but not limited to, the following:

1. failure to take the written examination required by the board within nine (9) months following the issuance of the temporary license;

2. failure to pass the written exam within two years following issuance of the temporary license;

3. expiration of the three year period defined in the statute;

4. failure to continue in supervision during the three year period the license may be valid, even if the required practice hours have been accumulated;

5. change of supervisors without notifying the board, submitting the credentials of the proposed supervisor, or obtaining the board's approval;

6. violation of any provision of T.C.A. § 63-22-110(b).

(f) When the temporary license expires or becomes invalid for any reason, it must be returned to the Board office within ten (10) days. The supervisor is expected to notify the board of any reason he is aware of that the temporary license should become invalid. The board will notify the supervisor when the temporary license becomes invalid.

(g) To replace the temporary licensure with a regular license, the applicant shall notify the board in writing, using a form provided by the board, and present supporting documentation demonstrating the satisfactory completion of the required Post Master's supervised experience in a clinical setting. The board shall then grant or deny the regular license application, based on satisfactory completion of all requirements for licensure, including passing an oral examination.

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0450-02-.05

Original rule filed April 29, 1992; effective June 13, 1992. Amendment filed August 20, 1996; effective November 2, 1996. Amendment filed January 29, 1998; effective April 14, 1998. Amendment filed December 7, 1998; effective February 20, 1999. Amendment filed April 10, 2002; effective June 24, 2002. Amendment filed April 30, 2002; effective July 14, 2002. Amendment filed July 16, 2003; effective September 29, 2003. Amendment filed March 17, 2006; effective May 31, 2006.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 4-5-204, 63-22-102, 63-22-103, 63-22-104, 63-22-106, 63-22-107, 63-22110, 63-22-115, 63-22-116, 63-22-120, 63-22-121, and 63-22-150.