FIRST REGULAR SESSION
94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE WASSON.
Read 1st time February 7, 2007 and copies ordered printed.
D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal section 337.715, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to marital and family therapists.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 337.715, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 337.715, to read as follows:
337.715. 1. Each applicant for licensure as a marital and family therapist shall furnish evidence to the division that:
(1) The applicant has a master's degree or a doctoral degree in marital and family therapy, or its equivalent, from an acceptable educational institution accredited by a regional accrediting body or accredited by an accrediting body which has been approved by the United States Department of Education;
(2) The applicant has twenty-four months of postgraduate supervised clinical experience acceptable to the division, as the division determines by rule;
(3) Upon examination, the applicant is possessed of requisite knowledge of the profession, including techniques and applications research and its interpretation and professional affairs and ethics;
(4) The applicant is at least eighteen years of age, is of good moral character, is a United States citizen or has status as a legal resident alien, and has not been convicted of a felony during the ten years immediately prior to application for licensure.
2. [A licensed marriage and family therapist who has had no violations and no suspensions and no revocation of a license to practice marriage and family therapy in any jurisdiction may receive a license in Missouri provided said marriage and family therapist passes a written examination on Missouri laws and regulations governing the practice of professional counseling as defined in section 337.700, and meets one of the following criteria:
(1) Is a member in good standing and holds a certification from the Academy of Marriage and Family Therapists;
(2) Is currently licensed or certified as a licensed marriage and family therapist in another state, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia; and
(a) Meets the educational standards set forth in subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of this section;
(b) Has been licensed for the preceding five years; and
(c) Has had no disciplinary action taken against the license for the preceding five years; or
(3) Is currently licensed or certified as a marriage and family therapist in another state, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia that extends like privileges for reciprocal licensing or certification to persons licensed by this state with similar qualifications] Any person otherwise qualified for licensure holding a current license, certificate of registration, or permit from another state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia to practice marriage and family therapy may be granted a license without examination to engage in the practice of marital and family therapy in this state upon application to the state committee, payment of the required fee as established by the state committee, and satisfaction of the following:
(1) Determination by the state committee that the requirements of the other state or territory are substantially the same as Missouri;
(2) Verification by the applicant's licensing entity that the applicant has a current license; and
(3) Consent by the applicant to examination of any disciplinary history in any state.
3. The [division] state committee shall issue a license to each person who files an application and fee as required by the provisions of sections 337.700 to 337.739[, and who furnishes evidence satisfactory to the division that the applicant has complied with the provisions of subdivisions (1) to (4) of subsection 1 of this section or with the provisions of subsection 2 of this section].
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