Navigating North Carolina Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure

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Navigating North Carolina Marriage and Family
Therapy Licensure

• Tips for New Graduates

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Three Tips for a Successful Application Process
Organization Follow Instructions
Organization Follow Instructions
Organization Follow Instructions
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What Is Required For Licensure?

• Educational requirements
• Possess a minimum of a master's degree from an
  academically recognized educational institution
  in the field of marriage and family therapy, or a
  degree in an allied mental health field, which
  degree is evidenced by the applicant's official
  transcripts which establish that the applicant
  has completed an appropriate course of study in
  an allied mental health field. An applicant with
  a degree in an allied mental health field may
  meet the educational requirements if the
  applicant presents satisfactory evidence of
  post-master's or post-doctoral training taken in
  the field of marriage and family therapy from a
  program recognized by the Board regardless
  whether the training was taken at a non degree
  granting institution or in a non degree program,
  as long as the training, by itself or in
  combination with any other training, is the
  equivalent in content and quality, as defined in
  the rules of the Board, of a master's or doctoral
  degree in marriage and family therapy.
• Experience requirements
• Have at least 1,500 hours of clinical experience
  in the practice of marriage and family therapy,
  not more than 500 hours of which were obtained
  while the candidate was a student in a master's
  degree program and at least 1,000 of which were
  obtained after the applicant was granted a degree
  in the field of marriage and family therapy or an
  allied mental health field (with ongoing
  supervision consistent with standards approved by
  the Board).
• Examination
• Pass the National MFT Examination

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Gaining Required Experience For Licensure
Associate Designation

• Associates are those persons who have met the
  educational requirements and are preparing for
  the practice of marriage and family therapy under
  qualified supervision in a training institution
  or facility or supervisory arrangement recognized
  and approved by the Board, and designated by a
  title of "marriage and family therapy associate
  or MFTA. Associates must acquire the required
  clinical experience, supervision hours, and take
  and pass the National MFT Examination within a 3
  year period. Once your application has been
  approved by the Board, you can sit for the exam
  at anytime during the 3 year associate status
  period. An Associate Designation cannot be
  renewed.

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Application for Licensure (Flowchart)

A. Complete graduate coursework, submit
application found at www.nclmft.org and follow
instructions.
B. Secure employment
C. Select AAMFT approved supervisor
D. Complete NCMFT Application ( www.nclmft.org)
Include supervision reports for pre-grad hours.
Fee must be paid to evaluate your application.
You must have an AAMFT Approved Supervisor
Agreement in place to be approved for Associate
(MFTA ) status.
E. Create a Clinical Contract/Supervision
Tracking Form (Download from www.nclmft.org. You
will also receive a copy once MFTA approved.
F. With employer, complete Authorization for
Release of Information to supervisor
G. Review progress, areas of growth, and new
goals with supervisor at least quarterly. Submit
quarterly supervision reports to licensure board.
Minimum of one hour supervision per month. You
must remain under supervision until fully
licensed even if you have met the minimum of 1500
clinical and 200 approved supervision hours.
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Licensure (Flowchart continued)
H. Receive letter from Licensure Board stating
your application is complete.
If you acquired 200 supervision hours while a
student, you will still have to complete an
additional 25 approved supervision hours after
graduation.
P. Receive successful test results from
Professional Exam Service followed by NCMFT
license upon verification of all requirements
completed receipt of Short Form Application if
already a MFTA!!!
L. Receive exam date information from
Professional Exam Service
J. Receive exam registration packet from
Licensure Board- Complete send to Exam Service
with fees required.
M. Prepare for and pass MFT exam
I. Complete Exam Registration form (Download at
www.nclmft.org or submit as with your initial
application)
May take exam while an MFTA prior to
completing clinical supervision hours
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Clinical Supervision Tracking Form
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Exam Study Resources

• Inquire from local MFT programs about any
  upcoming study groups/exam prep workshops
• www.mftexam.com Question of the Day
• www.mftlicense.com Family Solutions Institute
  Exam Study Materials and Workshops
• Set up your own study groups

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Function of Practice Exams

• Condition mind and body for test taking
• Build skills to think analytically and
  strategically within a certain timeframe
• Review test results and use as study material
• See potential gaps in your understanding
• A practice exam for the National MFT Exam is
  located at www.amftrb.org.

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REGULATORY BOARD

• Who is the Board?
• The Board is comprised of seven members,
  appointed by the Governor of North Carolina.
  Four of the members are LMFTs. Three of the
  members are public members. Board members serve
  four year terms and may not serve more than two
  sequential terms.
• What is their purpose?
• The primary mission of the Board is to protect
  the public.
• When should I contact the Board?
• You should contact the Board when you have met
  the educational requirements and apply as an
  associate.
• How do I contact the Board?
• Contact information for the Board is located at
  www.nclmft.org. You should direct all questions
  to the Board office not individual Board
  members. Review information first at the website
  and then if questions, email those questions. The
  website is your first source for information and
  forms.

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Three Important Guidelines

• Keep copies of the following (all are located at
  www.nclmft.org)
• 1) Ethical Guidelines
• 2) NC Statutes
• 3) NC Administrative Rules

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the grounds for denial, revocation or
  suspension of a license?
• (1)       Conviction of a felony under the laws
  of the United States or of any state of the
  United States.
• (2)       Conviction of any crime, an essential
  element of which is dishonesty, deceit, or fraud.
• (3)       Fraud or deceit in obtaining a license
  as a marriage and family therapist.
• (4)       Dishonesty, fraud or gross negligence
  in the practice of marriage and family therapy.
• (5)       Violation of any rule of professional
  ethics and professional conduct adopted by the
• Board.
• After full licensure, how often will I have to
  renew?
• Annually all licenses expire June 30th of each
  year.
• Who would qualify as a supervisor for purposes of
  licensing requirements for my post-graduate
  supervised professional work experience?
• The NC MFT Licensure Board recognizes the
  credentials of AAMFT Approved Supervisors. A
  list of
• approved supervisors in your area may be found at
  www.aamft.org.
• I have made some changes, either a new
  supervisor, or a new position, since I submitted
  my original supervision agreement with my
  associate application.  What do I need to do?
• You will need to submit a new supervision
  agreement with a supervisor who meets the
  qualifications
• as outlined on the Supervision Agreement Form.
  If the supervisor is not AAMFT approved, there is
• no guarantee hours with the new supervisor will
  be accepted.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Why doesn't the board have a process for
  pre-preview of applications?
• The Board provides all necessary information
  to applicants regarding qualifications to meet
  the
• requirements for licensure or
  registrations. It is up to the applicant to
  determine if they meet those
• qualifications.  Therefore, the applicant
  has sufficient information to pre-review their
  own applications. Those applicants who follow
  the instructions and review their applications
  accordingly do not
• generally have a problem.  Those who
  send in incomplete or incorrect applications are
  either
• rejected or have to send in additional
  information or clarifications. 
• How long does it take to process my application?
• The Board meets four times per year.
  Applications (completed in full) and postmarked
  by the
• deadline date for applications (noted on the
  calendar posted at www.nclmft.org) will be
  reviewed at
• the first board meeting scheduled after that
  date. Applications received after the noted
  deadline may
• be moved to the next available meeting date. Be
  sure to submit a complete application -- the best
• solution to avoid unnecessary delays in the
  application process.
• When will I receive notification of the Boards
  decision regarding my application?
• Notification is by mail only and is sent
  within 15 days after the scheduled board
  meetings. No phone notification. Refer to the
  calendar posted at www.nclmft.org for meeting and
  notification dates

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Frequently Asked Questions

• How should correspondence/applications be sent to
  the Licensure Board office?
• Send via regular mail. Certified mail can
  actually delay receipt of your materials as this
  requires staff to retrieve mail during regular
  post office hours only. If you want confirmation
  of delivery by the post office, you may wish to
  select priority mail with confirmation of
  delivery. For purposes of meeting deadline
  dates, we consider the postmarked date as
  sufficient for these purposes. In addition, if
  you include an email address, the board office
  will send an email verifying receipt of your
  application. Please allow 15 days from date of
  mailing for delivery and processing.
• If I have been convicted of a felony or a
  misdemeanor, will this stop me from obtaining a
  North Carolina license?
• This type of information will be reviewed on an
  individual basis.  We ask that you submit your
  application, fee and information regarding the
  occurrence.  Failure to disclose could be
  grounds for denial. The Board will review your
  file and make a decision at that time.  Please
  keep in mind that the Board takes into
  consideration the type of conviction, the age
  that you were when the incident occurred and the
  time that has elapsed since the conviction.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Why do I have to submit my Social Security Number
  on the application?
• Your social security number is classified as a
  private record. It is used as an individual
  identifier for our licensing database and for
  purposes of the child support enforcement or
  other government mandated purposes. It is not
  published. An application that does not include
  a social security number is incomplete and cannot
  be processed.
• Am I required to submit official transcripts or
  can I submit copies?
• The Board will not accept copies of transcripts
  as verification of educational credentials. 
  Official copies from your college or university
  which indicate the degree earned are required.
• If I choose to withdraw my application for any
  reason, will you refund the fees I paid?
• No.  Fees submitted with an application are
  processing fees and are not refundable.
• Once I submit my application, can I practice MFT
  until I get my notification of application
  approval?
• No, not unless you are in an exempt category as
  defined in
• NC 90-270.48A.  Exemptions. This statute may
  be viewed at www.nclmft.org. You and your
  employer must make the determination of any
  exemption.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• I have questions about reimbursement issues or
  locating jobs?
• The licensure board cannot assist with these
  questions. You may want to contact the state
  association (NCAMFT). Their website is
  www.ncamft.org or call 877862-2638.
• Is an intern in a private practice allowed to
  charge a fee for her services?  She is a MFT
  student.  If she is not allowed to charge a fee,
  may she receive donations? She will have an MFT
  approved supervisor.
• She cannot charge a fee nor accept donations. 
  See NC Statute 90-270.47(4).  Since she is not
  practicing under the Associate Designation which
  is what the Board recognizes and the practice of
  MFT definition references for a "fee, monetary or
  otherwise", if she accepts any fees or donations
  then it is a violation of the NC Statutes and
  thus prohibited.
• How do I notify the Board of a name or address
  change?
• All address and name changes must be IN WRITING.
  When requesting a name change you must submit a
  copy of a legal document (such as drivers
  license, certified marriage certificate, divorce
  decree).
• What is the difference between the NCAMFT and the
  NC MFT Licensure Board?
• The NC MFT Licensure Board is mandated by state
  law and deals with licensing issues.
• The NCAMFT is an association and membership is
  voluntary.

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RESOURCES

• WWW.NCLMFT.ORG (NC MFT Licensure)
• WWW.NCAMFT.ORG (NC MFT Association)
• WWW.AAMFT.ORG (American Association)
• WWW.AMFTRB.ORG (Regulatory Board)
• WWW.PROEXAM.ORG (Exam Service)