1.

Education - Applicants must have a masters or doctoral degree from an accredited college approved by the Board and a minimum of 60 graduate credits for MA degree holders or 90 graduate credits for doctoral degree holders.  At least 45 credit hours in the 6 core areas as follows:

(A)

Three courses in the Analysis of Family Systems, one course in each of the following:

(1)

A Supervised Clinical Practice that includes at least 60 hours of approved supervision and 300 hours of face-to-face client contact with couples, families and individuals, at least 100 hours of which are relational therapy;

(2)

Normal and Abnormal Personality Development which includes individual development across the life span and the family cycle, and

(3)

Psychopathology with an emphasis on standard diagnostic manuals, as well as family systems models.

(B)

Four courses in Family Therapy; Theory and Techniques

(1)

One course in Diagnosis and Treatment of Mental and Emotional Disorders in Family Systems; and

(2)

A comprehensive survey course with a substantive overview of the extant Major Models of Family Therapy, and

(3)

Two additional courses which focus on one or several marriage and family therapy models, or three separate courses each of which focuses on one or several marriage and family therapy models.

(C)

Courses in Couples Therapy Theory and Techniques as follows:

(1)

A comprehensive survey of the extant, major models of couples therapy;

(2)

An intensive study of at least three different models; or

(3)

Three separate courses, each of which addresses a separate couples model;

(D)

One course covering gender and ethnicity as they relate to marriage and family theory and practice, or two separate courses with one focusing on gender issues and the other one on ethnicity;

(E)

One course covering Sexual Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy, including sexual normality, sexual dysfunction, and sexual orientation; and

(F)

One course in Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy.

2.

Examination - Pass the Examination in Marital and Family Therapy developed by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards and the Maryland law and regulations under Title 17 and COMAR 10.58.

GRADUATE MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPIST

A Licensed Graduate Marriage and Family Therapist may practice graduate marriage and family therapy for 2 years under the supervision of an approved marriage and family therapy supervisor while fulfilling the 2-years post graduate supervised clinical experience required for the LCMFT.

An Approved Marriage and Family Therapy Supervisor is one of the following:

•

An AAMFT approved counselor

•

An AAMFT supervisor-in-training

•

A Maryland licensed clinical marriage and family therapist or

•

A mental health care provider, licensed in Maryland, who documents:

(a)

Five or more years of clinical experience working with couples and families and,

(b)

Completion of a graduate level course in marriage and family supervision and,

(c)

Approved by the Board.