- Marriage and Family Therapists

- Clinical Marriage and Family Therapists

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Marriage and Family Therapists

Q. If my program was not accredited by the Commission On Accreditation of Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), can the BSRB review my coursework to see if I qualify for a license, before I make application for license?
A. The BSRB does not review or approve coursework before an application has been submitted. Please review the educational requirements in K.A.R. 102-5-3 and/or visit with your academic dean.

Q. How do I apply for a temporary license?
A. There is not a separate application for a temporary license. Once the licensure application has been submitted and reviewed by the board you will be notified of your eligibility for a temporary license.

Q. Am I required to complete continuing education while I am temporarily licensed?
A. No. Continuing education is not required during the time you are temporarily licensed.

Q. Does the Academic Background form always need to be completed?
A. No, only if the program is not accredited by COAMFTE.

Q. Which Examination does the BSRB require for the Marriage and Family Therapy licensure? How often is the exam given? What is the pass rate?
A. The National Marriage and Family Therapy Examination is the exam which Kansas requires for licensure. The exam is given by Professional Examination Services (PES) and administered, via computer, at Thomson Prometric Testing Centers. The exam is offered 3 times a year during 3 week testing windows. The pass rate for the Marriage and Family Therapist license is 12 points below the criterion-referenced pass point statistically established by the examination service for each exam administered. The pass point changes with each exam.

Q. How do I get approved to sit for the National Marriage and Family Therapy Examination?
A. You must submit a licensure application to the Board office at least eight weeks prior to the testing window opening. (View test dates) Once the Board approves your application, you will be instructed on how to register for the exam. The exam is administered by PES not the BSRB.

Q. How long may the results of the National Marriage and Family Therapy Examination be used for licensing purposes in Kansas?
A. Indefinitely.

Q. What are the basic educational requirements to be eligible for a Marriage and Family Therapist?
A. The basic requirements are:

1. A master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from a program accredited by COAMFTE.
2. A master’s degree in marriage and family therapy and your coursework and program meet the requirements listed in K.A.R. 102-5-3
3. A master’s degree in a related field and your coursework and program meet the requirements listed in K.A.R. 102-5-3

Q. Does Kansas have reciprocity with any state?
A. No. Kansas does not have reciprocity with any one state. Kansas does have licensure through reciprocity, which can be met by one of the following:

1. The state in which you are currently licensed has substantially equivalent requirements to those for licensure in Kansas, or
2. You are currently licensed and in good standing and meet the following requirements:
a. Continuous licensure and practice as a marriage and family therapist for the last 5 years with the minimum required work experience hours as listed in K.A.R. 102-5-4b(b)(3)(A),
b. a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy.

Q. How do I know if specific ceu’s will be accepted for the renewal of my license?
A. At this time, continuing education programs, for marriage and family therapists, are not pre-approved by the BSRB. K.A.R. 102-5-10 states continuing education shall be oriented to the enhancement of marriage and family therapy practice, values, skills and knowledge.

Q. May I get an extension for the renewal of my Marriage and Family Therapy license?
A. Extensions are not granted for the renewal of a license. If you are unable to renew your license by the expiration date, you will be required to reinstate.

Clinical Marriage and Family Therapists

Q. How do I begin the process for clinical marriage and family therapy licensure in Kansas?
A. Once you are licensed as a marriage and family therapist you may submit a clinical supervision training plan. The training plan must be pre-approved by the BSRB. Link to MFT training plan

Q. Is it mandatory that a training plan be submitted prior to accruing hours toward clinical license?
A. Yes. If you are licensed and practicing in Kansas, a training plan must be submitted to, and approved by, the BSRB, before a person can count any accrued hours. The BSRB will not backdate any training plans. You will not be allowed to count any hours you accrue if you do not have an approved training plan on file with the BSRB.

Q. I have made some changes since I submitted my training plan. What do I need to do?
A. You must submit all changes in your training plan to the BSRB office within 45 days of the change. If you fail to do this you will loose the hours accrued after the change. Please see Please see K.A.R. 102-5-7a (h).

ALL changes to the training plan need to be submitted in WRITING to the BSRB office for approval.

Q. Is there a form for amending my training plan?
A. Yes. Please see the MFT forms section of our website.

Q. If I am working in another state and wish to also pursue licensure in Kansas, should I submit a training plan for approval?
A. No. The BSRB cannot approve a training plan for someone who is not licensed and practicing in Kansas.

Q. Will the supervision hours I have accrued in another state be accepted in Kansas?
A. The supervision and the experience hours accrued in another state will be reviewed and compared with the requirements for clinical licensure in Kansas. The hours and supervision will need to meet our requirements in order to be accepted. Please see K.A.R. 102-5-7a.

Q. Does Kansas require an AAMFT approved supervisor for post-graduate supervised experience?
A. No.

Q. Who is considered an appropriate supervisor for post-graduate supervised experience that takes place in Kansas?
A. The clinical supervisor shall meet one of the following:

1. The clinical supervisor shall be a clinical marriage and family therapist (LCMFT) who is licensed in Kansas and who has engaged in the independent practice of clinical marriage and family therapy, including the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders for at least 2 years beyond their licensure date.
2. If an LCMFT is not available, the clinical supervisor may be a Licensed Psychologist (LP), Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker (LSCSW), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), or a Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist (LCP). The qualifying individual shall have no less than two years of clinical practice beyond the qualifying licensure date.

Q. Who is considered an appropriate supervisor for post-graduate supervised experience that takes/took place outside of Kansas?
A. The clinical supervisor shall meet one of the following:

1. The clinical supervisor shall be a clinical marriage and family therapist who is registered or licensed in another jurisdiction and who has practiced as a clinical marriage and family therapist for 2 years beyond their licensure date.
2. If a licensed clinical marriage and family therapist is not available, the clinical supervisor may be a person who is qualified by educational coursework and degree for licensure as a clinical marriage and family therapist in Kansas and who has at least five years of postgraduate professional experience in clinical marriage and family therapy.
3. If a licensed clinical marriage and family therapist is not available, the clinical supervisor may be a person who is licensed at the graduate level to practice in one of the behavioral sciences, and whose authorized scope of practice permits the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. The qualifying individual shall not have had less than two years professional experience in the independent practice of clinical marriage and family therapy beyond the date of their licensure.

Q. How many hours of post-graduate experience and supervision are required, and when can an applicant start accumulating it?
A. The total amount to be completed over a minimum of 24 months is 4,000 hours of experience, including 1500 hours of direct client contact providing psychotherapy and assessments and 150 hours of supervision. The supervision shall be provided throughout the entirety of the postgraduate supervised professional experience with at least one hour of clinical supervision each week that the supervisee accrues at least 15 hours of direct client contact. Of the 150 required supervision hours, at least 50 hours must be individual, face-to-face supervision. The remaining 100 hours may be done in either group or individual supervision. There can be no more than 6 supervisees in the group. There must be at least two separate supervision sessions per month, at least one of which shall be one-on-one individual supervision. You may begin once your training plan has been approved by the BSRB. Please see K.A.R 102-5-7a

Q. Is there a minimum number of work experience hours that must be completed each week or month?
A. No. There is no mandatory number of hours that must be met weekly or monthly during supervision, except the two supervision sessions per month.

Q. May post-graduate experience requirements be obtained in less than 24 months (two years)?
A. No. The 4000 hours of post-graduate experience must be obtained in no less than 24 months from the date supervision begins.

Q. May applicants take more than twenty-four months to complete post-graduate supervised experience?
A. Yes. There is no maximum time limit for accruing post-graduate experience.

Q. Do the post-graduate supervision hours have to be completed before an application for a clinical license may be submitted?
A. Yes. All requirements, except taking and passing the examination, must be completed prior to submitting an application.

Q. Which exam does the BSRB require for licensure? How often is the examination given?
A. A. The National Marriage and Family Therapy Examination is the exam which Kansas requires for licensure. The exam is given by Professional Examination Services (PES) and administered, via computer, at Thomson Prometric Testing Centers. The exam is offered 3 times a year in 3 week testing windows. The pass rate for the clinical marriage and family therapist license is the criterion-referenced pass point statistically established by the examination service for each exam administered. The pass point changes with each exam.

Q. How do I get approved to sit for the National Marriage and Family Therapy Examination?
A. You must submit a licensure application to the Board office at least eight weeks prior to the testing window opening. (View test dates) Once the Board approves your application, you will be instructed on how to register for the exam. The exam is administered by PES not the BSRB.

Q. Does Kansas have reciprocity with any state?
A. No. Kansas does not have reciprocity with any one state. Kansas does have licensure through reciprocity, which can be met by one of the following:

1. The state in which you are currently licensed has substantially equivalent requirements to those for licensure in Kansas and at least three years clinical practice including the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders as listed in K.A.R. 102-5-4b(c)(2), or
2. You are currently licensed and in good standing and meet the following requirements:
c. Continuous licensure and practice as a clinical marriage and family therapist for the last 5 years with the minimum required work experience hours as listed in K.A.R. 102-5-4b(b)(3)(A),
d. at least three years clinical practice including the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders as listed in K.A.R. 102-5-4b(c)(2)
e. and a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy.

Q. Does Kansas require a Jurisprudence Examination for licensure?
A. No. At this time Kansas does not require applicants to pass a Jurisprudence examination.