2026 -- H 7064

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LC003825

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS -- MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS

AND MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS

     Introduced By: Representatives Shallcross Smith, Bennett, Fogarty, McNamara, Perez,
Carson, Casimiro, Azzinaro, Donovan, and Fellela

     Date Introduced: January 14, 2026

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 5-63.2-10 and 5-63.2-15 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-63.2

entitled "Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists" are hereby amended to

read as follows:

     5-63.2-10. Qualifications of licensed marriage and family therapist associates and

licensed marriage and family therapists.

     (a) The department shall issue the appropriate license to applicants who meet the

qualifications of this section.

     (1) Prerequisites for licensure of a marriage and family therapist associate. A license

as a “marriage and family therapist associate” shall be issued to an applicant who meets the

following qualifications:

     (i) Is of good character;

     (ii) Has completed a graduate degree program specializing in marital and family therapy

from a college or university accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges,

or an equivalent regional accreditation agency;

     (iii) Has completed sixty (60) semester hours or ninety (90) quarter hours within his or her

graduate degree program specializing in marital and family therapy; and

     (iv) Has completed a minimum of twelve (12) semester hours or eighteen (18) quarter hours

of supervised practicum and a one-calendar year of supervised internship consisting of twenty (20)

hours per week, or its equivalent, with emphasis in marriage and family therapy supervised by the

department within the college or university granting the requisite degree or by an accredited

postgraduate clinical training program, approved by the commission on accreditation for marriage

and family therapy education recognized by the United States Department of Education, or

education and/or experience that is deemed equivalent by the board. Has completed a supervised

internship or practicum in marriage and family therapy as part of the master's or doctoral program

of study. The internship or practicum shall include a minimum of three hundred (300) hours of

direct client contact with individuals, family groups, couples, groups, public organizations, or

private organizations under the direction of an approved supervisor.

     (2) Prerequisites for licensure of a marriage and family therapist. A license as a

“marriage and family therapist” shall be issued to an applicant who meets the following

qualifications:

     (i) Has been awarded a master's degree and has had a minimum of two (2) years of relevant

postgraduate experience, including at least two one thousand five hundred (2,000) (1,500) hours

(the "total required hours") of direct client contact offering clinical or counseling or therapy

services with emphasis in marriage and family therapy, with at least one thousand four hundred

(1,400) of the total required hours earned by the applicant after the applicant has been subsequent

to being awarded a master’s degree or doctorate. A maximum of one hundred (100) hours of the

total required hours may be earned during a graduate degree program provided in § 5-63.2-

10(a)(1)(ii). A minimum of three hundred (300) hours of the total required hours must be spent with couples,

families, or groups of two (2) or more individuals; or

     (ii) Has been awarded a doctoral degree and has had a minimum of two (2) years of relevant

postgraduate experience, including at least one thousand (1,000) hours of direct client contact offering

clinical or counseling or therapy services with emphasis in marriage and family therapy and has completed a

marriage and family therapy doctoral program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage

and Family Therapy Education; and

     (ii)(iii) Has had a minimum of one hundred (100) hours of post-degree supervised case

work spread over two (2) years; provided, that the supervision was provided by a person who, at

the time of rendering the supervision, was recognized by the board as an approved supervisor; and

     (iii)(iv) Has passed to the satisfaction of the board an examination conducted by it to

determine the applicant’s qualifications for licensure as a marriage and family therapist or is

applying for licensure under the provisions of § 5-63.2-15.

     (b) A candidate shall be qualified for licensure as a marriage and family therapist associate,

or a marriage and family therapist upon the affirmative vote of at least four (4) members of the

board, two (2) of whom must be marriage and family therapists on the board.

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     5-63.2-15. Licensure by endorsement.

     (a) A license as a clinical mental health counselor or marriage and family therapist may be

issued, in the discretion of the board, without examination, to an applicant who is a clinical mental

health counselor where the applicant is licensed or certified in another state whose requirements

are equivalent to or exceed the requirements established pursuant to this chapter.

     (b) A license as a marriage and family therapist may be issued, without examination, to an

applicant who is a marriage and family therapist where the applicant is licensed in another state as

a marriage and family therapist and has been licensed as a marriage and family therapist in another

state for at least one year.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS -- MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS

AND MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS

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     This act would change the direct client contact hour requirements for applicants for

licensure of marriage and family therapist associate and applicants for licensure of marriage and

family therapist. The act would permit an applicant to receive a license as a marriage and family

therapist without examination when the applicant is licensed as such in another state for one year

or longer.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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