Section 17-7706. WAIVER OF EXAMINATION AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

 

7706.1The Board shall waive the examination and education requirements of this chapter for applicants licensed in an allied field who:

 

(a)Hold at least a Master's degree in psychology, social work, psychiatry, professional counseling, or other allied field from an institution of higher education which was accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education or the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation, or its successor;

 

(b)Prove to the satisfaction of the Board that the applicant has completed at least twenty-four (24) hours of family systems theory training with such training being achieved by:

 

(1)Attending an accredited college course in family systems theory for one (1) semester; or

 

(2)Attending Board-approved workshops and seminars; or

 

(3)Being under the immediate supervision of a Board-approved marriage and family therapist while performing the functions of a marriage and family therapist in face-to-face contact with clients for twenty-four (24) hours;

 

(c)Submit a sworn statement attesting to the fact that the applicant has been performing the functions of a marriage and family therapist, as defined in section 7799, with at least seven hundred and fifty (750) hours of face-to-face contact with clients per year for at least two (2) years immediately preceding March 1, 2007 and which shall include the:

 

(i)Details of the nature of the practice;

 

(ii)Time period of practice;

 

(iii)Name(s) of supervisor(s) or professional colleagues, as applicable; and

 

(iv)Place(s) where the applicant has performed the functions of a marriage and family therapist;

 

(d)Submit two (2) letters of recommendation with one from an immediate supervisor who is currently supervising, or has supervised the applicant's work in marriage and family therapy, and one from a professional colleague, with both letters attesting to the fact that the applicant has been practicing as a marriage and family therapist; and

 

(e)Apply for licensure within two (2) years after July 1, 2007.

 

7706.2Pursuant to section 7706.1, an applicant for licensure who has been in an independent, private practice full time or substantially full time continuously since March 1, 2005 may substitute two (2) letters of recommendation from professional colleagues in an allied field or in marriage and family therapy in lieu of a letter of recommendation from a supervisor.

 

7706.3The Board shall waive the examination and education requirements of this chapter for an applicant unlicensed in an allied field in the District of Columbia who:

 

(a)Holds at least a master's degree in psychology, social work, psychiatry, professional counseling, or other allied field from an institution of higher education which was accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education or the council on Postsecondary Accreditation or its successor, and can prove to the satisfaction of the Board that the applicant has been performing the functions of a marriage and family therapist, as defined in section 7799 with at least five hundred (500) hours per year of face-to-face contact with clients for at least five (5) years immediately preceding March 1, 2007, and

 

(b)Applies for licensure within two (2) years after July 1, 2007.

 

7706.4An applicant unlicensed in an allied field in the District of Columbia shall submit a sworn statement that the applicant has practiced as a marriage and family therapist during the applicable time period through March 1, 2007 including the details of the nature of the practice, time period, name(s) of supervisor(s) and place(s) where the applicant has performed the functions of a marriage and family therapist.

 

7706.5In addition to the requirements of section 7706.3 and section 7706.4, an applicant unlicensed in an allied field shall submit two (2) letters of recommendation with one from an immediate supervisor who is currently supervising, or has supervised the applicant's work in marriage and family therapy, and one (1) from a professional colleague, with both letters attesting to the fact that the applicant has been practicing as a marriage and family therapist.

 

7706.6An applicant unlicensed in an allied field in the District of Columbia who has been in an independent, private practice full time or substantially full time continuously since March 1, 2002 may substitute two (2) letters of recommendation from professional colleagues in an allied field or in marriage and family therapy in lieu of a letter of recommendation from a supervisor.

 

source

As amended by Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 7845 (September 29, 2006); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 54 DCR 8247 (August 24, 2007).