1. (1) Submission of a completed application on the forms prescribe by the Board (see 536-X-5 APPENDICES 2: FORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS); and submission of applicable fees for application and license prescribed by the Board (see 536-X-5 APPENCIES 1: FEES).
2. (2) Evidence that the applicant is of good moral character and has not and is not engaged in any practice or conduct that would make the applicant ineligible to receive a designation pursuant to the Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Act;
3. (3) Graduating from a regionally accredited educational institute with a master's or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy (or in an allied field with graduate level course work in marriage and family therapy) meets the Board course requirements. (see 536-X-5: BOARD COURSE REQUIREMENTS).

4. (4) Completion of an internship either during the qualifying degree or as a post-degree experience consisting of the following:

   1. (a) minimum of 12 months of the internship;
   2. (b) minimum of 100 supervision hours based on the ratio of one (1) supervision hours for every five (5) direct client contact hours completed concurrently; fifty (50) of these hours must be individual supervision. Group supervision is encouraged. A Board Approved Supervisor must provide the supervision;
   3. (c) minimum of five hundred (500) direct client contact hours obtained concurrently with the required supervision; two hundred fifty (250) of these direct client contact hours must be with couples or families physically present in the therapy room.
5. (5) MFT Associates are continuously practicing under supervision by an AAMFT Approved Supervisor, AAMFT Supervisor Candidate, ABEMFT Approved Supervisor, or ABEMFT Supervisor Candidate.
6. (6) It is the responsibility of the candidate and the supervisor to ensure that direct client contact hours and supervision hours are concurrent. This applies for hours toward the internship and post-degree requirements.
7. (7) Submission of a contract for supervision that must be approved by the Board (see 536-X-1-.01(11): Definition of Terms: Supervision).
8. (8) For an MFT Associate license to be renewed, the Associate must have completed the required Continuing Education Units during the previous  twenty-four (24) months. (see 536-X-6 REQUIRED RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL AND CONTINUING EDUCATION EXPERIENCE); and submission of applicable fees for license renewal prescribed by the Board (see 536-X-5: APPENDICES 1: FEES).

Author: The Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-17A-1 thru 34-17A-26.

Editor’s Note: As per certification filed March 21, 2005; effective April 25, 2005, original Rule 536-X-3-.02 (see below) and was repealed and previous Rule 536-X-3-.03 was renumbered to 536-X-3-.02. See history for original rule below: 536-X-3-.02 Requirements for Designation: Marriage and Family Therapy Associate (MFT Associate). Author: Connie J. Salts, Ph.D. Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-17A-1 thru 34-17A-26. History: New Rule: Filed November 15, 200; effective December 20, 2000. Repealed: Filed March 21, 2005; effective April 25, 2005. Chapter 536-X-2 was renumbered Chapter 536-X-3 as per certification filed July 10, 2006; effective August 14, 2006.

History: Filed: June 20, 2023;