1. (1) Alternative route one. An applicant may qualify for a license as a marriage and family therapist through meeting the following alternative requirements. The applicant shall:

   1. (i) file an application for licensure by January 1, 2006 and pay the fee for the initial license and the fee for the first registration period, as prescribed in section 8403(3)(g) of the Education Law;
   2. (ii) be of good moral character as determined by the department;
   3. (iii) be at least 21 years of age;

   4. (iv) have completed a master's or higher degree program in marriage and family therapy or in a related field such as social work, psychology, or mental health counseling that is registered by the department pursuant to Part 52 of this Title, or is an equivalent program as determined by the department, provided that the program includes:

      1. (a) coursework that contains curricular content in the study of:

         1. (1) human development, including individual, child and family development;
         2. (2) marriage and family therapy clinical knowledge;
         3. (3) marriage and family therapy theoretical knowledge;
         4. (4) research; and
      2. (b) a supervised practicum in marriage and family therapy; and
   5. (v) after completing the master's or higher degree program prescribed in subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph, have engaged in the practice of marriage and family therapy, as defined in section 8403(1) of the Education Law, for at least 1,500 clock hours.

2. (2) Alternative route two. An applicant may qualify for a license as a marriage and family therapist through meeting the following alternative requirements. The applicant shall:

   1. (i) file an application for licensure by January 1, 2006 and pay the fee for the initial license and the fee for the first registration period, as prescribed in section 8403(3)(g) of the Education Law;
   2. (ii) be of good moral character as determined by the department;
   3. (iii) be at least 21 years of age;
   4. (iv) have completed a baccalaureate or higher degree program in marriage and family therapy or in a related field such as social work, psychology, or mental health counseling, that is registered by the department pursuant to Part 52 of this Title, or is an equivalent program as determined by the department, provided that the applicant demonstrates the completion of coursework within such a program that contains curricular content in the study of human development, marital and family therapy, and research;
   5. (v) after completing the baccalaureate or higher degree program prescribed in subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph, have engaged in the practice of marriage and family therapy, as defined in section 8403(1) of the Education Law, on a full-time basis for seven years of the immediately preceding 10 years prior to application for licensure. For purposes of this subparagraph, practice on a full-time basis shall mean 960 clock hours in the practice of marriage and family therapy, earned over a 52-week period;
   6. (vi) have submitted certifications from three individuals endorsing the applicants good professional ethics and clinical competence to practice of marriage and family therapy. Such certifications shall be submitted on forms prescribed by the department. The individual making the certification shall meet the qualifications for supervisors of the experience requirement, as prescribed in section 79-10.3(d)(2) of this Subpart, except that such individual may be certified or registered by a national certifying or registering body for marriage and family therapists instead of being specifically certified or registered as a clinical supervisor by such body; and

   7. (vii) have met one of the following three requirements:

      1. (a) after completing the baccalaureate or higher degree program prescribed in subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph, have three years of supervised experience in the practice of marriage and family therapy, which may be part of the seven years of experience required in subparagraph (v) of this paragraph. The supervisor of the experience must meet the qualifications for a supervisor of required experience prescribed in section 79-10.3(d)(2) of this Subpart; or
      2. (b) be certified or registered by a national certifying or registering body for marriage and family therapy, acceptable to the department. To be acceptable to the department, the national certifying or registering body must be recognized nationwide as an organization that certifies or registers marriage and family therapists throughout the United States based upon a review of their qualifications to practice marriage and family therapy and must have adequate standards for the review of the applicant's qualifications for practicing marriage and family therapy, as determined by the department. Such standards must include standards for the review of the applicant's education and experience for practicing marriage and family therapy and may include an examination requirement; or

      3. (c) complete an acceptable post-baccalaureate program in marriage and family therapy or a related field from an institute chartered by the Board of Regents, or an institution authorized by its charter or by the Board of Regents to confer degrees in New York State, or the equivalent as determined by the department, provided that such program contains curricular content in the study of:

         1. (1) human development, including individual, child and family development;
         2. (2) marriage and family therapy clinical knowledge;
         3. (3) marriage and family therapy theoretical knowledge; and
         4. (4) research.

3. (3) Alternative route three. An applicant may qualify for a license as a marriage and family therapist through meeting the following alternative requirements. The applicant shall:

   1. (i) file an application for licensure by January 1, 2006 and pay the fee for the initial license and the fee for the first registration period, as prescribed in section 8403(3)(g) of the Education Law;
   2. (ii) be of good moral character as determined by the department;
   3. (iii) be at least 21 years of age;
   4. (iv) have completed a baccalaureate or higher degree program in marriage and family therapy or in a related field such as social work, psychology, or mental health counseling, that is registered by the department pursuant to Part 52 of this Title, or is an equivalent program as determined by the department, provided that the applicant demonstrates the completion of coursework within such a program that contains curricular content in the study of human development, marital and family therapy, and research;
   5. (v) after completing the baccalaureate or higher degree program prescribed in subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph, have engaged in the practice of marriage and family therapy, as defined in section 8403(1) of the Education Law, on a full-time basis for 10 years of the immediately preceding 15 years prior to application for licensure. For purposes of this subparagraph, practice on a full-time basis shall mean 960 clock hours in the practice of marriage and family therapy, earned over a 52-week period; and
   6. (vi) have submitted certifications from five individuals endorsing the applicants good professional ethics and clinical competence to practice marriage and family therapy. Such certifications shall be submitted on forms prescribed by the department. The individual making the certification shall meet the qualifications for supervisors of the experience requirement, as prescribed in section 79-10.3(d)(2) of this Subpart, except that such individual may be certified or registered by a national certifying or registering body for marriage and family therapists instead of being specifically certified or registered as a clinical supervisor by such body.

4. (b) In accordance with section 8411(2)(b) of the Education Law, an applicant who meets all requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist as prescribed in section 8403(3) of the Education Law, except for the examination requirement, may qualify for a license as a marriage and family therapist through meeting the requirements of this subdivision, provided that the applicant files the licensure application with the department and pays the required fees by January 1, 2006 and meets all of the other requirements on or before December 31, 2006. The applicant shall:

   1. (1) file an application for licensure by January 1, 2006 and pay the fee for the initial license and the fee for the first registration period, as prescribed in section 8403(3)(g) of the Education Law;
   2. (2) meet all requirements for the license as a marriage and family therapist prescribed in section 8403(3) of the Education Law, except the examination requirement; and

   3. (3) either:

      1. (i) have certification or registration by a national certifying or registering body for marriage and family therapists, acceptable to the department. To be acceptable to the department, the national certifying or registering body must be recognized nationwide as an organization that certifies or registers marriage and family therapists throughout the United States based upon a review of their qualifications to practice marriage and family therapy and must have adequate standards for the review of the applicant's qualifications for practicing marriage and family therapy, as determined by the department. Such standards must include standards for the review of the applicant's education and experience for practicing marriage and family therapy and may include an examination requirement. For use under this subdivision, such certification or registration need not be current but shall not have been revoked for misconduct and/or unethical activities. For documentation of the applicant's certification or registration status to be sufficient, the national certifying or registering body must submit documentation verifying the applicant's certification or registration status directly to the department; or
      2. (ii) if there is no national certifying or registering body for marriage and family therapists acceptable to the department as prescribed in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, have engaged in the practice of marriage and family therapy, as defined in section 8403(1) of the Education Law, on a full-time basis for five years of the immediately preceding eight years prior to application for licensure. For purposes of this subparagraph, practice on a full-time basis shall mean 960 clock hours in the practice of marriage and family therapy, earned over a 52-week period.

(a) Alternative requirements.

In accordance with section 8411(2)(a) of the Education Law, an applicant who does not meet the requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist as prescribed in section 8403(3) of the Education Law, may qualify for a license as a marriage and family therapist through meeting the alternative requirements prescribed in either paragraph (1), (2) or (3) of this subdivision, provided that the applicant files the licensure application with the department and pays the required fees by January 1, 2006 and meets all of the other requirements on or before December 31, 2006.