(1) All applicants for licensure as marriage and family therapists shall:

1. (a) submit an application on a form provided by the division;
2. (b) pay a fee determined by the department under Section 63J-1-504;

3. (c) produce certified transcripts evidencing completion of a masters or doctorate degree in marriage and family therapy from:

   1. (i) a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education; or
   2. (ii) an accredited institution meeting criteria for approval established by rule under Section 58-1-203;

4. (d) if required under federal law for any licensee as a marriage and family therapist to qualify as an eligible professional under CMS rules for Medicare payment, document completion of:

   1. (i) not less than 3,000 hours of clinical supervision, which includes hours accrued under Subsection (2)(e); or
   2. (ii) not less than two years of clinical supervision;

5. (e) document successful completion of not less than 1,200 direct client care hours:

   1. (i) obtained after completion of the education requirements under Subsection (1)(c);
   2. (ii) subject to Subsection (1)(e)(iii), not less than 100 of which are direct clinical supervision hours under the supervision of a clinical supervisor obtained after completion of the education requirements under Subsection (1)(c);
   3. (iii) not less than 25 of which are direct observation hours; and
   4. (iv) not more than 25 of which are group supervision hours concurrently with more than one other applicant for licensure;
6. (f) document successful completion of not less than two hours of training in suicide prevention obtained after completion of the education requirements under Subsection (1)(c) via a course that the division designates as approved;

7. (g)

   1. (i) pass the examination requirement established by division rule under Section 58-1-203; or

   2. (ii) satisfy the following requirements:

      1. (A) document at least one examination attempt that did not result in a passing score;
      2. (B) document successful completion of not less than 500 additional direct client care hours, not less than 25 of which are direct clinical supervision hours, and not less than five of which are direct observation hours by a mental health therapist or supervisor;
      3. (C) submit to the division a recommendation letter from the applicant's direct clinical supervisor; and
      4. (D) submit to the division a recommendation letter from another licensed mental health therapist who has directly observed the applicant's direct client care hours and who is not the applicant's direct clinical supervisor; and
8. (h) consent to a criminal background check in accordance with Section 58-60-103.1 and any requirements established by division rule made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.