HB216 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Thomas JacksonRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Marriage and Family Therapy, Board of Examiners in, board authorized to establish training and supervisory designations and to revoke, deny, or suspend designations, Secs. 34-17A-3, 34-17A-5, 34-17A-10, 34-17A-14 am'd.

Summary

HB216 lets the Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy create training designations for associates and interns and sets supervision and enforcement rules to align them with licensed therapists.

What This Bill Does

The bill authorizes the board to establish two training designations—marriage and family therapy associate and marriage and family therapy intern—and related supervisory roles. It requires board-approved supervision and outlines a two-year postgraduate supervision requirement for associates before licensure. It clarifies exemptions for certain professionals and educational settings, and it sets licensure standards (a master’s or doctoral degree plus two years of supervised experience). It strengthens the board’s ability to discipline unlicensed practice, misrepresentation, and other violations through fines, cease-and-desist orders, and enforcement actions.

Who It Affects

• Marriage and Family Therapy interns and associates, who will be recognized as trainees under board oversight and must complete supervised training to qualify for licensure.
• Licensed professionals and institutions (e.g., psychologists, professional counselors, licensed social workers, nurses, ministers, educational institutions) whose activities may be exempt from licensure or subject to specific supervision or advertising rules, and the general public who rely on board enforcement to prevent unlicensed practice.

Key Provisions

• The board may establish training designations for marriage and family therapy associates and interns, plus supervisory designations for oversight.
• Definitions are updated to include MFT associates and interns, and to specify supervision and practice boundaries for trainees under board-approved oversight.
• Exemptions from licensure are maintained or clarified for certain professionals and educational institutions, with conditions that they practice within their licensed scope.
• Licensure requirements specify a master’s or doctoral degree in MFT (or allied field with relevant MFT coursework) and two years of supervised experience as an associate.
• The board can deny, revoke, or suspend licenses, or discipline licensees for crimes, ethical violations, fraud, or other just causes, and may impose fines up to $1,000 per violation, issue cease-and-desist orders, and pursue court enforcement.
• Procedural provisions ensure notice and hearings for disciplinary actions, with expedited suspension up to one year for certain criminal convictions, and public reporting of disciplinary actions.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Marriage and Family Therapy, Board of Examiners in