HB 1909

Present law requires the board for professional counselors, marriage and family therapists and clinical pastoral therapist "board"" to license without examination a marriage and family therapist applicant that is licensed in another state. This bill requi res an applicant for a license without examination to submit (i) a completed application for licensure by endorsement, (ii) payment of application fees, (iii) documentation of all marriage and family therapist licenses the applicant has ever had and the s ta tus of each; (iv) successful completion of the Tennessee jurisprudence exam, (v) proof that the applicant is at least 18, and (vi) evidence of highly regarded personal character and professional ethics. EXEMPTIONS TO LICENSING AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS Present law clarifies that licensing and other requirements do not apply to the activities and services of a student intern or trainee in marriage and family therapy who is pursuing a program of studies in marriage and family therapy at an accredited ins titution of higher learning, as long as the activities are performed under supervision. This bill also exempts persons who are under a supervisory arrangement approved by the board and who is working in a community mental health center, residential or in pa tient facility, intensive outpatient facility, or federally qualified health center. APPROVED SUPERVISORS Present law authorizes the board to issue an associate license to a marriage and family therapist applicant who has completed the academic coursework and training required for the license sought. Such a license authorizes the applicant to engage in the practice of marriage and family therapy under the supervision of an approved supervisor. An ""approved supervisor"" means a licensed marriage and family therapist or any other licensed mental health professional who is an American Association for Marriage an d Family Therapy-approved supervisor; a supervisor-in-training under supervision mentoring with a current American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy-approved supervisor; or a board-approved supervisor. This bill authorizes an approved supervisor to use and indicate a designation using the abbreviation ""LMFT-S."" However, supervisors in training may not use such a designation. As used in this bill, a ""board-approved marriage and family supervisor"" mean s a person who gives to the board evidence of at least five years of full-time experience as an independently licensed marriage and family therapist with at least the last two years completed in this state; and at least 30 hours of instruction specific to t he practice of marriage and family therapist supervision through a board-approved continuing education provider. In order to maintain board-approved status, an approved supervisor must complete at least six hours of supervision continuing education every two years, in addition to any continuing education requirements for maintaining licensure. At least three such hours must be relevant to ethics and state laws governing the practice of marriage and family therapy. ON MARCH 19, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2585, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 authorizes a student intern or trainee in marriage and family therapy who is pursuing a program of studies in marriage and family therapy at an accredited institution of higher learning to use the titles ""marriage and family therapy intern"", ""family therapy intern"", or ""student therapist"" for purposes of performing activities under supervision and as part of a supervised program of study. This amendment authorizes a person who is under a supervisory arrangement recognized and approved by the board, working toward independent licensure, and who is working in a community mental health center, residential or inpatient facility, intensive out patient facility, or federally qualified health center to use the title ""prelicensed marriage and family therapist"" or a postgraduate degree designation. This amendment specifies that, in order to qualify as an approved supervisor, a licensed mental health professional must be independently licensed and an American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy-approved supervisor; a supervisor-in-training u nder supervision mentoring with a current American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy-approved supervisor; or a board-approved supervisor. This amendment authorizes an approved supervisor to use and indicate such designation utilizing the abbrev ia tion ""LMFT-S"". A supervisor in training shall not use such designation. This amendment replaces the term ""board-approved marriage and family supervisor"" with ""board-approved supervisor"" and adds that a board-approved supervisor must complete six hours of supervision continuing education every two years, at least three hours of which must be relevant to ethics and laws of this state that govern the practice of marriage and family therapy. The supervision hours must be in addition to any other continuing education requirements for maintaining licensure. ON MARCH 30, 2026, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 2585 FOR HOUSE BILL 1909, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2585, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes:  Provides that an ""approved supervisor"" means (i) a licensed marriage and family therapist, or other licensed mental health professional, who is independently licensed and an American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy-approved supervisor; (ii) a supervisor-in-training who is under the supervision of, and receiving mentoring from, a current American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy-approved supervisor; or (iii) a board-approved supervisor.  Changes the effective date for Sections 1-15, 17-19, and 21-31 of the bill from July 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027. Such provisions apply to actions occurring, and licensure and license renewal applications submitted, on or after that date. ON APRIL 2, 2026, THE SENATE CONCURRED IN HOUSE AMENDMENT #1."