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No. One hundred percent of the Board’s operating revenue comes from fees paid by its licensees, including applications and annual renewal fees. The Board does not receive any of the fees paid for taking the National MFT Exam.
No. the Board is an independent agency that regulates the practice of marriage and family therapy on behalf of the state of North Carolina.
Board Members are appointed by the Governor of North Carolina. Four board members shall be practicing marriage and family therapists who are licensed in the state at the time of their appointment. Three members shall be representatives of the general public who have no direct affiliation with the practice of marriage and family therapy.
Board members may serve up to two consecutive four-year terms.
The Board meets four times per year. Generally meetings are held in February, April/May, August, October/November. Refer to the News section of this website for upcoming meeting dates.
Yes, though certain portion of meetings or hearings may be closed. For example, discussion of investigative matters or pending complaints are closed to the public.
The Board does not maintain a public street address location. Federal Express, UPS, etc. packages are not an option. You can use the U.S. Post Office Express Mail option. However, this is not necessary. Mail is considered received based on the postmarked date. Mail processing can take anywhere from 7-10 days from the date of receipt. Express mail does not ensure a faster response. Please use regular mail or priority mail. If you want confirmation of delivery the post office has that option available. Certified mail is discouraged. The post office often has long lines of customers. Retriving certified mail results in limited licensure board staff resources being allocated to standing in line instead of processing requests.
NC MFT Licensure Board
PO Box 37669
Raleigh, NC 27627
Persons or entities who require a copy of a public record (disciplinary action) regarding a licensee should send their request to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). State your name, company, if applicable, name of licensee and that you are requesting a copy of any disciplinary action materials that are public records.
One CEU is defined as 10 contact hours. CEUs may be expressed in tenths (i.e. 6 contact hours equates to .6 CEU or .6 CEU equates to 6 contact hours). Basically, if a class certificate or transcript states credit as a CEU, then move the decimal point one space to the right to calculate the number of contact hours.
There are a number of workshops and study materials available. You may want to try an internet search for these. The Board does not endorse any preparatory manuals or programs.
The only exam accepted and recognized for NC MFT Licensure purposes is the National MFT Exam.
Once approved by the NC MFT Licensure Board to take the exam, you may take the exam whenever it is offered provided you register directly with the exam service by the published deadline. NC approved exam applicants receive an exam registration packet upon the initial approval of their exam application.Subsequent or replacement packets may be requested for a fee of $10. The order form for the packet is under the forms section of this website. Please order in time to meet published deadlines. The exam is offered three times/periods per year.
Yes, once you have completed the degree hours. Refer to the National MFT Examination Application for more information.
The Board office makes every effort to respond as quickly as possible. Emails are generally answered within two business days from the date of receipt unless staff is out of the office. If staff will be unavailable for more than two business days, an automated email reply is generated or you may check the events section of this website (click on the ‘Home’ tab) which will list any office closed dates.
The NC MFT Board has adopted the AAMFT Code of Ethics. You can review the code at http://www.aamft.org.
Copies of your file are not available. Submitted materials become the property of the NC MFT Licensure Board and cannot be returned to the applicant or sent to other licensure boards. It is the applicant’s responsibility to maintain copies of all submitted information.
You should contact the LPC Board for questions about LPC licensure.
Contact the LPC Board via http://www.ncblpc.org.
For questions about reimbursement issues, contact your state association - http://www.ncamft.org.
Upon receipt of the PLLC/PC Application and $50 fee (download from the Forms section of this site), the NC MFT Licensure Board will issue a certificate verifying your license is in good standing. Be sure to read the instructions included with the application. Note: It may take up to 30 days for processing your application. This certificate will be required by the NC Secretary of State’s office. However, the Board cannot offer legal advice or opinions on any particular filing. You should consult your attorney for assistance with the filing process.
MFTs have both a legal and ethical obligation to retain client records. The Board, therefore, recognizes the necessity and importance of a licensee’s proper maintenance, retention, and disposition of clientl records. The following guidelines are offered to assist licensees in meeting their ethical and legal obligations:
•State and federal laws require that records be kept for a minimum length of time including but not limited to:
a.Medicare and Medicaid Investigations (up to 7 years);
b.HIPAA (up to 6 years);
c. Except for minor clients, five years after the date of the last session
d. Minor clients - 5 years after the age of consent was or would have been reached
All name changes must be in writing and include name, license number, and a copy of a legal document (driver’s license, marriage certificate, etc.) must be included.
* Mail your information to NC MFT Licensure Board, PO Box 37669, Raleigh, NC 27627
* Email your request to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and include an attachment of a legal document (.pdf files only)
* Fax your request to 919-336-5156 and include a copy of the legal document. Note: do not fax driver’s license copy
All address changes must be in writing and include name, license number, and the old address and new address.
* Mail your information to NC MFT Licensure Board, PO Box 37669, Raleigh, NC 27627
* Email your request to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
* Fax your request to 919-336-5156
No. The AAMFT and NCAMFT are professional associations, while the NC MFT Licensure Board is the regulatory Board governing the practice of marriage and family therapy in North Carolina.
While association membership can offer value to its members, membership in AAMFT or NCAMFT has no bearing on eligibility for licensure. Licensure in NC is based on NC Statutes. Associations are voluntary organizations, not mandated by law.
Direct client contact is defined as face-to-face (therapist and client) therapy with in individuals, couples, families, or groups from a systemic perspective and includes relational hours. Direct client contact must:
(1) Relate to client treatment plans;
(2) Be goal directed; and
(3) Assist client to affect change in cognition, affect and behavior.
(b) Assessments (intake and otherwise) may be counted up to 250 hours of direct client contact. Assessment is a clinical encounter that involves gathering of current and historical data from a client that is then used to determine what type of therapeutic service is most appropriate. If the individual who conducted the assessment does not provide the therapeutic service, it is considered an assessment hour only.
(c) Client psycho-education may be counted up to 250 hours direct client contact. Psycho-education refers to a treatment approach that provides education for individuals and families in assistance with emotional, mental, social and relational disturbances.
(d) The following are not direct client contact and may not be counted:
(1) Observing therapy without actively participating in follow-up therapy at some point during immediately following the session;
(2) Record keeping;
(3) Administrative activities;
(4) Supervision; and
(5) Client contact while not receiving supervision.
Send those questions, in writing, via email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). The Board does not have staffing resources to provide individual telephone consultation regarding the application process and requirements. In addition, written responses help ensure there is no misunderstanding of the requirements.
Please follow the instructions on the application form. With the exception of the transcript and Verification of Degree And/Or Major (part of National MFT Exam application only) ALL materials should be sent to the Board office in one, complete package. Do not have professional endorsements, etc. sent separately. Failure to follow instructions can delay processing and review of your file.
All applicants must meet the current NC requirements including passing the National MFT Exam as the first step in the process toward NC MFT licensure. Refer to the licensing section of this site. California licensees may want access the link entitled California Licensing Perspective under the Professional Resources section of this site.
They will count insofar as having met the coursework requirement of 9 semester hours IF they are listed on your transcript. However, they will not count toward the licensure requirement. You will need to earn 1500 clinical and 200 supervision hours post-degree under the supervision of an AAMFT Approved Supervisor.
No, only complete applications are reviewed. The applications list the coursework requirements. If you have a related mental health degree (see the definitions section under Professional Resource section of this site), or a MFT degree you may apply to first take the exam and then for the LMFT or LMFTA once you pass the National MFT Exam. If upon review of your application, it is determined by the Board that there are course deficiencies you can take additional coursework to remedy any deficiencies.
A total of 1500 clinical hours wth 200 approved supervision hours is the minimum requirement. Up to 500 clinical hours and any amount of approved supervision earned while in your qualifying degree program may be counted toward the licensure requirement. The remaining 1000 clinical hours must be acquired, under approved supervision (AAMFT Approved Supervisor), post licensure (LMFTA). A minimum of 25 approved supervision hours must be acquired post degree, regardless of the number of hours earned prior to completion of your degree. In other words, even if you earned 200 supervision hours during your degree program, you would still need 25 more post degree.
For hours to count toward the minimum of 1500 clinical and 200 supervision hours, the hours must be acquired under the direction of an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. Locate supervisors in the directory at http://www.aamft.org.
The first step in the process is to take and pass the National MFT Exam. You will also want to read the document Practicing MFT in NC which is located under the forms section of this site.
No evaluation of your credentials can take place until an application and supporting documentation is received. If your clinical and supervision hours were not under an AAMFT Approved Supervisor they may not count toward licensure requirements. Clinical and supervision hours must be reported on NC approved forms which are part of the application packet.
NC recognizes AAMFT Approved Supervisors. Go to http://www.aamft.org to find information on becoming an approved supervisor.
You will have to take enough courses in the required coursework categories to meet the minimum semester hour requirements. Taking the same course twice will not suffice. The conversion ratio is listed on the licensure application. Generally, one quarter hour equals .67 semester hours.
As the university program director or instructor responsible for the practicums/internships (if they are an AAMFT Approved Supervisor) to verify your work hours. However, you should first try to locate the original supervisor.
The Board cannot provide a pre-evaluation of your coursework. However, you should refer to the categories listed on the application. Most of the coursework categories have a brief synopsis of the content requirements. Including course syllabi and/or course catalog descriptions to substantiate the courses you list will assist the Board during the review process and help ensure there is not a deferral of your application for more information. You may wish to request assistance from your university in making the determination.
The LMFTA is availablefor a period of three years during which time the remaining clinical and supervision hours must be acquired. Beginning July 1, 2011 annual renewal will be required. The first renewal reporting will begin for LMFTAs issued prior to July 1, 2011. Reporting of continuing education hours and the renewal fee of $100 will be due by July 1, 2012 for the period of July 1, 2011 - July 1, 2012 in order to keep the license valid until July 1, 2013. If an LMFTA transitions to LMFT prior to July 1 of the required renewal date then they do not renew the LMFTA.
The LMFT must be renewed on an annual basis.
The first renewal is due by July 1 after the first full year of licensure and then must be renewed each year by July 1. Refer to the license renewal section of this site for more information.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (LMFTA)
LMFTs have met the academic, educational and experience requirements for full licensure and is authorized to practice without supervision. LMFTAs are provisionally licensed.
After successfully completing the academic requirements and passing the National MFT Examination, you may apply as an LMFTA in order to complete the required experience and supervision requirements (1500 clinical and 200 supervision hours) under approved supervision, defined as supervision under the direction of an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. A supervision agreement with an approved supervisor must be submitted as part of the application packet. LMFTAs are required to remain under supervision and report quarterly until converting to LMFT. Do not apply for the LMFTA until your qualifying degree has been posted on your transcript and you have passed or taken the National MFT Exam. Transcripts without the degree posted will not be accepted. If you previously submitted an exam application in NC and the transcript on file verifies degree conferment, you do not have to submit a new transcript. The application fee is $200. Once you have completed the remaining clinical and supervision hours, you may apply for full licensure (LMFT). The fee for converting/upgrading to LMFT if you are a NC LMFTA is $100. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant. If an application is returned to the applicant a second time as incomplete, the Board may impose an additional $10 processing fee. If you have not passed the National MFT Examination, refer to the examination requirements and apply to take the exam. Download and submit the National MFT Exam application. Passing the examination does not authorize you to practice MFT or use the title of LMFTA in NC until the Board has approved your full application for licensure.
Each application for licensure is reviewed by the Board on an individual basis. There are no agreements or automatic reciprocity arrangements with any other state.
If you are requesting that the NC board consider you for licensure based on licensure as an MFT in another jurisdiction you may be eligible IF you have been a licensed MFT in good standing for the five previous, continuous years (in a state recognized by the Board as having equivalent academic and experience requirements) prior to submitting the designated application to NC and upon receiving required documentation that you have passed the National MFT examination. If you have not met this requirement, you should apply to take the National MFT Examination and then for either LMFTA (if your supervision was not under an AAMFT Approved Supervisor) or LMFT. Download and submit the National MFT Exam application. Passing the examination does not authorize you to practice MFT or use the title of LMFT in NC until the Board has approved your full application for licensure.
The reciprocity application fee is $200. Incomplete or ineligible applications will be returned to the applicant. If an application is returned to the applicant a second time as incomplete, the Board may impose an additional $10 processing fee.
If you have met the requirements with the exception of passing the National MFT Examination, refer to the National MFT Examination application and first apply to take the exam. Once you have passed the National MFT exam, you should then submit your application for licensure via reciprocity if you have been a licensed MFT for the five, previous, continuous years as noted above.
Go to the forms section of this website and read the document entitled Practicing Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) in North Carolina. There are five application options. Choose the one that describes your current status. Options are:
National MFT Examination, LMFTA, LMFTA to LMFT (Convert/Upgrade NC LMFTA to NC LMFT), LMFT, LMFT Via Reciprocity
All transcripts must be sent DIRECTLY from the educational institution. Only sealed, properly submitted transcripts will be accepted. Electonic transcripts are not accepted.
Verification of licensure can be done by using the verification database at this website. There is no charge for web verification. Information provided includes name, license number, date of original licensure, expiration date and whether there are any disciplinary actions (public file). The verification database is updated the first of each month. There is a $10.00 charge assessed for each written license verification obtained from the Board office, whether submitted individually or on a list. A written verification will contain the same information as posted on the Board’s website. Once a written verification is requested, the NC MFT Licensure Board generates a letter on Board letterhead, signed by the Executive Director, and the licensure Board seal is affixed to the letter. Finally, the letter is mailed to the address provided on the verification of licensure request. This is the only verification form/letter the Board will provide. Our letter form is generally accepted by all other state licensure boards and entities. The licensure board does not verify National MFT Examination scores. You will need to request those scores directly from Professional Examination Services (PES). Download the Score Transfer Request form under the forms section of this website.
Quick Links
Frequently Asked Questions
Verify a Licensee
Practicing MFT in North Carolina
Download general information about MFT Licensure in NC
NC General Statutes - Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Board
Code of Ethics
NC Marriage and Family Therapy Administrative Code (Rules)
Application for National MFT Exam
Renewal Instructions and Application
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