24 Del. Admin. Code § 3000-5.0 - License for Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT)

5.1 Licensure by Examination Requirements

5.1.1 LAMFT Required.

5.1.1.1 Successful LMFT applicants must hold an active License for Associate Marriage and Family Therapists (LAMFT).

5.1.1.2 Limited Exception. Individuals who have completed the experience requirements of subsection 5.1.2 and hold an acceptable degree under subsection 6.2, may apply for an LMFT without first obtaining an LAMFT. LMFT applicants under this exception must submit documentation of their experience pursuant to the requirements of subsection 5.1.2 and their educational background pursuant to subsection 6.2. If the submitted documentation is acceptable to the Board, the applicant will receive permission to take the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB) exam. If approved to take the exam, an applicant under this exception will receive an LMFT once the Board receives proof that the applicant has passed the exam. A score equal to or greater than the pass point set by the AMFTRB is required to pass the exam.

5.1.2 Experience. Applicants must provide documentation of completion of 3,200 hours of marriage and family therapy services, as defined in 24 Del.C. § 3051(d), over a period of no less than 2 but no more than 4 consecutive years.

5.1.2.1 Of the required 3,200 hours total experience, 1,600 hours must have been completed under the supervision of an individual who meets the requirements of subsection 6.3.1. The 1,600 hours of supervised experience must be fulfilled as follows:

5.1.2.1.1 500 hours of couple and family therapy;

5.1.2.1.2 500 hours of individual therapy;

5.1.2.1.3 500 hours of couple and family or individual therapy or some combination of the 2; and

5.1.2.1.4 100 hours of face-to-face clinical supervision with the applicant's supervisor.

5.1.2.2 Hours completed under the supervision of an individual who does not meet the requirements of subsection 6.3.1 will not count toward fulfillment of the required 1,600 hours of supervised experience but may count toward fulfillment of the 1,600 hours of experience not required to be supervised.

5.2 Licensure by Reciprocity Requirements

5.2.1 Licensure Status. Verification of an applicant's possession of a current marriage and family therapy license in good standing from another state, the District of Columbia, or U.S. territory must be submitted directly to the Board by that state, the District of Columbia, or U.S. territory.

5.2.2 Prior Licensing Jurisdictions. Applicants must submit a notarized statement listing all licensing jurisdictions in which they previously practiced and a signed "Release of Information" granting the Board permission to contact those jurisdictions for verification of disciplinary history and current status.

5.2.3 Substantial Similarity of Licensing Standards. Applicants must submit the statute, rules, and regulations governing marriage and family therapy licensure for the state in which they are currently licensed and through which they are seeking reciprocity. The burden of proof is on the applicant to demonstrate that the licensing standards of that state are substantially similar to Delaware's standards. The Board will make a determination of substantial similarity based on the information presented.

5.2.4 No Substantial Similarity of Licensing Standards. Applicants from states whose licensing standards are not substantially similar to Delaware's standards may receive reciprocal licensure if they have held their license in good standing for at least 5 years and have passed the AMFTRB exam.

5.3 Ethics - The Board hereby adopts the current version of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Code of Ethics ("Code"). The practice of all persons possessing an LMFT or LAMFT shall conform to the principles of the Code. Violation of the Code shall constitute grounds for discipline.

Notes

24 Del. Admin. Code § 3000-5.0

11 DE Reg. 225 (08/01/07)
11 DE Reg. 1066 (02/01/08)
15 DE Reg. 1510 (04/01/12)
17 DE Reg. 755 (1/1/2014)
18 DE Reg. 900 (5/1/2015)
18 DE Reg. 902 (5/1/2015)
20 DE Reg. 376 (11/1/2016)
22 DE Reg. 78 (7/1/2018)
28 DE Reg. 467 (12/1/2024) (Final)