N.J. Admin. Code § 13:34-2.3 - Educational requirements for licensure

(a) An applicant for licensure shall have a minimum of a master's degree in marriage and family therapy, a master's degree in social work or a graduate degree in a related field. All applicants shall have obtained their degrees from regionally accredited institutions, so recognized at the time of the granting of the degrees. If the applicant has a graduate degree in a related field, the applicant shall demonstrate to the Board that he or she has completed substantial equivalents to the course work at the required levels as set out in (b) below. An applicant with a graduate degree in a related field which does not provide the training and course work substantially equivalent in content to those set out in (b) below shall be deemed to meet the educational requirements set forth in this section upon satisfactory completion of either a post graduate degree recognized by the Board, which includes the course work at the required levels as stated in (b) below or a program of training and course work at an institute or training program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education.

(b) An applicant for licensure shall complete a minimum of:

1. Eight courses from Areas I, II, and III as specified in (c) below;

2. One course from Area IV as specified in (c) below;

3. One course from Area V as specified in (c) below;

4. Two courses taken in two semesters from Area VI as specified in (c) below; and

5. One course taken in one semester from Area VII as specified in (c) below.

(c) An applicant for licensure shall satisfy the following required areas of course work:

1. Area I: Theoretical Foundations (a minimum of two, three semester hour or equivalent quarter hour, courses.) Course work in this area shall include topics which deal with the historical development, theoretical foundations and contemporary conceptual directions of the field of marriage and family therapy. Course work in this area shall enable students to conceptualize and distinguish the critical epistemological issues in marriage and family therapy. Course work shall be related conceptually to clinical concerns.

2. Area II: Assessment and Treatment in Marriage and Family Therapy (a minimum of four, three semester hour or equivalent quarter hour, courses.) Course work in this area shall provide a comprehensive survey and substantive understanding of the major models of marriage and family therapy. Courses shall address marriage and family therapy practice and be related conceptually to theory. Course work in this area shall address a wide variety of presenting clinical problems and include assessment, marriage and family therapy methods, and major mental health assessment methods and instruments.

3. Area III: Human Development and Family Studies (a minimum of two, three semester hour or equivalent quarter hour, courses.) Course work in this area shall include:

i. Material on individual development, family development and family relationships;

ii. Material on issues of sexuality as they relate to marriage and family therapy theory and practice, including sexual dysfunctions and difficulties;

iii. Issues of gender and sexual orientation as they relate to marriage and family therapy theory and practice; and

iv. Material on issues of ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status and culture as they relate to marriage and family therapy theory and practice.

4. Area IV: Ethics and Professional Development (a minimum of one, three semester hour or equivalent quarter hour, course.) Course work in this area shall include material on professional identity, including professional socialization, professional organizations, licensure, certification, and ethical issues related to the practice and profession of marriage and family therapy. Generic courses in ethics shall not meet this requirement. Such course work shall inform applicants about legal responsibilities and liabilities of clinical practice and research, family law, confidentiality issues, ethics, and the interface between therapist responsibility and the professional, social, and political context of treatment.

5. Area V: Research (a minimum of one, three semester hour or equivalent quarter hour, course.) Course work in this area shall include significant material on quantitative and qualitative research in marriage and family therapy. Course work in this area shall focus on research methodology, data analysis and the evaluation of research.

6. Area VI: Supervised Clinical Internship Practicum/Course (a minimum of two, three semester hour or equivalent quarter hour, course).

7. Area VII: Additional Learning (a minimum of one, three semester hour or equivalent quarter hour, course.) Course work in this area shall be elective and chosen from a variety of disciplines. This area shall seek to augment an applicant's individual interest and background in marriage and family therapy. The applicant may choose courses from a variety of disciplines.

(d) The Board shall not base its determination as to whether it will recognize an educational institution's program solely on the failure of any professional organization of marriage and family therapists to accredit the program.

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:34-2.3

Adopted by 49 N.J.R. 655(a), effective 4/3/2017 Amended by 52 N.J.R. 529(a), effective 3/16/2020