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STATE OF WISCONSIN
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY, PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING, AND SOCIAL WORK EXAMINING BOARD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ IN THE MATTER OF RULEMAKING   :     ORDER OF THE PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE     :   MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY   :   PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING, AND PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING, AND   :   SOCIAL WORK EXAMINING BOARD SOCIAL WORK EXAMINING BOARD   :       ADOPTING RULES
(CLEARINGHOUSE RULE 19-115)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ORDER
An order of the Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board to repeal and recreate MPSW 16.02, and to amend 16.04 (1) relating to education equivalent to a graduate degree in marriage and family therapy from a program accredited by COAMFTE.
Analysis prepared by the Department of Safety and Professional Services.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ANALYSIS
Statutes interpreted: Section 457.03 (1), Stats.
Statutory authority: Sections 15.08 (5) (b) and 457.03 (1), Stats.
Explanation of agency authority:
“Each examining board [s]hall promulgate rules for its own guidance and for the guidance of the trade or profession to which it pertains, and define and enforce professional conduct and unethical practices not inconsistent with the law relating to the particular trade or profession.” [s. 15.08 (5) (b), Stats.]
“Upon the advice of the social worker section, marriage and family therapist section, and professional counselor section, promulgate rules establishing minimum standards for educational programs that must be completed for certification or licensure under this chapter and for supervised clinical training that must be completed for licensure as a clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or professional counselor under this chapter and approve educational programs and supervised clinical training programs in accordance with those standards.” [s. 457.03 (1), Stats.]
Related statute or rule: None.
Plain language analysis:
The rule clarifies that courses taken outside of the program study leading to a master’s or doctorate degree are acceptable to obtain program equivalency, and that individuals may begin to accrue clinical practice hours upon completion of a graduate degree in a mental health field approved by the marriage and family therapist section, and enrollment in a graduate degree program or other educational program in marriage and family therapy accredited by COAMFTE.
Summary of, and comparison with, existing or proposed federal regulation: None.
Summary of public comments received on statement of scope and a description of how and to what extent those comments and feedback were taken into account in drafting the proposed rule:
The Board held a preliminary hearing on the statement of scope for this rule at its March 18, 2019 meeting. No comments were received.
Comparison with rules in adjacent states:
Illinois: According to Illinois Admin Code s. 1283.30 (e), courses taken at a post-degree institution may count as equivalent for an education requirement if the institution's training program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), or meets the following requirements:
(1) The institution's program is established to achieve coherent mission and training objectives and the program has as its primary objective the training of marriage and family therapists.
(2) The specific course submitted as equivalent to those defined in subsection (b) is taught by faculty who hold graduate degrees and are trained and credentialed in the field in which they teach.
(3) Courses must be offered by an established, identifiable facility or agency.
(4) Courses must be ongoing and additive (offered at the same place over a specific period of time and available on an ongoing basis) or offered off site by an acceptable post degree institution with an established, identifiable home-base facility or agency.
(5) Courses must include outlines, clear description of content, appropriate bibliography, and other indications or meet generally acceptable criteria for academic offerings.
(6) Correspondence courses are not acceptable.
Iowa: According to IAC 645—31.4(2), an applicant can attain licensure as a marriage and family therapist with a master’s degree in a counseling related field, and various semester hours of required coursework documented on the applicant’s graduate transcript
Michigan: Michigan Admin Code R 338.7205 (a) (ii) allows an individual to complete graduate level courses outside of the master’s or higher graduate degree attained in order to meet educational requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist.
Minnesota: Minnesota code requires a graduate degree in a subject field related to marriage and family therapy, and the degree program must contain the required coursework enumerated in the rule. Minn. Admin Code 5300.0140 (2).
Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies:
The Board determined that it was necessary to clarify that courses taken outside of a degree program can count towards the academic program equivalent to a master’s or doctorate degree in marriage and family therapy to prevent confusion and barriers to entry to the profession.
Analysis and supporting documents used to determine effect on small business or in preparation of economic impact analysis:
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