Wisconsin Legislature: MPSW 16.01

Chapter MPSW 16

REQUIREMENTS FOR MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY LICENSURE

MPSW 16.01 Application for licensure as a marriage and family therapist.

MPSW 16.015 Application for a marriage and family therapist training license.

MPSW 16.02 Educational equivalent to a graduate degree in marriage and family therapy from a program accredited by COAMFTE.

MPSW 16.04 Supervised Practice.

Ch. MPSW 16 NoteNote: Chapter SFC 16 was created as an emergency rule effective April 26, 1993.

Ch. MPSW 16 NoteNote: Chapter SFC 16 was renumbered ch. MPSW 16 under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 1., Stats., and corrections made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register October 2002 No. 562.

MPSW 16.01MPSW 16.01 Application for licensure as a marriage and family therapist. An applicant for a marriage and family therapist license shall submit all of the following:

MPSW 16.01(1)(1) An application and the fee under s. 440.05, Stats.

MPSW 16.01(2)(2) Evidence of one of the following:

MPSW 16.01(2)(a)(a) A master’s or doctorate degree in marriage and family therapy from a program accredited by COAMFTE.

MPSW 16.01(2)(b)(b) A master’s or doctorate degree in marriage and family therapy, psychology, sociology, social work, professional counseling, or other mental health field that included the course work under s. MPSW 16.02.

MPSW 16.01(2)(c)(c) A degree awarded by a foreign institution of higher learning that has been determined by an organization approved by the section to be equivalent to a degree from a master’s or doctoral program accredited by COAMFTE. If the education was not received in English, the applicant shall demonstrate proficiency in English by achieving a passing score on a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination.

MPSW 16.01(3)(3) Evidence the applicant, after receiving a master’s or doctorate degree required under sub. (2), engaged in the equivalent of at least 3,000 hours of marriage and family therapy practice, including at least 1,000 hours of face-to-face client contact, while holding a valid marriage and family therapy training license and supervised by a person qualified to supervise under s. MPSW 16.04.

MPSW 16.01(4)(4) Verification of passage of an examination approved by the marriage and family therapist section to determine minimum competence to practice marriage and family therapy.

MPSW 16.01(5)(5) Documentation necessary for the section to determine, subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, Stats., whether any of the following apply:

MPSW 16.01(5)(a)(a) The applicant has a pending charge for an exempt offense, as defined in s. 111.335 (1m) (b), Stats., or a violent crime against a child, as defined in s. 111.335 (1m) (d), Stats., that is substantially related to the practice of a marriage and family therapist.

MPSW 16.01(5)(b)(b) The applicant has been convicted of a crime substantially related to the practice of a marriage and family therapist.

MPSW 16.01 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, November, 1993, No. 455, eff. 12-1-93; am. (1) (c) and (2), r. (3), Register, November, 1999, No. 527, eff. 12-1-99; CR 02-105: am. (1) (intro.), (1) (a) 3., (1) (b) and (d) and (2) (a) and (c), Register October 2002 No. 562, eff. 11-1-02; CR 03-090: am. (1) (a) 3. Register June 2004 No. 582, eff. 7-1-04; CR 15-017: am. (1) (b), (2) (a) Register April 2016 No. 724, eff. 5-1-16; CR 16-008: r. and recr. Register January 2018 No. 745 eff. 2-1-18; corrections in (3) made under ss. 13.92 (4) (b) 7. and 35.17, Stats., Register January 2018 No. 745; CR 19-116: r. and recr. (5) Register May 2020 No. 773, eff. 6-1-20; correction in (5) (a) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register May 2020 No. 773.

MPSW 16.015MPSW 16.015 Application for a marriage and family therapist training license.

MPSW 16.015(1)(1) The marriage and family therapist section shall grant a marriage and family therapist training license to any individual who does all of the following:

MPSW 16.015(1)(a)(a) Submits a completed, signed application form.

MPSW 16.015(1)(b)(b) Pays the fee specified in s. 440.05 (6), Stats.

MPSW 16.015(1)(c)(c) Submits evidence satisfactory to the marriage and family therapist section that he or she has done one of the following:

MPSW 16.015(1)(c)1.1. Satisfies the requirements in s. 457.10 (2), Stats.

MPSW 16.015(1)(c)2.2. Is enrolled or will be enrolled in an institute for marriage and family therapy that is approved by the commission on accreditation for marriage and family therapy education of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy or by the marriage and family therapist section.

MPSW 16.015(1)(c)3.3. Holds a graduate degree in a mental health field approved by the marriage and family therapist section and is enrolled or will be enrolled in a master’s or doctoral degree program in marriage and family therapy accredited by the commission on accreditation for marriage and family therapy education or approved by the marriage and family therapist section.

MPSW 16.015(1)(d)(d) Submits evidence satisfactory to the marriage and family therapist section of one of the following:

MPSW 16.015(1)(d)1.1. The applicant is in a position or has an offer for a position as a marriage and family therapist in a supervised marriage and family therapist practice.

MPSW 16.015(1)(d)2.2. The applicant is in a position or has an offer for a position in which the applicant will, in the opinion of the marriage and family therapist section, receive training and supervision equivalent to the training and supervision received in a supervised marriage and family therapist practice.

MPSW 16.015(2)(2) A marriage and family therapist training license is valid for 48 months and may be renewed at the discretion of the marriage and family therapist section.

MPSW 16.015(3)(3) A marriage and family therapist training license authorizes the holder to use any title specified in s. 457.04 (5), Stats., and to practice marriage and family therapy within the practice scope of his or her training or supervision during the period in which the license is valid.

MPSW 16.015 HistoryHistory: CR 16-008: renum. MPSW 17.03 (title) (1), (2) to (title) (1), (2), cr. (3), Register January 2018 No. 745 eff. 2-1-18.

MPSW 16.02MPSW 16.02 Educational equivalent to a graduate degree in marriage and family therapy from a program accredited by COAMFTE.

MPSW 16.02(1)(1) Course work required for education to be substantially equivalent to the course work required for a master’s or doctorate degree in marriage and family therapy course work from a program accredited by COAMFTE shall contain all of the following:

MPSW 16.02(1)(a)(a) At least 6 semester credits or 8 quarter credits in the area of foundations of relational or systemic practice, theories and models.

MPSW 16.02(1)(b)(b) At least 6 semester credits or 8 quarter credits in the area of clinical treatment with individuals, couples and families. This area shall include a focus on evidence based practice and content on crisis intervention.

MPSW 16.02(1)(c)(c) At least 3 semester credits or 4 quarter credits in the area of diverse, multicultural or underserved communities. This area shall include understanding and applying knowledge of diversity, power, privilege, or oppression.

MPSW 16.02(1)(d)(d) At least 3 semester credits or 4 quarter credits in the area of research and evaluation. This area shall include marriage and family therapy research and evaluation methods and evidence-based practice.

MPSW 16.02(1)(e)(e) At least 3 semester credits or 4 quarter credits in the area of professional identity, federal and state law, ethics, and social responsibility.

MPSW 16.02(1)(f)(f) At least 3 semester credits or 4 quarter credits in the area of biopsychosocial health and development across the life span.

MPSW 16.02(1)(g)(g) At least 3 semester credits or 4 quarter credits in the area of systemic assessment and mental health diagnosis and treatment.

MPSW 16.02(1)(h)(h) At least 3 semester credits or 4 quarter credits in the area of contemporary developments which interface marriage and family therapy knowledge and practice with the broader multidisciplinary context.

MPSW 16.02(1)(i)(i) A clinical internship as part of an academic program in marriage and family therapy or a substantially equivalent field. The internship shall consist of a minimum of 300 hours in face-to-face contact with individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment under supervision in not less than 8 calendar months.

MPSW 16.02(2)(2) An applicant may, at an institution which was accredited by its regional accrediting association at the time the course was completed, complete credit hours outside the program of studies leading to a master’s or doctorate degree in order to meet the requirements in this section.

MPSW 16.02(3)(3) An applicant may, at an institute for marriage and family therapy which was accredited by COAMFTE at the time the course was completed, complete credit hours outside of a program of studies leading to a master’s or doctorate degree in order to meet the requirements in this section.

MPSW 16.02 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, November, 1993, No. 455, eff. 12-1-93; r. (4), Register, November, 1999, No. 527, eff. 12-1-99; CR 16-008: r. and recr. Register January 2018 No. 745, eff. 2-1-18; CR 19-115: r. and recr. Register May 2020 No. 773, eff. 6-1-20.

MPSW 16.04MPSW 16.04 Supervised Practice.

MPSW 16.04(1)(1) General. An applicant for licensure as a marriage and family therapist under s. 457.10, Stats., shall complete, after receiving the required master’s or doctorate degree, or 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, 3,000 hours of supervised marriage and family therapy practice, including at least 1,000 hours of face-to-face client contact, while holding a valid marriage and family therapist training license before being eligible for licensure.

MPSW 16.04(2)(2) Supervisor qualifications. Supervision of the supervised practice of marriage and family therapy may be exercised by any of the following:

MPSW 16.04(2)(a)(a) An individual licensed as a marriage and family therapist who has received a doctorate degree in marriage and family therapy.

MPSW 16.04(2)(b)(b) An individual licensed as a marriage and family therapist who has engaged in the equivalent of 5 years of full-time marriage and family therapy practice.

MPSW 16.04(2)(c)(c) A psychiatrist.

MPSW 16.04(2)(d)(d) A psychologist licensed under ch. 455, Stats.

MPSW 16.04(2)(e)(e) A person who is an American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy approved supervisor or supervisor candidate.

MPSW 16.04(2)(f)(f) An individual, other than an individual specified in par. (a) to (e), who the marriage and family therapy section approves in advance based upon evidence of experience in marriage and family therapy systems.

MPSW 16.04(3)(3) Supervisor responsibilities. The supervisor’s responsibilities include all of the following:

MPSW 16.04(3)(a)(a) Provide one hour of face-to-face supervision for each 10 client contact hours.

MPSW 16.04(3)(b)(b) Permit a supervisee to engage in only marriage and family therapy services the supervisor can competently perform.

MPSW 16.04(3)(c)(c) Be available or make appropriate provision for emergency consultation and intervention.

MPSW 16.04(3)(d)(d) Be legally and ethically responsible for the supervised activities of the supervisee.

MPSW 16.04(3)(e)(e) Be able to interrupt or stop the supervisee from practicing in given cases, or recommend to the supervisee’s employer that the employer interrupt or stop the supervisee from practicing in given cases.

MPSW 16.04(3)(f)(f) To terminate the supervised relationship.

MPSW 16.04(4)(4) Group Supervision Requirements. Supervision in group sessions, shall meet all of the following:

MPSW 16.04(4)(a)(a) The group shall consist of no more than 8 persons for every 1 person providing supervision.

MPSW 16.04(4)(b)(b) Each person receiving supervision as part of the group session receives one hour credit for each hour that the group meets for supervision. Time which is not directly case related may not be counted towards the supervision requirement.

MPSW 16.04(4)(c)(c) A supervision session for a group or individual which is provided by more than one supervisor may not be credited for more than the actual time elapsed during the supervision session.