Colorado § 12-245-504 - Qualifications - examination - licensure and registration - rules.

§ 12-245-504. Qualifications - examination - licensure and registration - rules.

(1) The board shall issue a license as a marriage and family therapist to each applicant who files an application in a form and manner required by the board, submits the fee required by the board pursuant to section 12-245-205, and furnishes evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant:

(a) Is at least twenty-one years of age;

(b) Is not in violation of any provision of this article 245 or any rule adopted under this article 245;

(c) Has completed a master's or doctoral degree from an accredited school or college in marriage and family therapy or its equivalent as determined by the board, and the degree:

(I) Includes a practicum or internship in the principles and practice of marriage and family therapy; or

(II) For an applicant applying on or after March 1, 2027, does not include a practicum or internship in the principles and practice of marriage and family therapy, and the requirements of subsection (1)(d) of this section are met prior to licensure as a marriage and family therapist;

(d) Subsequent to completing the applicant's master's or doctoral degree, has had at least two years of post-master's or one year of postdoctoral practice in individual and marriage and family therapy, including at least one thousand five hundred hours, or, for an applicant described in subsection (1)(c)(II) of this section, seven hundred hours in addition to the hours required for an applicant described in subsection (1)(c)(I) of this section, of face-to-face direct client contact as determined by the board for the purpose of assessment and intervention under clinical supervision that may be in person or through telesupervision; and

(e) Demonstrates professional competence by passing an examination in marriage and family therapy prescribed by the board and a jurisprudence examination administered by the division.

(1.5) A licensed addiction counselor who possesses a valid, unsuspended, and unrevoked license may provide clinical supervision of an individual working toward licensure as a marriage and family therapist if the licensed addiction counselor has met the education requirements for a licensed marriage and family therapist, or the equivalent, as specified in rules promulgated by the state board of marriage and family therapist examiners created in section 12-245-502.

(2) The examination by the board described in subsection (1)(e) of this section shall be given not less than twice per year at such time and place and under such supervision as the board may determine.

(3) The board or its designated representatives shall administer and determine the pass or fail status of the examination and take any actions necessary to ensure impartiality. The board shall determine the passing score for the examination based upon a level of minimum competency to engage in marriage and family therapy practice.

(4) (a) The board shall register as a marriage and family therapist candidate a person who:

(I) Files an application for registration, accompanied by the fee as required by section 12-245-205;

(II) Submits evidence satisfactory to the board that the person meets the requirements of subsections (1)(a), (1)(b), and (1)(c) of this section; and

(III) Repealed.

(IV) Has passed a jurisprudence examination administered by the division.

(b) A marriage and family therapist candidate who registers with the board pursuant to this subsection (4) is under the jurisdiction of the board and may, but is not required to, register with the database of unlicensed psychotherapists pursuant to section 12-245-703.

(c) If a candidate does not meet the requirements of subsection (1)(d) of this section within three years after initial registration, the candidate's registration is subject to the renewal, reinstatement, and delinquency fee provisions specified in section 12-20-202. Prior to a second or subsequent renewal of a marriage and family therapist candidate registration, the registered marriage and family therapist candidate shall complete continuing professional development and educational hours to maintain the marriage and family therapist registration as a registered marriage and family therapist candidate.

(d) On or before December 31, 2024, the board shall begin the rule-making process to promulgate rules that bring the rules pertaining to marriage and family therapists into alignment with this part 5, including:

(I) A requirement to take and pass the Colorado jurisprudence examination to obtain a marriage and family therapist candidate registration;

(II) The renewal, reinstatement, and delinquency fee provisions specified in section 12-20-202; and

(III) The continuing professional development and educational hours specified in subsection (4)(c) of this section.

Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1278, § 1, effective October 1. L. 2020: (1)(d) and (4)(b) amended, (HB 20-1206), ch. 304, pp. 1536, 1549, §§ 29, 58, effective July 14. L. 2024: (1.5) added, (HB 24-1045), ch. 470, p. 3278, § 5, effective August 7; (4)(a)(III) repealed, (4)(a)(IV) and (4)(d) added, and (4)(c) amended, (SB 24-115), ch. 217, p. 1349, § 6, effective August 7. L. 2026: (1)(c) and (1)(d) amended, (HB 26-1228), ch. 151, p. 839, § 1, effective August 12.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 12-43-504 as it existed prior to 2019.