(225 ILCS 55/40) (from Ch. 111, par. 8351-40)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 40. Qualifications for licensure.

(a) A person is qualified for licensure as a marriage and family therapist if that person:

(1) is at least 21 years of age;

(2) has applied in writing on forms prepared and furnished by the Department;

(3) (blank);

(4) (blank);

(5) satisfies the education and experience requirements of subsection (b) of this Section; and

(6) passes a written examination authorized by the Department.

(b) Any person who applies to the Department shall be issued a marriage and family therapist license by the Department if the person meets the qualifications set forth in subsection (a) of this Section and provides evidence to the Department that the person:

(1) holds a master's or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy approved by the Department from a regionally accredited educational institution; holds a master's or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited educational institution in marriage and family therapy or in a related field with an equivalent course of study in marriage and family therapy that is recommended by the Board and approved by the Department; or holds a master's or doctoral degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education;

(2) following the receipt of the first qualifying degree, has at least 2 years of experience, as defined by rule, in the practice of marriage and family therapy, including at least 1,000 hours of face-to-face contact with couples and families for the purpose of evaluation and treatment;

(3) has completed at least 200 hours of supervision of marriage and family therapy, as defined by rule.

(c) Any person who applies to the Department shall be issued a temporary license as an associate licensed marriage and family therapist by the Department if the person meets the qualifications set forth in subsection (a)(1), (2), and (4) of this Section and provides evidence to the Department that the person meets the qualifications set forth in subsection (b)(1) of this Section. A person granted licensure as an associate licensed marriage and family therapist is eligible to sit for the written examination specified in paragraph (6) of subsection (a) of this Section. The license as an associate licensed marriage and family therapist shall not be valid for more than 5 years.

An associate licensed marriage and family therapist may not practice independently and must be clinically supervised by a licensed marriage and family therapist or equivalent as defined by rule.

An associate licensed marriage and family therapist may petition the Department for a marriage and family therapist license upon completion of the requirements in subsections (a) and (b).

(Source: P.A. 100-372, eff. 8-25-17.)