(a)  The department shall issue the appropriate license to applicants who meet the qualifications of this section.

(1)   Prerequisites for licensure of a marriage and family therapist associate. A license as a “marriage and family therapist associate” shall be issued to an applicant who meets the following qualifications:

(i)  Is of good character;

(ii)  Has completed a graduate degree program specializing in marital and family therapy from a college or university accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, or an equivalent regional accreditation agency;

(iii)  Has completed sixty (60) semester hours or ninety (90) quarter hours within his or her graduate degree program specializing in marital and family therapy; and

(iv)  Has completed a minimum of twelve (12) semester hours or eighteen (18) quarter hours of supervised practicum and a one-calendar year of supervised internship consisting of twenty (20) hours per week, or its equivalent, with emphasis in marriage and family therapy supervised by the department within the college or university granting the requisite degree or by an accredited postgraduate clinical training program, approved by the commission on accreditation for marriage and family therapy education recognized by the United States Department of Education, or education and/or experience that is deemed equivalent by the board.

(2)   Prerequisites for licensure of a marriage and family therapist. A license as a “marriage and family therapist” shall be issued to an applicant who meets the following qualifications:

(i)  Has had a minimum of two (2) years of relevant postgraduate experience, including at least two thousand (2,000) hours of direct client contact offering clinical or counseling or therapy services with emphasis in marriage and family therapy subsequent to being awarded a master’s degree or doctorate;

(ii)  Has had a minimum of one hundred (100) hours of post-degree supervised case work spread over two (2) years; provided, that the supervision was provided by a person who, at the time of rendering the supervision, was recognized by the board as an approved supervisor; and

(iii)  Has passed to the satisfaction of the board an examination conducted by it to determine the applicant’s qualifications for licensure as a marriage and family therapist or is applying for licensure under the provisions of § 5-63.2-15.

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(b)  A candidate shall be qualified for licensure as a marriage and family therapist associate, or a marriage and family therapist upon the affirmative vote of at least four (4) members of the board, two (2) of whom must be marriage and family therapists on the board.