Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-92
Section 1916.2 - Restriction on the use of title "Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist," "Marriage and Family Therapist" and related titles(a) General rule.--Only individuals who have received licenses as marriage and family therapists under this act may style themselves as licensed marriage and family therapists, marriage and family therapists, family therapists, marriage therapists, or couples therapists and use the letters "L.M.F.T." or "M.F.T." in connection with their names. It shall be unlawful for an individual to style oneself as a licensed marriage and family therapist, marriage and family therapist, family therapist, marriage therapist, or couples therapist or use any words or symbols indicating or tending to indicate that the individual is a licensed marriage and family therapist without being licensed as a marriage and family therapist in good standing under this act.(b)Nonapplicability.--This section shall not apply to the following:(1) A person employed by the Commonwealth in a marriage and family therapist position on the effective date of this subsection, during the time of employment by the Commonwealth.(2) A person employed as a school marriage and family therapist in a public or private school in this Commonwealth on or before the effective date of this subsection, during the time of employment as a school marriage and family therapist.(3) A person who holds a valid license or is certified or regulated pursuant to another professional licensure law or State certification of this Commonwealth and who is credentialed by the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists as a Clinical Fellow.(4) A person who is working to meet the supervised experience requirement to become a licensed marriage and family therapist and whose duties are supervised by a licensed marriage and family therapist or other licensed mental health professional, as long as the person does not represent himself or herself as a licensed marriage and family therapist.(5) A person who is a student of marriage and family therapy and is enrolled in a prescribed course of study at an accredited educational institution, so long as the person does not represent himself or herself as a licensed marriage and family therapist.(6) A person who provides faith-based marriage, family or couples therapy, provided the person clearly identifies he or she offers faith-based services and does not represent himself or herself as a licensed marriage and family therapist.Amended by P.L. TBD 2016 No. 54, § 1, eff. 10/21/2016.1987, July 9, P.L. 220, No. 39, § 16.2, added 1998, Dec. 21, P.L. 1017, No. 136, § 4, effective in 60 days.