Q:
How does a LMFT license compare to other mental health licensures
offered in Wisconsin?
A:
LMFT is a specialized licensure in marriage and family therapy that
requires training and experience with families and couples.
Q:
How many hours of supervised experience do applicants need?
A:
The minimum requirements are: 3000 hours of marriage and family therapy
practice in no less than 2 years, including at least 1000 hours of
face to face client contact with 1 hour of MFT supervision for every
10 hours of client contact.
Q:
Which exam does the State Board require for licensure?
A:
The Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB)
developed and owns the exam which Wisconsin and a majority of other
states require for licensure. The applicant is also required to successfully
complete the examination of the Wisconsin Statutes and rules.
There
are three scheduled National Examination in Marital and Family Therapy
testing windows each year. You can locate the dates at www.amftrb.org/examdate.htm
Q:
Are there examination study materials or workshops available?
A:
Exam Prep materials, classes, and workshops are available from private
agencies and training institutions. However, neither the Department
nor the Board is in a position to endorse any particular training
provider.
Q:
Who can supervise applicants for licensure?
A:
A person who meets one of the following requirements:
(1)
A LMFT who holds a doctorate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.
(2)
A LMFT who has engaged in the equivalent of 5 years full-time MFT
practice.
(3)
A psychiatrist or psychologist licensed in Wisconsin.
(4)
An AAMFT approved supervisor.
(5)
A person who is approved in advance by the MFT Section.
Q:
What does the Board look for when approving supervisors who are not
LMFTs?
A:
All requests for approval of supervisors are considered on a case-by-case
basis. Approval must be requested and received before
starting supervision.
Q:
Are LMFTs required to carry malpractice insurance?
A:
Yes, clinical social workers, MFTs, and professional counselors
are required to have professional liability insurance. Exceptions
exist for licensees employed in federal, state or local governmental
agencies who only work for those agencies.
Q:
Can I get a license if I've been convicted of a crime?
A: There
is no simple answer to this question.
All professions
are subject to the state law (sections 111.321, 111.322 and 111.335,
Stats.) that prohibits discrimination against applicants based on
conviction records unless convictions are substantially related to
the practice of the profession. The phrase “substantially related” is interpreted broadly in order to protect the public, especially
in health service professions where licensees interact with vulnerable
populations, so convictions that involved harm to others or that suggest
an impaired ability to perform licensed duties will probably be considered
to be substantially related to the practice of the profession.
It is common
for a board to ask the applicant to appear in person, to explain the
circumstances of his or her conviction record and to discuss the person's
development since the offense(s). Once it evaluates all the information
submitted by the applicant, including any in-person interview, the
board then has wide discretion to grant or deny the application. This
is why it's very difficult to provide a simple answer to this question.
Being denied for a license would not prevent a person from applying
again later.
An additional
consideration is that, even though an applicant may be granted a license,
certain employment opportunities may be unavailable to persons with
criminal records. For example, under the “caregiver law”, some convictions
require post-conviction DHFS Rehabilitation Review prior to working
in a DHFS licensed facility.
Q:
What obligations are there to report unprofessional conduct by another
member of my own profession?
A: There
is no ethics rule that requires you to report unprofessional conduct
by another member of your profession. However, you should be aware
of the following:
1. If you
have reasonable cause to suspect that a child you have seen in the
course of your professional duties has been abused or neglected,
you have an obligation to report it. (See section 48.981 of the
Statutes for details.)
