Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-195c: Qualification for licensure. Temporary authorization to practice.

(a) Each applicant for licensure as a marital and family therapist shall present to the department satisfactory evidence that such applicant has: (1) Completed a graduate degree program specializing in marital and family therapy offered by a regionally accredited college or university or an accredited postgraduate clinical training program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education offered by a regionally accredited institution of higher education; (2) completed a supervised practicum or internship with emphasis in marital and family therapy supervised by the program granting the requisite degree or by an accredited postgraduate clinical training program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education and offered by a regionally accredited institution of higher education; (3) completed twenty-four months of relevant postgraduate experience, including (A) a minimum of one thousand hours of direct client contact offering marital and family therapy services subsequent to being awarded a master's degree or doctorate or subsequent to the training year specified in subdivision (2) of this subsection, and (B) one hundred hours of postgraduate clinical supervision provided by a licensed marital and family therapist; and (4) passed an examination prescribed by the department.

(b) Each applicant for licensure as a marital and family therapist associate shall present to the department satisfactory evidence that such applicant has completed a graduate degree program specializing in marital and family therapy offered by a regionally accredited institution of higher education or an accredited postgraduate clinical training program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education and offered by a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

(c) The department may grant licensure without examination to any applicant who is currently licensed or certified as (1) a marital or marriage and family therapist in another state, territory or commonwealth of the United States, or (2) a marital and family therapist associate in another state, territory or commonwealth of the United States, provided the state, territory or commonwealth where such marital and family therapist associate is currently licensed or certified maintains licensure or certification standards which, in the opinion of the department, are equivalent to or higher than the standards of this state. No license shall be issued under this section to any applicant against whom professional disciplinary action is pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint.

(d) (1) A license issued to a marital and family therapist issued under this section may be renewed annually in accordance with the provisions of section 19a-88. The fee for such renewal shall be two hundred dollars. Each licensed marital and family therapist applying for license renewal shall furnish evidence satisfactory to the commissioner of having participated in continuing education programs. The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to (A) define basic requirements for continuing education programs, which shall include not less than one contact hour of training or education each registration period on the topic of cultural competency and, on and after January 1, 2016, not less than two contact hours of training or education during the first renewal period in which continuing education is required and not less than once every six years thereafter on the topic of mental health conditions common to veterans and family members of veterans, including (i) determining whether a patient is a veteran or family member of a veteran, (ii) screening for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief, and (iii) suicide prevention training, (B) delineate qualifying programs, (C) establish a system of control and reporting, and (D) provide for waiver of the continuing education requirement for good cause.

(2) A license issued to a marital and family therapist associate (A) prior to July 1, 2023, shall expire on or before twenty-four months after the date on which such license was issued, and (B) on or after July 1, 2023, shall expire on or before twelve months after the date on which such license was issued. Such license may be renewed not more than two times if issued prior to July 1, 2023, and not more than three times if issued on or after July 1, 2023, for twelve months in accordance with the provisions of section 19a-88. The fee for such renewal shall be one hundred twenty-five dollars. Each licensed marital and family therapist associate applying for license renewal shall furnish evidence satisfactory to the commissioner of having satisfied the continuing education requirements prescribed in subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(e) No fee shall be required for an application for licensure under subsection (a) or (b) of this section.

(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a person who is a graduate of a graduate degree program or a postgraduate clinical training program described in subsection (b) of this section may practice marital and family therapy for a period not greater than one hundred twenty calendar days after the date such person completed such program, provided such person works under the clinical supervision of a licensed marital family therapist.