Section 34-17A-1 – Short Title.

Section 34-17A-1 Short title. This chapter shall be known and may be cited the “Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Act.” (Acts 1997, No. 97-170, p. 247, §1.)

Section 34-17A-10 – Education and Experience Requirements.

Section 34-17A-10 Education and experience requirements. THIS SECTION WAS AMENDED BY ACT 2022-238 IN THE 2022 REGULAR SESSION, EFFECTIVE APRIL 5, 2022. THIS IS NOT IN THE CURRENT CODE SUPPLEMENT. The following education and experience requirements apply to all applicants for licensure who submit a completed application: (1) Educational requirements: A master’s degree or a […]

Section 34-17A-11 – Examinations.

Section 34-17A-11 Examinations. The board shall approve applicants for an examination at least once a year at a time and place designated by the board. Examinations shall include questions in theoretical and applied fields as the board deems most suitable to test the knowledge and competence of the applicant to engage in the practice of […]

Section 34-17A-12 – Persons Licensed or Certified in Other States.

Section 34-17A-12 Persons licensed or certified in other states. The board shall issue a license by examination of credentials to any person licensed or certified as a marriage and family therapist in another state which has requirements for licensure that are equivalent to or exceed the requirements of this state, provided the applicant submits an […]

Section 34-17A-13 – Fees; Duration of License; Renewal.

Section 34-17A-13 Fees; duration of license; renewal. (a) A fee, in an amount to be determined by the board, shall be paid to the board for original licensure. (b) Licenses shall be valid for two years and shall be renewed biennially prior to the expiration date. The amount of the renewal fee shall be determined […]

Section 34-17A-14 – Disciplinary Actions.

Section 34-17A-14 Disciplinary actions. THIS SECTION WAS AMENDED BY ACT 2022-238 IN THE 2022 REGULAR SESSION, EFFECTIVE APRIL 5, 2022. THIS IS NOT IN THE CURRENT CODE SUPPLEMENT. (a) The board may deny, revoke, or suspend a license or designation granted pursuant to this chapter or otherwise discipline a licensee on any of the following […]

Section 34-17A-15 – Administrative Procedure.

Section 34-17A-15 Administrative procedure. (a) The board shall conduct its proceedings in accordance with this chapter and the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act, Sections 41-22-1 to 41-22-27, inclusive. Any person may be heard by the board in person or by an attorney. Every vote and official act of the board shall be entered on record. All […]

Section 34-17A-16 – Promulgation of Rules, Regulations, and Procedures.

Section 34-17A-16 Promulgation of rules, regulations, and procedures. The board shall establish rules, regulations, and procedures as are necessary to the exercise of its functions under this chapter. All rules and regulations shall be promulgated by the board pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, Sections 41-22-1 to 41-22-27, inclusive, only after public notice and an […]

Section 34-17A-17 – Judicial Review.

Section 34-17A-17 Judicial review. (a) A person who has exhausted all administrative remedies available within the board and who is aggrieved by a final decision of the board is entitled to judicial review. A preliminary, procedural, or intermediate board action or ruling is immediately reviewable only if review of the final board action would not […]

Section 34-17A-18 – Expert Witnesses.

Section 34-17A-18 Expert witnesses. (a) In any proceeding before the board involving the granting, suspension, or revocation of a license or in other proceedings in which expert testimony relating to the practice of marriage and family therapy is necessary, the board shall hear evidence from a qualified expert witness or witnesses selected by the parties. […]

Section 34-17A-19 – Additional Remedy.

Section 34-17A-19 Additional remedy. As an additional remedy, the board may proceed in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County to enjoin and restrain any unlicensed person from violating the prohibitions of this chapter. The board shall not be required to post bond. (Acts 1997, No. 97-170, p. 247, §19.)

Section 34-17A-2 – Legislative Intent.

Section 34-17A-2 Legislative intent. (a) Marriage and family therapy in the State of Alabama is declared to be a professional practice which affects the public safety and welfare and requires appropriate regulation and control in the public interest. (b) It is the intent of this chapter to establish a regulatory agency, structure, and procedures which […]

Section 34-17A-20 – Violation.

Section 34-17A-20 Violation. After July 1, 1998, any person who violates this chapter shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. (Acts 1997, No. 97-170, p. 247, §20.)

Section 34-17A-21 – Therapists – Privileged Communications; Exceptions.

Section 34-17A-21 Therapists – Privileged communications; exceptions. For the purpose of this chapter, the confidential relations and communications between licensed marriage and family therapists and clients are placed upon the same basis as those provided by law between attorney and client, and nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require any such privileged communication […]

Section 34-17A-22 – Therapists – Testimony in Alimony or Divorce Actions.

Section 34-17A-22 Therapists – Testimony in alimony or divorce actions. If both parties to a marriage have obtained marriage and family therapy by a licensed marriage and family therapist, the therapist shall not be competent to testify in an alimony or divorce action concerning information acquired in the course of the therapeutic relationship. This section […]

Section 34-17A-23 – Therapists – Duties and Liability.

Section 34-17A-23 Therapists – Duties and liability. (a) There shall be no monetary liability on the part of, and no cause of action shall arise against, any person who is a licensed marriage and family therapist in failing to predict and warn of and protect from a patient’s violent behavior except where the patient has […]

Section 34-17A-24 – Annual Report.

Section 34-17A-24 Annual report. Repealed by Act 2006-540, p. 1243, §2, effective July 1, 2006. (Acts 1997, No. 97-170, p. 247, §24.)

Section 34-17A-25 – Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy Fund.

Section 34-17A-25 Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy Fund. There is established a separate revenue trust fund in the State Treasury to be known as the “Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy Fund.” All receipts and disciplinary fines collected by the board under this chapter shall be deposited in […]

Section 34-17A-26 – Sunset Provision.

Section 34-17A-26 Sunset provision. The board shall be an enumerated board pursuant to Sections 41-20-1 to 41-20-16, inclusive, and shall be reviewed at the same time as the State Board of Medical Examiners. (Acts 1997, No. 97-170, p. 247, §26.)

Section 34-17A-3 – Definitions.

Section 34-17A-3 Definitions. THIS SECTION WAS AMENDED BY ACT 2022-238 IN THE 2022 REGULAR SESSION, EFFECTIVE APRIL 5, 2022. THIS IS NOT IN THE CURRENT CODE SUPPLEMENT. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings, respectively, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (1) ADVERTISE. The issuing or causing to be […]