CHAPTER 20:71:02
LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
Section
20:71:02:01 Application requirements.
20:71:02:02 Repealed.
20:71:02:03 Repealed.
20:71:02:04 Application denial.
20:71:02:05 Application for post graduate plan of supervision.
20:71:02:06 Application for licensed marriage and family therapists.
20:71:02:07 Application for marriage and family therapist by endorsement -- Applicant licensed in another state.
20:71:02:08 Application for temporary license -- Applicant licensed in another state.
20:71:02:09 Application to reinstate an expired license.
20:71:02:10 Academic requirements.
20:71:02:11 Approved marriage and family therapy program.
20:70:02:12 Post degree completion of academic requirements for licensure -- Marriage and family therapist.
20:70:02:13 Credit hour equivalency.
20:71:02:01. Application requirements. An application for a license, temporary license, renewal of license, inactive license, or reactivated license must use the form prescribed by the board. The applicable application fee and license fee must be submitted with the application. The application fee is non-refundable. The licensee fee is refundable if the application is withdrawn or denied.
An applicant shall verify under penalty of perjury that all the information submitted on an application is true and correct. An applicant who submits an application electronically agrees the submission of the application serves as the applicant's signature and verification of the information on the application. The applicant may be required to clarify or provide additional information.
An application is not complete until the required documentation and fees are received by the board. The board may return an application that remains incomplete one year after the initial submission of the application. Materials received by the board from a third party may not be returned to the applicant. A returned application is considered to be withdrawn.
Source: 22 SDR 97, effective January 24, 1996; 42 SDR 97, effective January 4, 2016; 47 SDR 42, effective October 14, 2020.
General Authority: SDCL 36-33-71.
Law Implemented: SDCL 36-33-43, 36-33-45, 36-33-46, 36-33-50, 36-33-52, 36-33-53, 36-33-66.
20:71:02:03. Licensure by reciprocity. Repealed.
Source: 42 SDR 97, effective January 4, 2016; SL 2018, ch 238, § 5, effective February 5, 2018.
20:71:02:04. Application denial. An application may be denied for failure to meet the applicable licensure requirements or for any reasons set forth in SDCL 36-33-61. The board shall inform the applicant, in writing, of its reasons for denial. An applicant whose application is denied is entitled to a hearing pursuant to SDCL chapter 1-26.
Source: 47 SDR 42, effective October 14, 2020.
General Authority: SDCL 36-33-71.
Law Implemented: SDCL 36-33-43, 36-33-45, 36-33-46, 36-33-50, 36-33-52, 36-33-53, 36-33-66.
20:71:02:05. Application for post graduate plan of supervision. An applicant for a post graduate plan of supervision shall submit to the board:
(1) A completed application and the application fee;
(2) An official educational transcript from an accredited marriage and family therapy program recognized by the board demonstrating a master's or doctoral degree in counseling consisting of at least 48 credit hours;
(3) Verification of the license number and status of the license from the applicable licensing board in each state where the applicant has been licensed to practice counseling, if applicable;
(4) The name and contact information of the applicant's proposed supervisor;
(5) A statement of any criminal record, if applicable;
(6) A statement of any previous discipline, including denial, reprimand, revocation, or suspension of a previously held license; and
(7) A recent photograph.
A post graduate plan of supervision must be approved by the board prior to the applicant acquiring the supervision experience necessary to meet the licensure requirements of SDCL 36-33-43.
An application for a post graduate plan of supervision is required for each proposed supervisor. The application fee is waived for additional proposed supervisor applications submitted under this section.
A board approved post graduate plan of supervision is valid for two years from the date of issuance. An approved post graduate plan of supervision may be renewed one time. An application to renew a post graduate plan of supervision must be submitted at least 30 days before the expiration of the approved post graduate plan of supervision.
The board may grant an extension of an approved post graduate plan of supervision, if requested in writing by the supervisee, upon a showing of extenuating circumstances or undue hardship. A request for an extension must be made prior to the expiration of the approved post graduate plan of supervision.
Source: 47 SDR 42, effective October 14, 2020.
General Authority: SDCL 36-33-71.
Law Implemented: SDCL 36-33-43.
20:71:02:06. Application for licensed marriage and family therapists. An applicant for a license to practice as a marriage and family therapist shall submit to the board:
(1) A completed application;
(2) The applicable license fee;
(3) An official educational transcript from an accredited counseling program recognized by the board demonstrating a master's or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy consisting of at least 48 credit hours;
(4) Verification of a passing score on the National Examination in Marital and Family Therapy administered by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards;
(5) Documentation of 1,700 hours of board approved supervision, as prescribed in this article, obtained subsequent to the granting of the applicant's master's or doctoral degree;
(6) Verification of the license number and status of the license from the applicable licensing board in each state where the applicant has been licensed to practice counseling, if applicable;
(7) A statement of criminal record, if applicable;
(8) A statement of any previous discipline, including denial, reprimand, revocation, or suspension of a previously held license; and
(9) A recent photograph.
Source: 47 SDR 42, effective October 14, 2020.
General Authority: SDCL 36-33-71.
Law Implemented: SDCL 36-33-43.
20:71:02:07. Application for marriage and family therapist by endorsement -- Applicant licensed in another state. An applicant licensed in another state for a minimum of three continuous years may apply for a license to practice counseling by submitting to the board:
(1) A completed application and the application fee;
(2) The applicable license fee;
(3) Verification of a passing score on the National Examination in Marital and Family Therapy administered by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards;
(4) Verification of a current license to practice counseling, in good standing, issued by another state licensing board for a continuous period of at least three years immediately preceding the application;
(5) Verification of an active practice, as defined in SDCL 36-33-45, during the three-year period immediately preceding the application;
(6) A statement of any criminal record, if applicable;
(7) A statement of any previous discipline, including denial, reprimand, revocation, or suspension of a previously held license; and
(8) A recent photograph.
Source: 47 SDR 42, effective October 14, 2020.
General Authority: SDCL 36-33-71.
Law Implemented: SDCL 36-33-45.
20:71:02:08. Application for temporary license -- Applicant licensed in another state. An applicant licensed in another state for a minimum of three continuous years may apply for a temporary license to practice counseling by submitting to the board:
(1) A completed application and the application fee;
(2) The applicable license fee;
(3) Verification of a current license to practice counseling, in good standing, issued by another state licensing board for a continuous period of at least three years immediately preceding the application;
(4) Verification of an active practice, as defined in SDCL 36-33-46, during the three-year period immediately preceding the application;
(5) A statement of any criminal record, if applicable;
(6) A statement of any previous discipline, including denial, reprimand, revocation, or suspension of a previously held license; and
(7) A recent photograph.
A temporary license automatically expires ninety days after the date of issuance or upon passage of the National Examination in Marital and Family Therapy administered by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards. A temporary license may be renewed one time.
Source: 47 SDR 42, effective October 14, 2020.
General Authority: SDCL 36-33-71.
Law Implemented: SDCL 36-33-46.
20:71:02:09. Application to reinstate an expired license. An expired license may be reactivated, as prescribed by SDCL 36-33-53, by submitting to the board:
(1) A completed application and the applicable license fee;
(2) Proof of qualified continuing education for the period of expiration; and
(3) Verification of a passing score on the National Examination in Marital and Family Therapy administered by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards after the date the original license expired.
Source: 47 SDR 42, effective October 14, 2020.
General Authority: SDCL 36-33-71.
Law Implemented: SDCL 36-33-53.
20:71:02:10. Academic requirements. Academic requirements to become a marriage and family therapist must be completed at a university or college accredited by the:
(1) Higher Learning Commission;
(2) Middle States Commission on Higher Education;
(3) New England State Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Institutions of Higher Education;
(4) Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities;
(5) Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges; or
(6) Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
The applicant's postgraduate degree in marriage and family therapy must be at least a 48 credit hour master's degree or doctoral degree.
Source: 47 SDR 42, effective October 14, 2020.
General Authority: SDCL 36-33-71.
Law Implemented: SDCL 36-33-43.
20:71:02:11. Approved marriage and family therapy program. Academic requirements to become a marriage and family therapist must be completed through a board approved program. An approved program is:
(1) A program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education;
(2) A program with specialty training in marriage and family counseling or therapy which is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; or
(3) An organized sequence of study in the area of marriage and family therapy that includes graduate course work in each of the following areas:
(a) Marriage and family studies introductory systems theory, family development, family systems (marital, sibling, individual subsystems), special family issues, gender and cultural issues, all with major focus from a systems theory orientation;
(b) Marriage and family therapy advanced systems theory and interventions, major systemic marriage and family treatment approaches, (structural, strategic, neoanalytic (object relations), behavioral marriage and family therapy, communications, sex therapy, etc.);
(c) Human development: At least one course in psychopathology-abnormal behavior is required and at least one course in assessment is required. The third course may be selected from human development (normal and abnormal), personality theory, or human sexuality;
(d) Professional studies: Professional ethics as a therapist including legal and ethical responsibilities and liabilities, family law, etc;
(e) Research: Research course in marriage and family studies and therapy including research design, methodology, statistics; and
(f) Practicum: one year minimum during graduate work: 15 hours per week, approximately eight to ten hours in direct clinical contact with individuals, couples, and families. Minimum of three hundred client contact hours required.
Source: 47 SDR 42, effective October 14, 2020.
General Authority: SDCL 36-33-71.
Law Implemented: SDCL 36-33-43.
20:71:02:12. Post degree completion of academic requirements for licensure -- Marriage and family therapist. An applicant whose graduate degree in counseling is based on less than 48 approved credit hours, who did not complete the necessary supervised professional practicum as part of the degree program, or who did not complete coursework in the areas prescribed by subdivision 20:68:03:02(2) may complete the missing academic requirements if:
(1) No more than 12 semester credits are completed post degree for purposes of meeting the academic requirements of subdivision 20:71:02:11(3);
(2) All necessary academic requirements are completed through an approved university or college that meets the requirements of this chapter; and
(3) All necessary academic requirements are taken and passed for credit.
Post degree completion of academic requirements for licensure must be completed and verified prior to the issuance of a post graduate plan of supervision.
Source: 47 SDR 42, effective October 14, 2020.
General Authority: SDCL 36-33-71.
Law Implemented: SDCL 36-33-43.
20:71:02:13. Credit hour equivalency. For purposes of this article, 48 semester credit hours equal 72 quarter credit hours.
Source: 47 SDR 42, effective October 14, 2020.
General Authority: SDCL 36-33-71.
Law Implemented: SDCL 36-33-43.
