Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists Continuing Education - General Information

30 clock hours of continuing education relevant to Marriage and Family Therapy are required every two-year renewal period.

Of the 30 Clock hours:

• at least 6 hours must be in professional ethics (completion of the jurisprudence exam may count for 1 hour of ethics)
• at least 3 hours must be in clinical supervision education, if the license is a board approved supervisor.
• no more than 6 hours per year (no more than 12 hours every two years) may be credited toward the 30 hours through completion of correspondence courses, satellite or distance learning, and audio/video courses of self study.

Acceptable venues include:

• Participation in state and national conferences such as the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and Texas Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (TAMFT)
• Participation in local seminars relevant to Marriage and Family Therapy.
• Completing a graduate or institute course in the field of MFT
• Presenting workshops, seminars or lectures relevant to MFT (the same seminar may be used no more than once per renewal period)
• Distance learning as described above.

Continuing ethics must be presented by board approved providers. Hours may not be carried over from one renewal period to the next renewal period.

General Guidelines for Continuing Education Hours

 Points to Remember:

The purpose of continuing education is to maintain and improve the quality professional services in Marriage & Family Therapy, to keep licensees knowledgeable on research techniques and practice, and to provide resources to improve skills and competence.

Requirements for continuing education include 30 clock hours each renewal period for LMFTs and 15 clock hours every renewal period of for LMFTAs.  All licensees are required to complete 6 clock hours in Ethics each renewal period.  Board-approved supervisors are required to complete 3 hours in supervisor training each renewal period.

No more than 6 hours per year may be completed through correspondence courses (i.e. online, mail-in, listening to CDs, etc.). 

Continuing Education Sponsors must be Board approved.  Licensees can follow the link on the website to see the roster of approved Continuing Education providers. 

 Acceptable forms of Continuing Education include:

• Participation in state & national conferences
• Participation in local seminars relevant to MFT
• Completing a graduate course in the field of MFT with a grade of “B” or higher
• Presenting workshops or lectures relevant to MFT; may not count the same workshop more than once biennially; presenter may earn 1.5 hours for each approved hour, not exceeding ½ of continuing education requirement
• Completing correspondence courses, which may count for no more than 6 hours per year
• Completing the Jurisprudence Exam
• Clinical supervision of MFT interns and associates may count for no more than ½ of the biennial requirements
• Authoring a book or peer reviewed articles which enhances a MFT’s knowledge or skill may count for no more than ½ of the biennial requirement

Parts of continuing education programs which meet Board approved criteria shall be credited on a one-for-one basis with one clock-hour credit for each clock-hour spent in the continuing education activity.  This rule applies to correspondence courses (on-line, distance learning, etc) as well. 

Each licensee will report continuing education activities at the time of renewal.  The Board will conduct random audits of compliance with the continuing education requirements.          

Suggested Topics for General Continuing Education:

The purpose of continuing education is to maintain and improve the quality professional services in Marriage & Family Therapy, to keep licensees knowledgeable on research techniques and practice, and to provide resources to improve skills and competence.

Marriage Therapy                                 Sex Therapy
Family Therapy                                     Child Therapy
Play Therapy                                        Individual Psychotherapy
Divorce Therapy                                   Mediation
Group Therapy                                     Chemical Dependency Therapy
Rehabilitation Therapy                          Referral Services
Psychotherapy                                      Hypnotherapy
Biofeedback                                         Assessment & Appraisal
Consultation                                         Diagnostic Assessment using the DSM
Parent Education                                  Parent Coordination
Life Coaching                                       Other MFT related services
Family Systems methods                       Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy               Interpersonal Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy                       Affective Therapy

Suggested Topics for Continuing Education in Ethics

Professional Representation                              Relationships with Clients
Sexual Misconduct                                           Testing Issues
Drug & Alcohol Use                                         Record Keeping
Confidentiality                                                   Release of Records
Required Reporting                                           Licensees & the Board
Assumed Names                                              Consumer Complaint Information
Proper Display of License                                 Advertising & Announcements

Hot Topics in Ethics:

Dual Relationships – 801.44(i)
Sexual Conduct with Clients – 801.45 (e)
Record Keeping – 801.48 (e)
Mandated Reporting – 801.48 (d)

Other Topics Included in Ethics:

Issues related to HIPAA and MFTs
Issues related to the Texas Family Code as applied to the practice of MFT
Issues related to Texas Occupations Code Chapter 502
Issues related to Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 611