[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6371985,"mediaKeyId","2148621-90d466ce8f588ae77fa9b689164ed79f","parentId",2148621,"title","Committee approves concept to pursue rulemaking to accept AMFTRB national exam for LMFT licensure","audioSeconds",914,"startMs",522000,"endMs",1436000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2148621-90d466ce8f588ae77fa9b689164ed79f&start=522&end=1436","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2148621-90d466ce8f588ae77fa9b689164ed79f/thumbnail_522000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6371985/California/Committee-approves-concept-to-pursue-rulemaking-to-accept-AMFTRB-national-exam-for-LMFT-licensure","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6371985-3654c10be3911c0c0181b4e13b8adc29/orig.mp4?Expires=1776568782&Signature=eyva9In11E04XnQw53wxH78k9w8aVpbMh5h~iBse1Hf57akUM-V0FYBLSmN-5trw9X39eDRgQ6GyGAWyHYVttkAfhmJSrjx8OwoY7HgDJoXmgAopu~-itYxdO0iqjb0l-BC9gfJ3~Bz4njBK6UeYTEWlTpskY43OUK~DP9Tet0tTPcMDTYs7IiO2awPikSRsSXXYHDCHip39Bg5xh-4FnqxRPquKXyFQLK3r~BC6ydBtmJUptMhufSXFonqHakhJkdzvHBBt8ouL502NX1XftRAC5OucOvhKVwcu3OB8lOWZx~6K5vq6Vxv8e76OW-Uweo5AQq9QzVjiQ2ujjzWIsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Board of Behavioral Sciences","date","2025-01-24T22:00:18Z","article","The California Board of Behavioral Sciences Policy and Advocacy Committee voted Jan. 24 to approve in concept proposed regulatory text that would enable the board to adopt the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB) national clinical exam as the LMFT clinical licensure exam.

Roseanne Helms, legislative manager for the Board of Behavioral Sciences, told the committee the board currently administers its own LMFT clinical exam and is the only state that does not use the AMFTRB national exam. \"Right now, the Board administers the LMFT clinical exam. The Board does not utilize the national exam. The Board is the only state that doesn't utilize the national exam currently,\" Helms said, describing staff work with AMFTRB on content and accessibility and with the Department of Consumer Affairs' information services office to enable automated score transfers.

Why it matters: adopting the national exam would align LMFT testing with the board's existing practice for other license types and could ease portability for candidates who move between states. Committee members approved the concept to allow staff to prepare the formal rulemaking package and return later for final authorization.

The committee motion authorized staff to: (1) approve the proposed regulatory text in Attachment A in concept; (2) draft the initial rulemaking documents for review by the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) director and the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency; and (3) return the proposal to the board for final consideration after staff completes the implementation steps described in the meeting materials. Chris Jones, committee chair, moved the recommendation; Kelly Ranasinghe seconded. The recorded vote was Chris Jones — yes; Abigail Ortega — yes; Kelly Ranasinghe — yes. The motion carried.

Helms summarized timing: statutory language that would permit adoption would be pursued in the board’s sunset bill this year and, if the statute is enacted as planned, regulations would still require the standard multi‑agency review and public comment process. \"We're looking at at least probably a couple years\" before implementation even if both the statutory and regulatory processes proceed without delay, Helms said.

Public commenters representing professional organizations expressed support. Chaunte Edron of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists said the transition would aid workforce portability and continuity of care, and thanked staff for work on accessibility and measurement concerns. Ben Caldwell, an MFT and educator, and Kathy Atkins of CAMFT voiced similar support and asked about public participation in discussions of exam measurement and scope; Helms said the board would return to a board meeting and regulatory public comment periods would provide opportunities for input.

Next steps: staff will complete collaboration with AMFTRB and DCA information services on technical and accessibility issues, finalize the rulemaking package, and bring the package back to the full board for final authorization to file with the director and agency for formal regulatory review and public comment.

Votes at a glance: the committee approved the concept proposal by a 3–0 recorded vote; the full board will consider final authorization in a later meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Behavioral Sciences - Policy & Advocacy Committee Meeting -January 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The California Board of Behavioral Sciences Policy and Advocacy Committee voted Jan. 24 to approve in concept proposed regulatory language that would allow the board to adopt the AMFTRB national clinical exam for LMFT licensure and directed staff to prepare rulemaking documents.","taxTitle","Board of Behavioral Sciences, Other State Agencies, Executive, California","taxId",15987,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6371975,"Committee opens research into pastoral counseling exemptions, directs staff to refine options",1928,2366000,4294000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2148621-90d466ce8f588ae77fa9b689164ed79f&start=2366&end=4294","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2148621-90d466ce8f588ae77fa9b689164ed79f/thumbnail_2366000.jpg","/articles/6371975/California/Committee-opens-research-into-pastoral-counseling-exemptions-directs-staff-to-refine-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6371975-56dfe39a6c470cdb75a110e3eea662ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1776568782&Signature=XGW5mypHsSV0N7vcVmNFliUWuvAMC-Pt5SMEubqSCPJOPsVjZVbH1hyAOrIp6Fozy2Ui1wi~yKa9SVgjCvF6yvNyKUGGUhjE~RoN726aDGs7byF89kb76YX~VbOyhQolApuThoz0u8SjwiIiiRtCIfPslTasjSNSbNbqv5AywDLyjT0137i~cHKDUFt0Sdw9yK5S80gEJs344dN8nf2uqi28VT-T5dEvsDdIPggXFH70t3413Q0bDM61ibpUjaQmsW-O4uO43gC~sGF8AKmei2k99wn7ZB-6GfOvTedMepJogfIacQLzstjqwCIoqLBGd4mh5bfpLd1cYMq~xVbKBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Policy and Advocacy Committee discussed Jan. 24 the board’s exemption for pastoral or faith‑based counseling and directed staff to continue research and present options to clarify when pastoral counseling is exempt from licensure.

Sarita Riso, special projects and research analyst for the Board of Behavioral Sciences, summarized state‑level approaches and academic definitions. She noted the board’s current exemption language permits counseling performed as part of ministerial or pastoral duties but that enforcement staff have received complaints alleging behavior that appears to be private practice — for example, individuals providing counseling outside a religious institution and charging fees. Riso cited research and sample statutory language from Texas, Florida, Arizona and other states and a 2005 American Association of Pastoral Counselors definition that distinguished pastoral counselors who practice clinically and seek licensure from lay persons providing faith‑based support.

Committee members raised enforcement and constitutional concerns. Kristy Shields, legal counsel, explained the challenge: California’s Constitution protects free exercise of religion, which limits how the board can regulate faith‑based activity. \"The problem area is knowing where that line is when there's a practice that's faith based, versus someone actually acting in the capacity of a licensee for remuneration,\" Shields said, describing past investigations that were stymied by vague statutory language.

Members discussed potential clarifications staff might explore, including whether exemptions should be limited to counseling performed under the auspices of a religious entity, whether charging fees should remove an exemption, and whether statutes could include factors that help distinguish ministerial counseling from professional therapeutic practice. Several committee members emphasized the risk of spiritual abuse when clergy hold themselves out with the trappings of a private practice.

Public commenters representing professional organizations said they support clarification. Sarita Riso and staff will continue research and bring options back to the committee for further consideration; the committee did not adopt specific statutory language at this meeting.","Committee members discussed complaints and constitutional limits related to pastoral counseling exemptions and asked staff to continue research and draft possible statutory language or options to clarify when faith‑based counseling is exempt from the board's licensure statutes.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":46,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6371980,"Committee backs statutory changes to retired‑license rules, eases process for recently expired licenses",928,2364000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2148621-90d466ce8f588ae77fa9b689164ed79f&start=1436&end=2364","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2148621-90d466ce8f588ae77fa9b689164ed79f/thumbnail_1436000.jpg","/articles/6371980/California/Committee-backs-statutory-changes-to-retiredlicense-rules-eases-process-for-recently-expired-licenses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6371980-f6c8395b733d5ddf34443e6d80f2f196/orig.mp4?Expires=1776568782&Signature=Yl0409IbmMmxsjyT3UcKB0BRdJ8QLh-P4wFvDL0n3EVLrrHdloX4rSx88j7wrXUlXPg7Oui-K~aunJxxgnOCtszJnaGYkxrHbMfgFie7oXhjlTi~~hxcfmoP21DLpWSpj6A4GjRbHoOOiDyNdG2G1pPvsXdigU5cezwG3ctCHgOASqWgPS7h0q24qvskSGore7c4uOin-b3WxFHYLG3AiBRr0kEISEjmLNllFMbC-WzT0L31f-pQQkpMwPjQPoXtOO5NwA5ArqVYn-5giCfjyBf-nyi8mXJkIYhh3GCUng3hJjXNyx9xFKNJzvHPZABlhOOzFmBDK9bACEqympcOMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The California Board of Behavioral Sciences Policy and Advocacy Committee voted Jan. 24 to direct staff to prepare statutory amendments clarifying retired‑license requirements and to bring the legislative proposal back to the board.

Roseanne Helms, legislative manager, reviewed the proposed amendments and said the retired license — created in 2011 — is currently available only to licensees with a current active or inactive license and that many callers ask to retire licenses they have already allowed to expire. \"The proposal, as long as the license is expired within the past 3 years ... we would permit a license that has been expired for up to 3 years to be retired,\" Helms said, explaining the change would remove administrative burden for those who recently let a license lapse.

Key details in the committee's proposal include: allowing retirement of licenses that expired within the past three years; clarifying what it means to be \"subject to disciplinary action\" when seeking retired status; specifying required information on retirement and reinstatement applications; restricting a retired license to a single reactivation; specifying continuing education age limits for restoration; correcting fingerprint submission references; and making clear that licenses retired three or more years cannot be restored and require a new application.

Helms said the board currently has about 29,100 retired licensees and that roughly 60 retired licenses have been restored since 2014. The restoration process for a retired license returned to active status includes an application, payment of renewal fee, fingerprinting, and up to 36 hours of continuing education depending on the time out of practice. \"The 36 hours that we're requiring is the same for a two‑year renewal,\" Kristy Shields, legal counsel, added, explaining the continuing education requirement is meant to ensure currency of knowledge for public protection.

Committee chair Chris Jones moved the recommendation directing staff to make discussed and non‑substantive changes and bring a legislative proposal to the board; the motion was seconded and carried on a recorded vote. Christina took the roll and recorded votes as yes for Chris Jones, Abigail Ortega and Kelly Ranasinghe; the motion carried.

Next steps: staff will draft the legislative language for the board’s sunset bill or a separate proposal as advised by the Legislature and return the proposal to the board for consideration as a legislative item.","The Policy and Advocacy Committee approved a recommendation to pursue statutory amendments that would: allow licenses expired within the past three years to be placed into retired status, clarify restoration requirements and continuing‑education windows, and restrict a retired license to a single one‑time reactivation attempt.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves concept to pursue rulemaking to accept AMFTRB national exam for LMFT licensure

Committee opens research into pastoral counseling exemptions, directs staff to refine options

Committee backs statutory changes to retired‑license rules, eases process for recently expired licenses