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Board staff to draft single LMFT education pathway after workforce survey; strategic plan work continues
Summary
At its Aug. 21 meeting, the California Board of Behavioral Sciencesreceived a workforce committee report recommending the development of a unified, post-2012-based education model for LMFTs, reviewed an environmental scan for its strategic plan, and heard updates from state workforce forums.
Newport Beach, Aug. 21, 2025
The California Board of Behavioral Sciences received a workforce committee update on Aug. 21 that recommended staff draft a single, unified model for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) education based on post-2012 standards, and reviewed the board's strategic planning materials including an environmental scan showing broad external engagement.
The workforce report, delivered while the board waited to start two petition hearings, summarized two anonymous education surveys and recommended the committee move toward one comprehensive, modern education pathway that emphasizes trauma-informed care, cultural responsiveness, public and mental health, and evidence-based practice.
The committee reported survey results from two respondent groups: 35 educators and 214 students and registrants. Committee members said the surveys were designed to capture whether coursework and practicums prepare graduates for clinical practice and to surface barriers to practicums and placements.
Steve, the committee presenter, said staff will compare LMFT education rules across other states and review standards used by LMFT accrediting agencies before returning to the committee with a draft outline. "We're looking at whether a degree program should be integrated, how to balance content- and competency-based standards, and how to treat in-state and out-of-state degrees," Steve said. He added that a draft skeleton of a single pathway based on post-2012 standards will be presented for discussion in future meetings.
Board members who asked questions pressed staff on next steps and outreach. Board member Susan Friedman noted the workforce update said roughly 1,200 external stakeholders responded to the strategic plan survey and asked how that was achieved. Steve said outreach used association distribution, social media, website postings and listservs to supplement direct solicitations.
The workforce update also reported on the Department of Health Care Services forum titled Building a Thriving Behavioral Health Workforce. Committee members who attended said the forum highlighted complex and inequitable licensure pathways, gaps between education and real-world practice, limited access to paid training and quality supervision, evolving technology, fragmented stakeholder efforts and workforce burnout. Suggested solutions flagged in the packet included clarifying supervision standards, updating telehealth guidance, improving data sharing and policy coordination, and supporting licensee wellness initiatives.
On the strategic plan, staff reported completion of an environmental scan and stakeholder survey that ran April 7 through May 2. The scan tallied responses from 43 internal stakeholders (staff and board members) and approximately 1,200 external stakeholders and synthesized feedback on licensing, examination, enforcement, legislation and regulation, administrative services and outreach and education. A consultant identified strengths, weaknesses and external threats to the board's operating environment. Board management has been working with the consultant on objectives and will bring draft objectives to the board in November. Another management session is scheduled in September.
Board members were told some goals from the workforce action plan have been moved to the outreach and education committee for follow-up. Staff said specific follow-ups will include more detailed work on pathways to licensure and public engagement about proposed education changes.
Why this matters: The LMFT education review could change the pathway for graduates and out-of-state applicants seeking California licensure; changes may affect graduate programs, practicum capacity and employers who depend on entry-level clinicians.
What's next: Staff will return with a draft outline that folds current pathways into a unified post-2012 model and comparative state materials. The board plans to continue strategic planning in the fall and expects public engagement prior to any regulatory drafting.
