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Board denies multiple variance or waiver petitions citing documentation and process shortfalls
Summary
The board declined requests from several applicants who sought waivers because supervising clinicians were not documented as approved; staff pointed applicants to reapply as registrants or use other licensure pathways.
The Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling denied several petitions for variance or waiver on March 21 after finding applicants lacked board‑approved supervisor documentation or failed to meet rule prerequisites.
The board heard petitions from Ashrel Tashay Andre, Morgan Kidwell, Jamie Kowiak, and Stacy Peacock. In each case, the applicants sought relief from the rule that requires prior board approval of a qualified supervisor before post‑master’s supervised experience will be accepted. Board counsel and staff told the board there is an established process and that a general variance/waiver was not available as requested in some petitions.
Ashrel Andre asked the board to accept supervisory hours where the supervisor had submitted a letter but a return approval had not been recorded. Counsel noted the board’s records lacked documentation of the supervisor’s approval; the board denied the petition and advised Andre of options to reapply for intern registration if she wished to continue earning hours in Florida.
Morgan Kidwell, a military spouse, sought a waiver because two Arizona supervisors who provided hours did not meet Florida’s LMFT‑specific coursework requirements according to their transcripts. Staff and counsel confirmed the supervisors’ transcripts did not show required LMFT coursework; the board denied the petition but staff informed Kidwell she is eligible for Florida’s military‑spouse (VALOR) pathway or to reapply as a registered intern.
Jamie Kowiak and Stacy Peacock presented similar cases: each had completed supervision while working but the supervising clinician’s approval was not in the board file. The board found the responsibility lies with the registered intern to verify that a supervisor is board‑approved and denied the variance requests. For several petitioners the board noted the statutory framework has changed in recent years to allow subsequent intern registrations; staff said applicants may reapply for registration to complete any remaining hours if they choose.
Motions to deny the petitions passed unanimously in the recorded votes. Board members stressed the practical lesson for applicants: verify that a supervisor is approved and keep the board’s official supervision log and correspondence as proof. The board advised each petitioner of next steps and directed staff to communicate available administrative options, including reapplying for an intern registration or pursuing other licensure pathways such as the mobile/compact options when eligible.
Votes and motions recorded (examples) - Ashrel Andre — motion to deny petition for variance/waiver carried (mover: Dr. Claudia Vicencio; second: Krause) with unanimous board votes recorded. - Morgan Kidwell — motion to deny carried; staff noted VALOR/military spouse registration is available as an alternative pathway. - Jamie Kowiak — motion to deny carried; board advised continued supervision and reapplication options. - Stacy Peacock — motion to deny carried; staff noted statutory changes permitting subsequent intern registrations.
Board staff told petitioners that written orders would follow, and that staff would explain reapplication or registration pathways where applicable.
