Committee approves concept to pursue rulemaking to accept AMFTRB national LMFT clinical exam

The California Board of Behavioral Sciences Policy and Advocacy Committee voted Jan. 24 to approve in concept regulatory language that, if later finalized, would allow the board to accept the Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB) national exam as the clinical examination for licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) licensure.

Roseanne Helms, the board’s legislative manager, told the committee that “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 outlined steps staff and the board have taken to evaluate adoption, including collaboration with AMFTRB on exam content and measurement scope, work on accessibility for candidates, and coordination with the Department of Consumer Affairs’ Office of Information Services to automate transfer of national exam eligibilities and scores.

The committee’s action was to approve the proposed regulatory text in Attachment A in concept and to direct staff to draft initial rulemaking documents in preparation for possible submission to the director of the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. Helms said staff will return to the board for final consideration after completing implementation steps and related statutory changes; the committee was explicit that the statutory amendment must be enacted before regulations could be filed and take effect.

Public commenters from professional associations expressed support. Shanti Ejron of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists told the committee CAMFT “continues to be in really strong support of all the necessary amendments to accept the national exam,” saying the change would aid license portability and continuity of care. Ben Caldwell, a licensed MFT and continuing-education provider, asked about the timeline and public participation; Helms estimated the process would take “at least a couple of years,” because the statutory change must occur first and the regulation process typically takes about a year, sometimes more.

The committee motion (Motion A) passed by roll call with Chris Jones: Yes; Abigail Ortega: Yes; Kelly Ranasinghe: Yes. The board-level statutory proposal to permit adoption of the national exam is expected to be pursued through the board’s sunset bill this year and, if signed, would enable staff to proceed with formal regulatory rulemaking documents and public comment in the months that follow.