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BBS committee advances work on graduate-level MFT course requirements; staff to draft remediation options
Summary
The committee reviewed an SME-informed chart of proposed graduate-level MFT core content, debated unit sizes (semester vs. quarter) and psychopharmacology unit counts, and voted to continue work with subject-matter experts to draft remediation and law-format language for future review.
The Board of Behavioral Sciences' Workforce Development Committee moved on June 16 to continue development of graduate-level core-course requirements for marriage and family therapy degrees and to ask staff and subject-matter experts to draft remediation pathways.
Roseanne Helms told the committee the initiative is step two of a broader MFT education-review project and that three subject-matter experts ' Dr. Lea Brew (LMFT/LPCC), Dr. Diana Herwick (LPCC) and Dr. Ben Caldwell (LMFT) ' advised staff on Chart One, an outline of proposed core content areas and unit recommendations. "We have created an outline of possible graduate-level core content areas and course requirements," Helms said, describing the chart as a starting point.
Committee members questioned how units were sized across content areas and whether psychopharmacology should be two or three semester units. Helms said the chart reflects a hybrid approach drawing on older statute-based unit requirements and other states' approaches, and that the psychopharmacology amount was reduced in the draft because it appeared to offer less content than other core areas.
Dr. Annette Walker described the draft as "helpful" and asked staff to provide more detailed rationale for unit recommendations, particularly psychopharmacology, at the next meeting. Stakeholders in the room, including university program staff and representatives of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, requested opportunities to submit redlines and written feedback; staff said redlined drafts and letters are welcome.
The committee voted to "incorporate any feedback discussed by the committee today and continue working with subject-matter experts to discuss remediation options," with the motion carrying on a roll call. Staff said the next meeting will present the draft in law format and include remediation and CE-based options for discussion.
What happens next: Staff and SMEs will convert Chart One into draft regulatory language, document unit-rationale (including psychopharmacology), and present remediation options and a law-format draft at the next Workforce Development Committee meeting for additional stakeholder input.
