# Title 111 — Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Board

## Article 111-02 — Licensure and Fees

## Chapter 111-02-01 — General Provisions

### § 111-02-01-01. Definitions.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms have the meanings given:
1. "Accredited institutions or programs" means institutions or programs which hold accreditation
or candidacy status from an accreditation organization recognized by the council for higher
education accreditation or postgraduate academic programs in marriage and family therapy
accredited by the commission on accreditation of the American association for marriage and
family therapy.
2. "Applicant" means an individual seeking licensure by the marriage and family therapy
licensure board as a marriage and family therapist.
3. "Certified professions or occupations" means those professions or occupations that have a
certification process based upon specific criteria identified as necessary for effective
performance of the profession or occupation. The certification process must include:
a. Eligibility requirements established through education or experience, or both;
b. Successful completion of a competency-based written examination;
c. Successful demonstration of competent clinical skills; and
d. Assurance of practitioner competencies through mandatory recertification and continuing
education requirements.
4. "Dual relationship" means a relationship between a therapist and another person with whom
such relationships are prohibited by law or rule that is both professional and one or more of
the following: cohabitational, familial, or supervisory, or that includes significant personal
involvement or financial involvement other than legitimate payment for therapeutic services
rendered.
5. "Emeritus" means retired from active practice but retaining one's license and title.
6. "Family system" means an open, ongoing, goal-seeking, self-regulating, social system which
shares features of all such systems. Certain features such as its unique structuring of gender,
race, nationality, and generation set it apart from other social systems. Each individual family

system is shaped by its own particular structural features (size, complexity, composition, life
stage), the psychobiological characteristics of its individual members (age, race, nationality,
gender, fertility, health, and temperament) and its sociocultural and historic position in its
larger environment.
7. "Fee splitting" means the practice of paying commissions to colleagues for referrals.
8. "LAMFT" are the initials permitted to be used by an associate marriage and family therapist
licensee to designate that the individual has completed the educational requirements for a
marriage and family therapy license, has successfully passed the licensing examination, and
is in the process of completing postgraduate supervision for the licensing requirements.
9. "Licensee" means a licensed marriage and family therapist.
10. "LMFT" are the initials permitted to be used by a licensed marriage and family therapist to
designate that the individual is licensed by the marriage and family therapy licensure board.
11. "Postgraduate supervised experience" means supervised experience occurring after the
accredited educational institution grants the degree for licensure as shown on the applicant's
transcript and all educational requirements specified in section 111-02-02-02.
12. "Provisional license" means a license granted temporarily if an applicant has submitted all the
documents and met criteria for licensure and the board has approved the applicant for oral
examination.
13. "Sexual contact" means any of the following, whether or not occurring with the consent of a
person with whom such conduct is prohibited by law or rule:
a. Sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anal intercourse, or any intrusion, however
slight, into the genital or anal openings of the body by any part of the therapist's body or
by any object used by the therapist for this purpose, or any intrusion, however slight, into
the genital or anal openings of the therapist's body by any part of another person's body
or by any object used by another person for this purpose, if agreed to by the therapist;
b. Kissing of, or the intentional touching by the therapist of another person's genital area,
groin, inner thigh, buttocks, or breast or of the clothing covering any of these body parts;
or
c. Kissing of, or the intentional touching by another person of the therapist's genital area,
groin, inner thigh, buttocks, or breast or of the clothing covering any of these body parts if
the therapist agrees to the kissing or intentional touching.
Sexual contact includes requests by the therapist for conduct described in subdivisions a to c.
Sexual contact does not include conduct described in subdivision a or b that is a part of
standard medical treatment of a patient.
14. "Sexual harassment" includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors,
sexually motivated physical contact, or other verbal or physical conduct or communication of a
sexual nature when:
a. Submission to that conduct or communication is made a term or condition, either
explicitly or implicitly, of obtaining employment, public accommodations or public
services, education, or housing;

b. Submission to or rejection of that conduct or communication by an individual is used as a
factor in decisions affecting that individual's employment, public accommodations or
public services, education, or housing; or
c. That conduct or communication has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with
an individual's employment, public accommodations or public services, education, or
housing, or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive employment, public
accommodations, public services, educational, or housing environment; and in the case
of employment, the employer knows or should know of the existence of the harassment
and fails to take timely and appropriate action.
15. "Supervisee" means an individual who is engaged in postgraduate, supervised experience
under the direction of a supervisor.
16. "Supervision" means taking full professional responsibility for training, work experience, and
performance in the practice of marriage and family therapy of a supervisee, including planning
for and evaluation of the work product of the supervisee, and including face-to-face contact
between the supervisor and supervisee.
17. "Supervisor" means an individual who has met the requirements in section 111-02-02-04 and
takes responsibility for the practice of the supervisee during a specific time to enable the
supervisee to meet the requirements of licensing.
18. "Therapeutic deception" means a representation by a therapist that sexual contact or unethical
conduct with the therapist is consistent with or part of the professional work with a client,
student, or supervisee or former client, student, or supervisee.
19. "Therapist" means a licensee of the board.
20. "Variance" means permission from the board to comply with a rule in a manner other than that
generally specified. To request a variance, an applicant or licensee shall submit a letter in
writing directly to the board. A variance must not be granted until the board has approved the
request.
History: Effective July 1, 2010; amended effective January 1, 2018; April 1, 2024.
General Authority: NDCC 43-53-05
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-53-01, 43-53-02
### § 111-02-01-02. Representation to the public.

1. No person other than those individuals exempt in North Dakota Century Code section
such services, or use a title or description denoting marriage and family therapist without
obtaining a license issued under North Dakota Century Code chapter 43-53.
2. An individual engages in marriage and family therapy practice if the individual performs or
offers to perform marriage and family therapy or if the individual is held out as able to perform
such a service.
History: Effective July 1, 2010.
General Authority: NDCC 28-32-02, 43-53-05
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-53-02, 43-53-03, 43-53-06, 43-53-12
### § 111-02-01-03. Exemptions.

Those qualified individuals of other licensed or certified professions or occupations who are
performing services consistent with their training are exempt from licensure so long as they do not

represent themselves by a title denoting marriage and family therapist, such as marriage and family
therapist, marriage therapist, family therapist, marriage and family counselor, marriage counselor, or
family counselor unless specifically allowed to do so under law. Those qualified individuals listed in
North Dakota Century Code section 43-53-03 may advertise the performance of marriage and family
therapy services.
History: Effective July 1, 2010.
General Authority: NDCC 28-32-02, 43-53-05
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-53-03
### § 111-02-01-04. Criminal background checks.

The purpose of this section is to comply with North Dakota Century Code section 12-60-24 by
establishing background checks for persons applying for license or renewal of license as a licensed
marriage and family therapist under North Dakota Century Code chapter 43-53, except that criminal
history record checks need not be made unless required by the board. The required fees of a
background check are the full responsibility of the applicant or licensee. Furthermore:
1. The board may suspend or revoke an existing license, disqualify a person from receiving a
license, or deny a person the opportunity to be examined for a license because of a person's
conviction of a felony or misdemeanor if the crime directly relates to the duties and
responsibilities of a licensee or if the crime involves moral turpitude.
2. In considering whether a criminal conviction directly relates to the occupation of a licensee,
the board shall consider:
a. The nature and seriousness of the crime;
b. The relationship of the crime to the purposes for requiring a license to be a licensed
marriage and family therapist or an associate marriage and family therapist. The
following felonies and misdemeanors relate to the license of a licensed marriage and
family therapist or associate marriage and family therapist because these criminal
offenses indicate an inability to perform as a therapist or a tendency to be unable to
perform as a licensed marriage and family therapist or licensed marriage and family
therapist associate:
(1) The misdemeanor of knowingly or intentionally acting as a therapist without a
license;
(2) A misdemeanor or a felony offense under various chapters of North Dakota Century
Code which relates to offenses against:
(a) The person;
(b) Property;
(c) Public order and decency; or
(d) Public health, safety, and morals;
c. Other misdemeanors and felonies that the board may consider in order to promote the
intent of North Dakota Century Code chapter 43-53 and this title;
d. The extent to which a license might offer an opportunity to engage in further criminal
activity of the same type as that in which the person previously had been involved; and
e. The relationship of the crime to the ability, capacity, or fitness required to perform the
duties and discharge the responsibilities of a licensed marriage and family therapist or

associate marriage and family therapist. In making this determination, the board will
apply the criteria outlined in North Dakota Century Code chapter 43-53 and this title.
History: Effective July 1, 2010.
General Authority: NDCC 28-32-02, 43-53-05
Law Implemented: NDCC 12-60-24, 43-53-06
### § 111-02-01-05. Code of ethics.

1. The code of ethics applies to all licensees and applicants who practice marriage and family
therapy and applies to their conduct during the period of education and training required for
licensure.
2. The code of ethics constitutes the standards by which the professional conduct of a marriage
and family therapist is measured.
3. A violation of the code of ethics is unprofessional or unethical conduct and is a sufficient
reason for disciplinary action or denial of licensure or revocation of license.
4. A marriage and family therapist must act in accordance with the highest standards of
professional integrity and competence. A marriage and family therapist must be honest in
dealing with clients, students, trainees, colleagues, and the public.
a. A therapist must not perform, nor pretend to be able to perform, professional services
beyond the therapist's field or fields of competence.
b. A therapist must not permit a trainee or intern under the therapist's supervision to
perform, nor pretend to be competent to perform, professional services beyond the
trainee's or intern's level of training.
c. A therapist must recognize the potentially influential position the therapist may have with
respect to students, interns, employees, and supervisees, and must avoid exploiting the
trust and dependency of these persons. A therapist must make every effort to avoid dual
relationships that could impair the therapist's professional judgment or increase the risk
of exploitation. Sexual contact between the therapist and students, employees,
independent contractors, colleagues, or supervisees is prohibited for two years after the
date that the relationship is terminated, whether or not the party is informed that the
relationship is terminated. Sexual contact after two years with a former student, intern,
employee, or supervisee is prohibited:
(1) If the former student, intern, employee, or supervisee was emotionally dependent
upon the therapist; or
(2) If the sexual contact occurred by means of therapeutic deception.
d. A therapist must not engage in sexual contact or other harassment, therapeutic
deception, or exploitation of students, trainees, interns, employees, independent
contractors, colleagues, research subjects, or actual or potential witnesses or
complainants in ethical proceedings.
e. A therapist must not use or exploit the professional relationship with a student, trainee,
intern, employee, independent contractor, colleague, research subject, or actual or
potential witness or complainant in ethical proceedings in any manner for the therapist's
emotional, financial, sexual, religious, political, or personal advantage or benefit.
f. A therapist must recognize that there are other professional, technical, and administrative
resources available to clients. The therapist must make referrals to those resources when

it is in the best interest of clients to be provided with alternative or complementary
services. The therapist must make a reasonably prompt referral when requested to do so
by the client, without consideration of limitation of third-party payers.
g. A therapist must not offer, nor accept, payment for referrals.
h. A therapist must not knowingly offer services to a client who is in treatment with another
professional without consultation among the parties involved. If a client refuses to allow
consultation, the therapist should delay the administration of service until the client gives
written consent to consultation. The exception to the consultation requirement would be if
the client reports ethical violations by the other professional.
i. A therapist must understand the areas of competence of related professions and act with
due regard for the need, special competencies, and obligations of their colleagues in
other allied professions, and must not disparage the qualifications of any colleague.
j. A therapist must seek appropriate professional assistance for the therapist's own
personal problems or conflicts that are likely to impair the therapist's work performance
and clinical judgment.
k. A therapist must not practice under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance
not lawfully prescribed.
l. A therapist must not allow an individual or agency that is paying for the professional
services of a client to exert undue influence over the therapist's evaluation or treatment of
the client.
m. A therapist must file a complaint with the board when the therapist has reason to believe
that another therapist is or has been engaged in conduct which violates this section,
North Dakota criminal statutes, or which is grounds for disciplinary proceedings in North
Dakota Century Code section 43-53-10.
n. A therapist must not engage in any conduct likely to deceive or defraud the public or the
board.
o. A therapist must not advertise in a way that is false, fraudulent, or misleading to the
public.
p. A therapist shall use only academic degrees from regionally accredited institutions that
are related to the practice of marriage and family therapy in any situation or circumstance
related to the practice of marriage and family therapy. Those therapists holding current
North Dakota mental health professional licenses issued by other North Dakota licensing
boards may also use degrees and titles directly related to these licenses as permitted by
the other boards when the other licensure is cited with the marriage and family licensure.
q. A therapist must correct, wherever possible, false, misleading, or inaccurate information
and representations made by others concerning the therapist's qualifications, services, or
products.
r. A therapist must make certain that the qualifications of a person in a therapist's employ
as a student, independent contractor, or an intern are represented in a manner that is not
false, misleading, or deceptive.
s. A therapist must not engage in any unprofessional conduct. Unprofessional conduct is
any conduct violating this section or violating those standards of professional behavior
that have become established by consensus of the expert opinion of marriage and family
therapists as reasonably necessary for the protection of the public interest.

5. A marriage and family therapist's primary professional responsibility is to the client. A marriage
and family therapist must make every reasonable effort to advance the welfare and best
interests of families and individuals. A marriage and family therapist must respect the rights of
those persons seeking assistance and make reasonable efforts to ensure that the therapist's
services are used appropriately. A marriage therapist is bound by these ethics primarily. These
ethics supersede any policies of an employer or contractor that may be contrary.
a. Once a client has been accepted into therapy, a therapist must not discriminate on the
basis of age, sex, race, national origin, religion, physical disability, political affiliation, or
social or economic status. In addition, a therapist must not discriminate on the basis of
affectional preference, or choice of lifestyle. When unable to offer services for any
reason, a therapist shall make an appropriate referral.
b. A therapist must recognize the potentially influential position the therapist may have with
respect to clients, and must avoid exploiting the trust and dependency of clients. A
therapist must make every effort to avoid dual relationships with clients that could impair
the therapist's professional judgment or increase the risk of exploitation.
c. A therapist must be careful to truthfully represent to clients facts regarding services
rendered.
d. A therapist must recognize the importance of clear understandings on financial matters
with clients. Arrangements for fees and payments must be made at the beginning of the
therapeutic relationship.
e. A therapist must not engage in sexual contact or other physical intimacies with a client.
Sexual contact with a former client is prohibited.
f. A therapist must not engage in sexual or other harassment of a client, nor in any verbal
or physical behavior that is sexually seductive or sexually demeaning to the client. For
purposes of this item, sexual harassment has the meaning given it in subsection 15 of
section 111-02-01-01.
g. A therapist must not use or exploit the professional relationship with a client in any
manner for the therapist's emotional, financial, sexual, religious, political, or personal
advantage or benefit.
h. A therapist must not use any confidence of a client to the client's disadvantage.
i. A therapist must terminate a client relationship when it is reasonably clear that the
treatment no longer serves the client's needs or interests.
j. A therapist must not provide services to a client when the therapist's objectivity or
effectiveness is impaired. Whenever a therapist's objectivity or effectiveness becomes
impaired during a professional relationship with a client, the therapist must notify the
client orally and in writing that the therapist can no longer see the client professionally
and must assist the client in obtaining services from another professional.
k. A therapist must respect the right of a client to make decisions and must help the client
understand the consequences of the decisions. A therapist must advise a client that a
decision on marital status is the responsibility of the client.
l. A therapist must inform a client of a divergence of interests, values, attitudes, or biases
between a client and the therapist that is sufficient to impair their professional
relationship. Either the client or the therapist may terminate the relationship.

m. In the course of professional practice, a therapist must not violate any law concerning the
reporting of abuse of children under North Dakota Century Code chapter 50-25 and
vulnerable adults under North Dakota Century Code chapter 50-25.2.
n. A therapist must display prominently on the premises of the therapist's professional
practice or make available as a handout the bill of rights of clients, including a statement
that consumers of marriage and family therapy services offered by marriage and family
therapists licensed by the state of North Dakota have the right to:
(1) Expect that a therapist has met the minimal qualifications of training and experience
required by state law;
(2) Examine public records maintained by the marriage and family therapy licensure
board which contain the credentials of a therapist;
(3) Obtain a copy of the code of ethics from the marriage and family therapy licensure
board;
(4) Report complaints to the marriage and family therapy licensure board;
(5) Be informed of the cost of professional services before receiving the services;
(6) Privacy as defined by rule and law;
(7) Be free from being the object of discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender,
or other unlawful category while receiving services;
(8) Have access to their records; and
(9) Be free from exploitation for the benefit or advantage of a therapist.
o. A therapist must, upon request from the client, provide information regarding the
procedure for filing a complaint with the board.
6. A marriage and family therapist must hold in confidence all information obtained in the course
of professional services. A marriage and family therapist must safeguard client confidences as
required by law.
a. A therapist, and employees and professional associates of the therapist, must not
disclose any private information that the therapist, employee, or associate may have
acquired in rendering services except as provided by law. All other private information
must be disclosed only with the informed consent of the client.
b. A therapist must be responsible for informing clients of the limits of confidentiality.
c. For purposes of safeguarding confidentiality, when seeing a couple or a family, a
therapist must define who the "client" is as soon as it is possible to determine the client.
For example, a therapist must define whether the couple or family, as a unit, is the client
or whether the individuals who make up the couple or family are the clients.
d. When seeing a couple or a family, a therapist must inform the client, at the beginning of
the relationship, what the therapist's procedures are for handling confidences from
individual members of the family and for protecting individuals' privacy while
safeguarding the integrity of the therapy process.
e. Whenever marriage and family therapy services are requested or paid for by one client
for another, the therapist must inform both clients of the therapist's responsibility to treat
any information gained in the course of rendering the services as private information.

f. A therapist must limit access to client records and must inform every individual
associated with the agency or facility of the therapist, such as a staff member, student, or
volunteer, that access to client records must be limited to only the therapist with whom
the client has a professional relationship, an individual associated with the agency or
facility whose duties require access, and an individual authorized to have access by the
informed written consent of the client.
g. A therapist must continue to maintain as private information the records of a client for ten
years after the professional relationship between the therapist and the client has ceased.
The therapist must store and dispose of records in ways that maintain confidentiality.
h. A therapist must disclose to the board and its agents client records that the board and its
agents consider to be germane to a disciplinary proceeding.
i. A therapist must obtain written, informed consent from each client before electronically
recording sessions with that client or before permitting third-party supervisory
observation of their sessions. The consent form should specify the purpose and
proposed audience for the recording.
j. A therapist must disguise adequately the identity of a client when using material derived
from a counseling relationship for purposes of training, research, professional meetings,
or publications.
k. A client who is the recipient of marriage and family therapy services has the right to
access the records related to the service maintained by the licensee on that client,
provided the records are not classified as confidential by North Dakota law.
l. A marriage and family therapist must maintain an accurate record for each client. Each
record must minimally contain:
(1) A client personal data record which shall include the presenting problem;
(2) A treatment plan with a diagnosis and justification for it and treatment goals;
(3) An accurate chronological listing of all client contacts and a summary of each;
(4) Records of any consultation or supervision received in relation to the client;
(5) A termination statement indicating the date and reason for termination, the client's
condition at the time, and any recommendations made to the client;
(6) Copies of all client authorization for release of information and any other legal forms
pertaining to the client; and
(7) A chronological listing of all fees or charges for services related to the client and to
whom the fees were charged. This record may be kept separate from the client's
clinical file.
7. A marriage and family therapist must conduct research activities with full respect for the rights
and dignity of participants and with full concern for their welfare according to the requirements
of the "Ethical Principles of Psychologists, General Principle 9: Research With Human
Participants", American psychological association, as amended June 2, 1989. These
requirements are incorporated by reference. The requirements were published in "American
Psychologist", March 1990, volume 45, number 3, pages 390-395. Participation in research is
voluntary.
History: Effective July 1, 2010; amended effective January 1, 2018.

General Authority: NDCC 28-32-02, 43-53-05
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-53-05, 43-53-10, 43-53-11
### § 111-02-01-06. Continuing education.

1. A licensee must regularly engage in continuing education related to the practice of marriage
and family therapy as defined in this section.
2. Licensed marriage and family therapists must complete a minimum of thirty hours of
continuing education every two years, of which six hours must be ethics. Licensed associates
must complete fifteen hours of continuing education every year, of which three hours must be
ethics. A board approved supervisor or American association for marriage and family
therapy approved supervisor shall dedicate ten percent, three continuing education units,
of continuing education in courses on supervision. The required number of hours shall be
prorated for persons who are initially licensed during a given reporting period. Licensed
marriage and family therapists shall attest to the board as to completion of the required hours
upon renewal of the license in each odd-numbered year. Licensed associate marriage and
family therapists shall attest to the board as to completion of the required hours upon renewal
of the license each year. At the time of license renewal in each odd-numbered year or at the
time of application for reinstatement of a license, a licensed marriage and family therapist shall
attest to completion of a minimum of thirty approved continuing education hours since last
renewal or the minimum number required for reinstatement. Failure to complete the attestation
required results in nonrenewal of licensure.
3. When the licensee applies for renewal of the license in the odd-numbered year or is audited,
the licensee must submit documentation of the licensee's completion of the required hours of
continuing education on an appropriate form furnished by the board. A receipt for payment of
the fees for the course is not sufficient evidence of completion of the required hours of
continuing education. Licensees shall keep attendance certificates for at least five years as
the board may conduct random audits to verify compliance with subsection 2.
4. A course may not be counted toward a licensee's continuing education requirements unless it
has been approved by the board according to the procedures in this subsection and
subsections 5 to 10. Courses may be approved for all attendees when submitted by the
sponsor as prescribed in subsection 11 or a licensee may request individual approval as
prescribed in subsection 6. The board shall consider the following factors in determining
whether a course should be approved:
a. The course's relevance to the therapeutic practices of marriage and family therapy.
b. Whether the course is structured on sound educational principles and fits into one of the
following categories:
(1) Structured educational programs with an instructor as a part of conventions,
workshops, seminars, lectures, interactive media, and graduate and postgraduate
courses from regionally accredited institutions. All coursework must include the
areas described in subdivision d; and
(2) Home study courses related to marriage and family therapy as described in
subdivision d. Programs must have an independently graded test component. No
more than one-half, or fifteen continuing education unit hours, of the required thirty
continuing education hours may be earned by this method.
c. Whether the course is at least one hour in length. "One hour" means at least fifty minutes
spent as a student in direct participation in a structured educational format. Time for

home study courses shall be based on developer's research on average time to
complete.
d. Whether the subject of the course is related to marriage and family therapy with an
emphasis upon systemic approaches or the theory, research, or practice of
psychotherapeutic work with couples or families. Continuing education for marriage and
family therapy generally evolves from the following areas:
(1) Historical, theoretical foundations, and contemporary conceptual directions of the
field of marriage and family therapy;
(2) Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment in marriage and family therapy including both
dysfunctional relationship patterns and nervous and mental disorders, whether
cognitive, affective, or behavioral;
(3) Family studies including the life cycle of the family, the process and modification of
family structures over time, and issues related to ethnicity, race, socioeconomic
status, culture, gender, and sexuality;
(4) Human development including human behavior, personality theory, sexuality,
psychopathology, behavior pathology, and physical and mental impairments and
disabilities that affect normal development;
(5) Ethics and professional studies covering legal responsibilities and liabilities of
licensure, clinical practice, research, family law, and confidentiality issues; and
(6) Supervision in marriage and family therapy including theories and practices.
e. Whether the course's instructors or developers are qualified by practical or academic
experience to teach, lecture, make presentations, or develop courses.
5. The board may use a committee, which may include nonboard members, to evaluate
applications for course approval.
6. A licensee's application for course approval:
a. A licensee must apply individually for approval of continuing education courses that have
not been approved by the board in subsection 11. The licensee must submit information
required in subdivision b, as well as other information the board reasonably requires to
evaluate the course for approval.
b. The following information must be submitted to the board, in addition to the form required
in subsection 3, by the licensee:
(1) The name and address of the organization sponsoring the course;
(2) A detailed description of the course content;
(3) The name of each instructor or presenter and the instructor's or presenter's
credentials; and
(4) The location, including the name and address of the facility, at which the course will
be conducted.
c. Licensees seeking approval for a course not previously approved by the board are
strongly encouraged to seek board approval before attending the course. Licensees have
sixty days following the continuing education event to seek approval for a course not
preapproved in advance by the board.

d. All American association for marriage and family therapy approved continuing
education are deemed approved by the North Dakota marriage and family therapy
licensure board. All individual state marriage and family therapy board approved
continuing education must be approved by the North Dakota marriage and family therapy
licensure board.
e. The board shall deny approval for a course if it does not meet the standards in
subsection 4. The board shall notify the applicant in writing of its reasons for denying
approval of a course under this subsection.
7. Continuing education credit may not be applied for marketing the business aspects of one's
practice, time management, supervisory sessions, staff orientation, agency activities that
address procedural issues, personal therapy, or other methods not structured on sound
education principles or contrary to the code of ethics. Continuing education credit may be
applied for the following programs that comply with the requirements of subsection 4:
a. Programs specifically listed in paragraphs 1 and 2 of subdivision b of subsection 4;
b. Teaching a marriage and family course in an institution accredited by a regional
accrediting association. Continuing education hours may be earned only for the first time
the licensee teaches the course. The course must be related to marriage and family
therapy as described in subdivision d of subsection 4. Ten continuing education hours
may be earned for each semester credit-hour taught;
c. Research of an original nature directly related to marriage and family therapy as
described in paragraphs 1 to 6 of subdivision d of subsection 4. This activity must be
preapproved by the board. Hours of credit for this activity shall be negotiated based on
the nature of the project. Contact the board for appropriate preapproval forms;
d. Authoring, editing, or reviewing in an area of marriage and family therapy as described in
subdivision d of subsection 4. Continuing education hours may be earned only in the
year of publication. The maximum hours earned are as follows:
(1) Author of a professional book, thirty hours;
(2) Author of a professional book chapter or journal article, fifteen hours;
(3) Editor of a professional book or journal, twenty-five hours; and
(4) Journal article review, one hour per manuscript;
e. Presentations at workshops, seminars, symposia, meetings of professional
organizations, or postgraduate institutes. The presentation must be related to marriage
and family therapy as described in subdivision d of subsection 4. One hour of
development time equals one continuing education hour and up to three hours of
development time may be claimed for each hour of presentation. Continuing education
hours may be earned only for the licensee's first presentation on the subject developed;
and
f. Individually designed continuing education activity. Licensees may submit proposals for
continuing education activities which do not meet other guidelines established within this
section. The proposal request must include the following:
(1) The rationale for pursuing an individually designed activity;
(2) Specific goals and objectives, and an explanation of how the goals and objectives
are related to the enhancement of the licensee's professional skills;

(3) An outline of the topics to be covered;
(4) A description of related resources and activities;
(5) The proposed documentation of completion of activity; and
(6) The estimate of time to be expended on the activity and the number of continuing
education hours requested. The board shall have final say in the number of hours
credited for completion of such activity. Subdivisions d to f require preapproval. The
applicant must obtain preapproval forms from the board.
8. Continuing education shall be credited on an hour-for-hour basis except as noted in
subsection 7. "One hour" means at least fifty minutes spent as a student in direct participation
in a structured educational format.
9. A licensee whose license has not expired and who meets any of the following conditions is
exempt from continuing education requirements in this section if the licensee files with the
board an affidavit specifying that the licensee:
a. Is retired from practice and does not perform marriage and family therapy services on a
volunteer or free basis;
b. Is permanently disabled and unable to practice marriage and family therapy,
accompanied by a statement from the licensee's physician;
c. Has been granted emeritus status as specified in section 111-02-04-05; or
d. Has been called to active duty in the armed forces of the United States.
10. A licensee claiming exemption under subsection 9 who later decides to resume practice must
submit to the board, before resuming practice, a written notice that the licensee intends to
resume practice. The licensee must also submit evidence that the licensee has completed
continuing education requirements that are equivalent to what the requirements would have
been without the exemption for the five years or any portion of the five years immediately
preceding the date of the notice of intent to resume practice.
11. Individuals, organizations, associations, corporations, educational institutions, or groups
intending to offer courses for approval shall submit to the board a completed application on a
form provided by the board. The course sponsor must meet the requirements in subdivisions a
through d to receive and maintain course approval.
a. The application for course approval must be submitted at least sixty days before the
course is scheduled to begin and must include the sponsor's application and an annual
nonrefundable continuing education course fee of one hundred dollars.
b. The application for course approval must include the following information to enable the
board to determine whether the course meets the standards for board approval specified
in subsection 4:
(1) A statement of the objectives of the course and the knowledge the participants will
have gained upon completion of the course;
(2) A description of the content and methodology of the course which will allow the
participants to meet the objectives;
(3) A description of the method to be used by the participants to evaluate the course;

(4) A listing of the qualifications of each instructor or developer which shows the
instructor's or developer's current knowledge and skill in the course's subject; and
(5) A description of the certificate or other form of verification of attendance distributed
to each participant upon successful completion of the course.
c. If the board approves a course, the board shall assign a number to the course. The
approval remains in effect for one year from the date of initial approval. The board shall
compile a list of approved courses at least once per calendar year. To retain course
approval, a course sponsor must submit to the board a new application for course
approval required in subdivisions a and b and the application fee for approval of a
continuing education course required before the expiration of the one-year period.
(1) Each sponsor of an approved course may announce, as to a course that has been
approved by the board, that: "This course has been approved by the North Dakota
Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Board for ___ hours of credit."
(2) The course sponsor shall submit proposed changes in an approved course to the
board for its approval.
d. The board shall approve or disapprove a sponsor's application for course approval.
e. The board shall deny approval of a course if it does not meet the standards in
subsection 4. The board shall notify the course sponsor in writing of its reasons for
denying approval of a course.
f. The board shall revoke its approval of a course if a course sponsor fails to comply with
subdivision c and any part of subsection 4, or if a course sponsor falsifies information
requested by the board in the application for approval of a course.
History: Effective July 1, 2010; amended effective January 1, 2018; April 1, 2024.
General Authority: NDCC 43-53-05
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-53-05, 43-53-09
