Changes proposed to marriage and family therapist certification

The Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony Feb. 22 on a bill that would change Nebraska’s supervision requirement for attaining certification as a marriage and family therapist.

As introduced, LB1148 would specify that the current 3,000 hours of supervised experience include:
• 1500 hours of direct client contact during the five years preceding application for certification;
• at least 100 hours of supervisor-supervisee contact hours with a qualified supervisor; and
• supervision provided at least one hour per week or two hours every two weeks.

This bill also would amend the definition of qualified supervisor.

Grand Island Sen. Mike Gloor, sponsor of the bill, said the measure is aimed at increasing the number of marriage and family therapists in Nebraska.

Anne Buettner of the Nebraska Association of Marriage and Family Therapy testified in support of the bill, saying there are only 10 qualified supervisors in the state under the current definition. She said standards could be relaxed without lowering the quality of care in Nebraska.

“State credentialing should not be about the best standards,” Buettner said. “It should be about minimum standards.”

She said bringing the standards more in line with other professionals regulated by the state’s mental health practice board would encourage marriage and family therapy graduates to stay in Nebraska to practice.

No opposition testimony was given and the committee took no immediate action on the bill.