Blogs

Connecticut HB 7081 Favorably Reported Out of Committee, Moves Toward Floor Votes

By Portability AAMFT posted 18 days ago
On March 5th, Connecticut's Joint Public Health Committee took another significant step toward MFT licensure portability by favorably reporting out HB 7081 . This action moves the bill forward in the legislative process, signaling strong support for reducing barriers to MFT licensure in the state. Now, the bill awaits some administrative steps before heading to floor votes in both the House and Senate. This progress is a testament to the collaborative efforts of advocates, legislators, and MFTs who recognize the importance of making mental health services more accessible. With the bill advancing, Connecticut is moving closer to implementing a streamlined licensure ...

HB 7081 Receives Strong Testimony in Connecticut Joint Committee Hearing

By Portability AAMFT posted 20 days ago
On March 3rd, HB 7081 was presented to the Connecticut Joint Public Health Committee, marking a significant milestone in our efforts to enhance MFT licensure portability in the state. Jaime Rodriguez, LMFT, FamilyTEAM Lead for AAMFT, and Advocacy Chair for the Connecticut Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, delivered compelling testimony in support of the bill. She emphasized the importance of reducing licensure barriers for MFTs, highlighting how streamlined licensure can benefit both mental health professionals and their clients by ensuring continuity of care and minimizing treatment delays. Rodriguez also underscored how unnecessary administrative ...

Kentucky HB 79 Passes House Floor Vote Unanimously, Moves to Senate

By Portability AAMFT posted 24 days ago
On February 27th, Kentucky’s HB 79 took another key step forward, passing its first-floor vote in the House unanimously. With this success, the bill now moves to the Senate, where it has been assigned to the Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee and awaits a hearing. This development marks an important advancement in ensuring that MFTs can move across state lines more seamlessly, increasing the availability of mental health services. The unanimous support highlights the widespread recognition of the need for licensure portability for MFTs in Kentucky. We will continue to monitor the bill’s progress and provide updates on its movement through the legislative ...

Kentucky HB 79 Passes House Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations Committee Unanimously

By Portability AAMFT posted 02-20-2025
Kentucky’s HB 79, which includes Access MFTs portability language, has made significant progress! Originally introduced last year and amended to include MFT portability provisions, the bill was reintroduced in 2025 with the portability language intact. On February 19th, HB 79 passed unanimously through the House Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations Committee. This milestone underscores strong bipartisan support for improving access to MFT services by making it easier for professionals to practice in Kentucky. By ensuring MFTs can provide care without unnecessary licensure hurdles, the bill helps address the growing demand for mental health ...

Connecticut’s Joint Public Health Committee Takes Up MFT Portability with HB 7081

By Portability AAMFT posted 02-10-2025
Exciting news from Connecticut! The joint House and Senate Public Health Committee has taken up the issue of MFT portability and introduced HB 7081 to address this critical need. The introduction of this bill marks a significant step forward in modernizing licensure laws to reflect the mobility required in today’s mental health workforce. Access MFTs has been working closely with stakeholders in Connecticut to advance legislation that will streamline the licensure process for MFTs, improving mobility for professionals and increasing access to mental health services. A more efficient licensure process will help MFTs fill gaps in care and support communities ...

Nebraska Joins Phase 2 of Access MFTs

By Portability AAMFT posted 01-23-2025
We are excited to announce that Nebraska has joined Phase 2 of the Access MFTs initiative! As we continue our efforts to expand licensure portability, Nebraska is now among the states actively working toward solutions that will allow licensed MFTs to practice across state lines with greater ease. We look forward to collaborating with stakeholders in Nebraska to advance portability legislation and improve access to mental health care for individuals and families across the state. Stay tuned for updates as we move forward!

Access MFTs Bill Filed In Kentucky

By Portability AAMFT posted 01-07-2025
On January 7, Representative Kimberly Banta and Representative Ken Fleming introduced House Bill 49 in the Kentucky House of Representatives. This proposed legislation focuses on simplifying licensure procedures, ensuring that more families and individuals can benefit from the expertise of qualified MFTs. In addition, Representative Kimberly Moser reintroduced House Bill 79 , which incorporates Access MFTs language. This bill revives efforts from last year, renewing the push to enhance licensure portability and expand opportunities for mental health professionals to serve Kentucky’s communities. While Phase 1 efforts in Kentucky ...

Access MFTs Bill Filed In Texas

By Portability AAMFT posted 11-13-2024
Exciting news for the MFT community in Texas! On November 12, Senator Judith Zaffirini pre-filed the Access MFTs bill, Senate Bill 51 , in the Texas Senate. This legislation aims to streamline the licensure process for MFTs from other states, enhancing access to vital mental health services across Texas. Texas faces a growing need for qualified mental health professionals, especially in rural and underserved areas. Senate Bill 51 seeks to remove barriers for experienced MFTs seeking to practice in Texas, ensuring individuals and families statewide can access the care they need. To support this initiative, you can: 1. Complete ...

Virginia Welcomes New LMFTs as Access MFTs Law Goes into Effect

By Portability AAMFT posted 11-12-2024
For years, AAMFT staff navigated calls from frustrated members with years of experience who were struggling to obtain secondary licensure in Virginia. A complex and often times laborious process meant many LMFTs ended up abandoning the effort rather than tracking down old syllabi or supervisors that had long since retired. And this challenge to the LMFT pipeline in the state meant marriage and family therapists were often being left out of important state efforts and programs. Because of this, when the Board of Directors approved the Access MFTs effort, Virginia quickly became a primary target state for the first phase. In partnership with the Virginia Association ...

Pennsylvania Joins Phase 2 of Access MFTs!

By Portability AAMFT posted 11-01-2024
AAMFT is excited to announce that Pennsylvania has joined Phase 2 of the Access MFTs initiative. In this new phase, we are partnering closely with the Pennsylvania Association for Marriage and Family Therapy to address the state’s unique regulatory challenges. By streamlining licensure processes and reducing unnecessary barriers, we aim to help MFTs serve more clients throughout the Commonwealth. Our collaborative efforts underscore the importance of ensuring practitioners can adapt to evolving demands and provide critical mental health services, no matter where they are needed.

Michigan Joins Phase 2 of Access MFTs!

By Portability AAMFT posted 11-01-2024
AAMFT is pleased to welcome Michigan into Phase 2 of the Access MFTs initiative. As we deepen our efforts here, we’ll be pushing forward on licensure portability, ensuring that marriage and family therapists can move more freely across state lines to meet the growing need for quality mental health care. Alongside our other advocacy work in Michigan, this portability effort promises to bolster the professional landscape for MFTs, while making it easier for individuals and families to access timely, specialized support. Stay tuned for updates as we continue this vital work in the Great Lakes State.

Washington, D.C. Joins Phase 2 of the Access MFTs Initiative!

By Portability AAMFT posted 10-10-2024
AAMFT is excited to announce that Washington, D.C., has joined Phase 2 of the Access MFTs initiative. By building on our Phase 1 success in Maryland and Virginia, we're further connecting the DMV area. By expanding into the nation's capital, we’re creating greater professional flexibility for MFTs and enhancing job opportunities throughout the region. With Washington, D.C. on board, we are working to align licensure requirements across the DMV, making it easier for MFTs to practice in multiple jurisdictions. This will not only benefit professionals seeking to expand their practices but also increase access to critical mental health services for individuals and ...

Nevada Joins Phase 2 of the Access MFTs Initiative!

By Portability AAMFT posted 10-08-2024
AAMFT is proud to announce that Nevada has officially joined Phase 2 of the Access MFTs initiative! After our success in states like Georgia, Iowa, Tennessee, Maryland, and Virginia during Phase 1, Nevada presents a fresh opportunity to continue expanding licensure portability across the U.S. In Nevada, we will be working closely with local partners to adapt our portability model to the state’s specific regulatory environment. This collaboration will give MFTs in Nevada the freedom to grow their careers by making it easier to practice in multiple jurisdictions. By reducing licensure barriers, we also help bridge critical gaps in mental health care, bringing ...

Arkansas Joins Phase 2 of the Access MFTs Initiative!

By Portability AAMFT posted 09-25-2024
We’re pleased to share that Arkansas is now part of Phase 2 of the Access MFTs initiative! With the momentum from Phase 1 victories in states like Georgia, Iowa, Tennessee, Maryland, and Virginia, Arkansas is the next step in our ongoing effort to streamline licensure portability for marriage and family therapists nationwide. AAMFT will be working closely with stakeholders in Arkansas to adapt our model portability laws to fit the unique needs of the state. By doing so, we aim to create a more seamless process for MFTs, allowing them to practice in multiple states and better serve their communities. Expanding licensure flexibility will not only help MFTs professionally ...

Connecticut Joins Phase 2 of the Access MFTs Initiative!

By Portability AAMFT posted 09-25-2024
AAMFT is excited to announce that Connecticut has officially joined Phase 2 of the Access MFTs initiative. Building on the success of Phase 1, where we passed our model licensure portability laws in states like Georgia, Iowa, Tennessee, Maryland, and Virginia, we’re now focusing on Connecticut to ensure MFTs in the state have greater flexibility to practice across state lines. This partnership with the Connecticut Association for Marriage and Family Therapy aims to reduce barriers and streamline licensure, giving professionals more opportunities to expand their practices. By addressing the specific regulatory challenges unique to Connecticut, we’re confident ...

Texas Association for Marriage & Family Therapy Joins Access MFTs Effort

By Portability AAMFT posted 09-16-2024
AAMFT is excited to announce that the Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (TAMFT) has joined as a partner in the Access MFTs initiative for the 2025 session. Launched in the fall of 2022, this AAMFT-led strategic portability initiative seeks to streamline the process and reduce barriers to licensure portability for MFTs across the United States. The Access MFTs plan employs a flexible model of licensure portability, designed to address the unique challenges and environments of each state. This strategy aims to rapidly advance the MFT profession, prioritizing areas where MFTs are currently working and wish to work. “[Easing barriers to] license ...

CAMFT & AAMFT Offer Comment Regarding California's Move Towards National MFT Exam

By Portability AAMFT posted 05-21-2024
We are excited to announce another major milestone for the MFT profession. As many of you know, 49 states recognize the Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Regulatory Board's (AMFTRB) Examination in Marital and Family Therapy as the exam graduates seeking a license must pass to become an LMFT in those states. However, in California, applicants for licensure must instead pass another exam, the California LMFT Clinical Exam, to become licensed as an MFT in that state. Having a separate state exam hinders the ability of California LMFTs, including experienced LMFTs, to become licensed in other states, as many states do not allow LMFTs who have passed the ...

Illinois Licensure Portability Senate Bill Passes House, Next Heads to the Governor's Desk!

By Portability AAMFT posted 05-20-2024
We're thrilled to announce a significant step forward for our Access MFTs initiative in Illinois! Senate Bill 3211 has unanimously passed the House floor and now heads to the Governor's desk for signature. This legislation represents a major victory for AAMFT, MFTs across Illinois, and the communities they serve. By streamlining the licensure process for qualified MFTs from other states, SB 3211 removes unnecessary barriers to providing essential mental health services. With the passage of this bill, Illinois residents will have increased access to mental healthcare, particularly in underserved areas. Patients will benefit from a broader range of ...

Georgia MFT Licensure Portability Bill Signed into Law!

By Portability AAMFT posted 05-03-2024
Exciting news from the Peach State! Governor Brian Kemp has signed SB 373 into law at a Jordan Vocational High School in Columbus, GA, alongside other bills championing workforce development and growth. This significant achievement underscores Georgia's commitment to addressing mental health care challenges and promoting well-being across the state. SB 373's journey through the legislative process has been swift and successful, with unanimous support at every stage. Led by Senator Larry Walker III and backed by a bipartisan coalition, alongside support from organizations like NAMI Georgia and Grady Memorial Hospital, this bill represents a unified effort ...

Arizona MFT Licensure Portability Bill Signed into Law!

By Portability AAMFT posted 04-24-2024
We are excited to announce another significant milestone for the MFT community: Governor Katie Hobbs has signed our Arizona MFT portability bill, SB 1062 , into law! This achievement marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing efforts to enhance mental health care access and support for MFTs across the country. Building on the momentum of the Access MFTs initiative, Arizona joins Iowa, Virginia, Tennessee, and Maryland as the latest state to enact legislation supporting MFT licensure portability. This collective progress underscores the growing recognition of the importance of MFTs and the need for flexible, accessible licensure options to serve diverse communities ...