Sec. 502.259. PROVISIONAL LICENSE

(a) The board may grant a provisional license to practice as a marriage and family therapist in this state without examination to an applicant who is licensed or otherwise registered as a marriage and family therapist by another state or jurisdiction if the requirements to be licensed or registered in the other state or jurisdiction were, on the date the person was licensed or registered, substantially equal to the requirements of this chapter.

(b) An applicant for a provisional license must:

(1) be licensed in good standing as a marriage and family therapist in another state or jurisdiction that has licensing requirements that are substantially equal to the requirements of this chapter;

(2) have passed a national or other examination that:

(A) is recognized by the board; and

(B) relates to marriage and family therapy; and

(3) be sponsored by a person licensed by the board with whom the provisional license holder may practice under this section.

(c) An applicant may be excused from the requirement of Subsection (b)(3) if the board determines that compliance with that subsection constitutes a hardship to the applicant.

(d) A provisional license is valid until the date the board approves or denies the provisional license holder's application for a license under Section 502.257. The board shall complete processing of a provisional license holder's application for a license not later than the 180th day after the date the provisional license is issued. The board may extend this period to allow for the receipt and tabulation of pending examination results.

(e) The board shall issue a license under Section 502.257 to a provisional license holder if:

(1) the provisional license holder passes the examination required by Section 502.254;

(2) the board verifies that the provisional license holder satisfies the academic and experience requirements of this chapter; and

(3) the provisional license holder satisfies any other license requirements under this chapter.

Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.