(a) The following persons shall be exempt from this chapter:
Terms Used In Alabama Code 34-17A-5
Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(1) A person practicing marriage and family therapy as part of his or her duties as an employee of a recognized educational institution; a federal, state, county, or municipal governmental institution or agency; a public corporation authorized by Section 22-51-2, which is certified by the Alabama Department of Mental Health pursuant to a contract with the State of Alabama; or an organization that is nonprofit while performing those duties for which the employee was employed by the institution, agency, facility, or organization.(2) A person in training.(3) A psychologist, properly licensed by the State of Alabama, who is practicing within the scope of his or her expertise.(4) A professional counselor, properly licensed by the State of Alabama, who is practicing within the scope of his or her expertise.(5) A licensed certified social worker, properly licensed by the State of Alabama, who is practicing within the scope of his or her expertise.(6) A minister of religion or a nurse when practicing within the scope of his or her expertise.(b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent qualified members of other licensed professional groups, including, social workers, attorneys, psychiatric nurses, psychologists, physicians, or professional counselors, or members of the clergy, from providing or advertising that they provide marriage and family therapy or counseling consistent with the accepted standards of their respective professions.(c) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to permit marriage and family therapists licensed pursuant to this chapter to administer, dispense, or prescribe drugs, or in any manner engage in the practice of medicine as defined by the laws of this state.
