North Carolina General Statutes 90-270.48A. Exemptions
(a) This Article does not prevent members of the clergy or licensed, certified, or registered members of professional groups recognized by the Board from advertising or performing services consistent with their own profession. Members of the clergy include, but are not limited to, persons who are ordained, consecrated, commissioned, or endorsed by a recognized denomination, church, faith group, or synagogue. Professional groups the Board shall recognize include, but are not limited to, licensed or certified social workers, licensed clinical mental health counselors, fee-based pastoral counselors, licensed practicing psychologists, psychological associates, physicians, and attorneys-at-law. However, in no event may a person use the title “Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist” or “Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Associate,” use the letters “LMFT” or “LMFTA,” or in any way imply that the person is a licensed marriage and family therapist or a licensed marriage and family therapy associate unless the person is licensed as such under this Article.
(b) A person is exempt from the requirements of this Article if any of the following conditions are met:
(1) The person is (i) enrolled in a master’s level program or higher in a recognized educational institution, (ii) under supervision as approved by the Board in a training institution approved by the Board, and (iii) designated by a title such as “marriage and family therapy intern.”
Terms Used In North Carolina General Statutes 90-270.48A
- Board: means the North Carolina Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Board. See North Carolina General Statutes 90-270.47
- following: when used by way of reference to any section of a statute, shall be construed to mean the section next preceding or next following that in which such reference is made; unless when some other section is expressly designated in such reference. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
- Licensed marriage and family therapist: means a person to whom a license has been issued pursuant to this Article, if the license is in force and not suspended or revoked. See North Carolina General Statutes 90-270.47
- Licensed marriage and family therapy associate: means an individual to whom a license has been issued pursuant to this Article whose license is in force and not suspended or revoked and whose license permits the individual to engage in the practice of marriage and family therapy under the supervision of an American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) approved supervisor in accordance with rules adopted by the Board. See North Carolina General Statutes 90-270.47
- Recognized educational institution: means any university, college, professional school, or other institution of higher learning that:
(2) The person is practicing marriage and family therapy as an employee of a recognized educational institution, or a governmental institution or agency and the practice is included in the duties for which the person was employed by the institution or agency.
(3) Repealed by Session Laws 2009-393, s. 3, effective October 1, 2009.
(4) The person is practicing marriage and family therapy as an employee of a hospital licensed under Article 5 of Chapter 131E or Article 2 of Chapter 122C of the N.C. Gen. Stat.. Provided, however, no such person shall hold himself out as a licensed marriage and family therapist.
(c) No such person practicing marriage and family therapy under the exemptions provided by this section shall hold himself or herself out as a licensed marriage and family therapist or licensed marriage and family therapy associate. (1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 564, s. 2; 2001-487, s. 40(i); 2009-393, s. 3; 2019-240, s. 3(h).)