Qualified Supervisor
FL LMHC & LMFT

Offering Supervision for Florida
Registered Interns

of

Mental Health Counseling (MHC)
and

Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT)

Virtual Only ~ Individual ~ Group


Attention Registered Interns
Expiring March 31, 2022

Posted in Latest News on March 23, 2021 .


On July 1, 2016, Section 491.0045, Florida Statutes, was revised to establish a limitation of five years as a registered intern. The law reads, in part:

A registration issued on or before March 31, 2017, expires March 31, 2022, and may not be renewed or reissued. Any registration issued after March 31, 2017, expires 60 months after the date it is issued. The board may make a one-time exception to the requirements of this subsection in emergency or hardship cases, as defined by board rule, if the candidate has passed the theory and practice examination described in s. 491.005(1)(d), (3)(d), and (4)(d).

The Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling promulgated a revision to rule 64B4-3.0085, Florida Administrative Code, the following rule language, effective March 9, 2021, which states, in part:

(10) An “emergency or hardship case” pursuant to s. 491.0045(6), F.S., means that a circumstance or circumstances exist or existed that substantially relate to the ability to complete the internship requirements. The circumstance or circumstances must be beyond the registered intern’s control and be of such duration to have eliminated the ability of the Registered Intern to complete their internship requirements within the timeframe established pursuant to s. 491.0045(6), F.S. Failure to pass the exam does not meet the requirements of an emergency or hardship case.

(11) No later than 90 days prior to the expiration of the internship registration, the Registered Intern shall submit, in writing, a request to the Board for an exception to the requirements of s. 491.0045(6), F.S., with all documents necessary to demonstrate the emergency or hardship case experienced by the Registered Intern. Upon establishment of an emergency or hardship case, as determined by the Board, the Board shall issue the Registered Intern a one-time exception by granting an extension of the Registered Intern’s registration status for up to 24 months from the date of the initial registration expiration. The Board shall determine the length of the extension and no further exceptions or extensions are authorized by s. 491.0045, F.S.

It is important that you begin your final preparations before your license expires March 31, 2022, by evaluating your completion of supervision hours and the appropriate national examination.

For more information regarding full licensure, please visit the board's website at: https://floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov/licensing/.

For more information on how to register for the exam, please visit our website at:
https://floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov/resources/exam-schedule/.


July 1, 2020

The regulatory requirements for clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, and mental health counseling licensure have changed effective July 1, 2020. During the 2020 Legislative Session, House Bill 713 was passed and was recently signed by Governor DeSantis. The following is provided as a brief overview of the implemented law:

  • Registered Interns are authorized to request an extension to their licensure expiration date if they have passed the theory and practice exam but were unable to complete the experience requirement within 60 months due to a documented hardship. The Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling will be discussing rulemaking regarding the method for requesting the extension at the next scheduled general business meeting on August 6, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. EST.

  • Registered Marriage and Family Therapy Intern and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Exam Applicant education requirements for licensure have been revised to require a degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) or a Florida university program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) with additional graduate level coursework approved by the Board. The Board has previously identified the graduate level course work requirements in Rule 64B4-22.110, Florida Administrative Code.

  • Registered Mental Health Counseling Intern and Licensed Mental Health Counseling Exam Applicant education requirements for licensure have been revised to remove the graduate level course in Counseling in Community Settings. Practicum hours have been reduced to at least 700 hours of university-sponsored supervised clinical practicum, internship, or field experience that includes at least 280 hours of direct client services.

  • Beginning July 1, 2025, all Mental Health Counselor applicants must graduate from a CACREP accredited program as a minimum qualification for licensure.
  • Endorsement candidates will now only be required to provide license verification, proof of passing the applicable theory and practice exam, and continuing education certificates demonstrating completion of the required courses. The education review component was removed from law.

For further information regarding this bill, or to read the bill in it’s entirety, please visit click here .


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Maria Giuliana, LMHC, US  Navy Veteran, (She/Her) 

3955 Riverside Ave
Jacksonville, FL 32205
United States

(904)549-6786 Office

(904) 571-8413 Mobile

(904) 990-1366 Fax

[email protected]