PROPOSED

This document is not yet current.

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

Kentucky Board of Licensure for Marriage and Family Therapists

(New Administrative Regulation)

201 KAR 32:046.Examination.

RELATES TO:

KRS 335.320, 335.332(1)

STATUTORY AUTHORITY:

KRS 335.320(9), 335.330

CERTIFICATION STATEMENT:

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY:

KRS 335.330 requires an applicant to pass a written examination prescribed by the board. This administrative regulation establishes the process for taking the examination.

Section 1.

Examination for Licensure.

(1)

An applicant for licensure shall submit to a written examination in accordance with subsections (2) and (3) of this section.

(2)

An applicant shall hold a Marriage and Family Therapist Associate Permit issued by the Kentucky Board of Licensure for Marriage and Family Therapists.

(3)

The applicant shall be required to pass the national exam offered through The Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Regulatory Board.

(4)

If an applicant for licensure fails the objective examination, the candidate shall be permitted to retake the examination.

(5)

Any request for deferment of the examination shall be made by the applicant directly to the testing agency, who shall have full discretion to grant or deny the request.

Section 2.

Examination for Licensure by Endorsement. Applicants for licensure by endorsement shall be required to pass:

(1)

The national exam offered by The Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Regulatory Board; or

(2)

The exam offered by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

201 KAR 32:046

AMANDA BOMMER-VILLAVECES, Vice Chair

APPROVED BY AGENCY: May 21, 2026

FILED WITH LRC: September 14, 2026 at 2:30 p.m.

PUBLIC HEARING AND COMMENT PERIOD: A public hearing on this administrative regulation shall be held on November 23, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. local prevailing time at the Mayo-Underwood Building, Room 127 CW, 500 Mero Street, Frankfort, Kentucky. Individuals interested in being heard at this hearing shall notify this agency in writing by five (5) workdays prior to the hearing, of their intent to attend. If no notification of intent to attend the hearing was received by that date, the hearing may be cancelled. A transcript of the public hearing will not be made unless a written request for a transcript is made. If you do not wish to be heard at the public hearing, you may submit written comments on the proposed administrative regulation. Written comments shall be accepted through November 30, 2026. Send written notification of intent to be heard at the public hearing or written comments on the proposed administrative regulation to the contact person by using the PPC public comment portal at the address listed below.

CONTACT PERSON: Name: Matthew D. Ellison Title: Staff Attorney III Agency: Department of Professional Licensing, Office of Legal Services Address: 500 Mero Street Phone Number: (502) 782-0706 (office) Fax: (502) 564-4818 Email: matthew.ellison@ky.gov

REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS AND TIERING STATEMENT

Contact Person:

Matthew D. Ellison, Staff Attorney III Phone: 502-782-0706 Email: matthew.ellison@ky.gov

Subject Headings:

Licensing, Marriage and Family Therapy, Occupations and Professions

(1) Provide a brief summary of:

(a) What this administrative regulation does:

This administrative regulation sets forth the examination requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist.

(b) The necessity of this administrative regulation:

This administrative regulation is required by KRS 335.330(3).

This administrative regulation amendment conforms with the Board’s authorizing statute in KRS 335.330(3) to prescribe a written examination by administrative regulation. Licensure by endorsement applicants are required to have passed an examination as promulgated by KRS 335.330(3). KRS 335.336.

(d) How this administrative regulation currently assists or will assist in the effective administration of the statutes:

This administrative regulation assists licensees and applicants for licensure by establishing the examination process for marriage and family therapist licensure.

(2) If this is an amendment to an existing administrative regulation, provide a brief summary of:

(a) How the amendment will change this existing administrative regulation:

N/A.

(b) The necessity of the amendment to this administrative regulation:

N/A.

(d) How the amendment will assist in the effective administration of the statutes:

N/A.

(3) Does this administrative regulation or amendment implement legislation from the previous five years?

Yes. See 335.336, Created 2026 Ky. Acts Ch. 79, effective July 15, 2026.

(4) List the type and number of individuals, businesses, organizations, or state and local governments affected by this administrative regulation:

This administrative regulation will affect all new applicants for licensure.

(5) Provide an analysis of how the entities identified in question (4) will be impacted by either the implementation of this administrative regulation, if new, or by the change, if it is an amendment, including:

(a) List the actions that each of the regulated entities identified in question (4) will have to take to comply with this administrative regulation or amendment:

The applicants must comply with the examination requirements to be eligible for full licensure.

(b) In complying with this administrative regulation or amendment, how much will it cost each of the entities identified in question (4):

The applicants must pay the costs associated with the required examinations to the administering entities.

As a result of compliance, applicants will be eligible for full licensure.

(6) Provide an estimate of how much it will cost the administrative body to implement this administrative regulation:

(a) Initially:

There will be no initial cost to the administrative body to implement this administrative regulation.

(b) On a continuing basis:

There will be no continuing cost to the administrative body to implement this administrative regulation.

(7) What is the source of the funding to be used for the implementation and enforcement of this administrative regulation or this amendment:

The Board’s operations are funded by fees paid by license holders and applicants.

(8) Provide an assessment of whether an increase in fees or funding will be necessary to implement this administrative regulation, if new, or by the change if it is an amendment:

No increase in fees or funding will be necessary to implement this administrative regulation.

(9) State whether or not this administrative regulation establishes any fees or directly or indirectly increases any fees:

This administrative regulation does not establish any new fees or increase any fees paid to the Board.

(10) TIERING: Is tiering applied?

(Explain why or why not) Tiering is not applied because this regulation applies to all applicants equally.

FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT

(1) Identify each state statute, federal statute, or federal regulation that requires or authorizes the action taken by the administrative regulation:

. This administrative regulation is required by KRS 335.330(3).

(2) State whether this administrative regulation is expressly authorized by an act of the General Assembly, and if so, identify the act:

Yes, KRS 335.336, 2026 Ky. Acts Ch. 79, effective July 15, 2026.

(3)(a) Identify the promulgating agency and any other affected state units, parts, or divisions:

The Kentucky Board of Licensure for Marriage and Family Therapists is the promulgating agency.

(b) Estimate the following for each affected state unit, part, or division identified in (3)(a):

1. Expenditures:

For the first year:

There are no expenditures anticipated in the first year.

For subsequent years:

There are no expenditures anticipated in subsequent years.

2. Revenues:

For the first year:

This administrative regulation will generate no revenue for the first year.

For subsequent years:

This administrative regulation will generate no revenue in subsequent years.

3. Cost Savings:

For the first year:

No cost savings are anticipated in the first year.

For subsequent years:

No cost savings are anticipated in subsequent years.

(4)(a) Identify affected local entities (for example: cities, counties, fire departments, school districts):

None anticipated.

(b) Estimate the following for each affected local entity identified in (4)(a):

1. Expenditures:

For the first year:

N/A

For subsequent years:

N/A

2. Revenues:

For the first year:

N/A

For subsequent years:

N/A

3. Cost Savings:

For the first year:

N/A

For subsequent years:

N/A

(5)(a) Identify any affected regulated entities not listed in (3)(a) or (4)(a):

None anticipated.

(b) Estimate the following for each regulated entity identified in (5)(a):

1. Expenditures:

For the first year:

N/A

For subsequent years:

N/A

2. Revenues:

For the first year:

N/A

For subsequent years:

N/A

3. Cost Savings:

For the first year:

N/A

For subsequent years:

N/A

(6) Provide a narrative to explain the following for each entity identified in (3)(a), (4)(a), and (5)(a)

(a) Fiscal impact of this administrative regulation:

There is no fiscal impact of this administrative regulation for any entity identified in (3)(a), (4)(a), and (5)(a).

(b) Methodology and resources used to reach this conclusion:

Methodology and resources used are the fiscal department within the Public Protection Cabinet, Department of Professional Licensing.

(7) Explain, as it relates to the entities identified in (3)(a), (4)(a), and (5)(a):

(a) Whether this administrative regulation will have a "major economic impact", as defined by KRS 13A.010(14):

It is not anticipated that this administrative regulation will have an overall negative or adverse major economic impact to the entities identified.

(b) The methodology and resources used to reach this conclusion: