Learn About The Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
(a) General rule.--Only individuals who have received licenses as marriage and family therapists under this act may style themselves as licensed marriage and family therapists, marriage and family therapists, family therapists, marriage therapists or couples therapists and use the letters “L.M.F.T.” or “M.F.T.” in connection with their names. It shall be unlawful for an individual to style oneself as a licensed marriage and family therapist, marriage and family therapist, family therapist, marriage therapist or couples therapist or use any words or symbols indicating or tending to indicate that the individual is a licensed marriage and family therapist without being licensed as a marriage and family therapist in good standing under this act.
(b) Nonapplicability.--This section shall not apply to the following:
(1) A person employed by the Commonwealth in a marriage and family therapist position on the effective date of this subsection, 1 during the time of employment by the Commonwealth.
(2) A person employed as a school marriage and family therapist in a public or private school in this Commonwealth on or before the effective date of this subsection, during the time of employment as a school marriage and family therapist.
(3) A person who holds a valid license or is certified or regulated pursuant to another professional licensure law or State certification of this Commonwealth and who is credentialed by the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists as a Clinical Fellow.
(4) A person who is working to meet the supervised experience requirement to become a licensed marriage and family therapist and whose duties are supervised by a licensed marriage and family therapist or other licensed mental health professional, as long as the person does not represent himself or herself as a licensed marriage and family therapist.
(5) A person who is a student of marriage and family therapy and is enrolled in a prescribed course of study at an accredited educational institution, so long as the person does not represent himself or herself as a licensed marriage and family therapist.
(6) A person who provides faith-based marriage, family or couples therapy, provided the person clearly identifies he or she offers faith-based services and does not represent himself or herself as a licensed marriage and family therapist.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Pennsylvania Statutes Title 63 P.S. Professions and Occupations (State Licensed) § 1916.2. Restriction on the use of title “Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist,” “Marriage and Family Therapist” and related titles - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-63-ps-professions-and-occupations-state-licensed/pa-st-sect-63-1916-2/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)