University of Arkansas at Little Rock

AR LMFT Licensure Requirements: 

Information for Students who plan to meet AR LMFT Licensure Requirements 

(Please note: Additional courses beyond the recommended electives would be needed to meet Arkansas licensure requirements) 

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY STUDIES (9 Hour Minimum in three graduate courses)
Courses in this area should present a fundamental introduction to systems theory. Courses in which systems theory is the major focus and other theories of individual or families are studied in relation to systems theory are appropriate. (e.g., Sociology of the Family, Domestic Violence, Family Life Cycle, Addictions Treatment, Play Therapy) 

PROFESSIONAL ETHICS (3 Hour minimum)
Courses in this area are intended to contribute to the professional development of the therapist. Areas of study should include the therapist’s legal responsibilities and liabilities, professional ethics as a marriage and family therapist from AAMFT’s Code of Ethics, professional socialization, and the role of the professional organization, licensure or certification legislation, independent practice and inter-professional cooperation. Religious ethics courses, philosophy or moral theology courses are not accepted toward this area (e.g., Ethics in Marriage and Family Therapy) 

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY (9 hour minimum)
Courses in this area should have a major focus on advanced family systems theories with their therapeutic interventions. Survey, or overview course, in which family therapy is one of several types of theories covered are not acceptable (e.g., ADP II, Couples Treatment, Intergenerational Marriage and Family Therapy) 

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT (9 Hour minimum)
Courses in this area should provide knowledge of individual personality development and its normal and abnormal manifestations, and knowledge of human development across the life span One of these 3 courses must include Psychopathology. Test and measurement courses are not accepted toward this area. (e.g.,  Life Span Development or EDFN 7330 Human Development, Human Sexuality, Assessment and Differential, Diversity and Oppression) 

ASSESSMENT (3 Hour minimum)
Courses in this area address the use of formal and informal assessment of individual, relationship, family, and systemic factors including the assessment and treatment of major mental health issues. Individual assessment includes standard individual cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social instruments. Assessment of systemic factors includes valid relational, structural, and family functioning instruments. (e.g., Advanced Direct Practices I, inclusive of instruments) 

RESEARCH (3 Hour minimum)
Courses in this area should assist students in understanding and performing research and include significant material on research in couple and family therapy. (e.g. Social Work Research Methods) 

PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY (3 Hour minimum)
 Courses in this area should allow students to examine the physiological/medical aspects of mental illness and the medications that are used to treat specific common disorders. (e.g., COUN 7370 Psychopharmacology for Counselors). 

PRACTICUM/INTERNSHIPS (9 Hour Practicum/Internships three semesters)
Applicants must complete a minimum 1-year practicum (500 hours of client contact with individuals, couples and families). The direct client contact hours must have been supervised by site supervisors assigned by the university in addition to the university’s faculty’s supervision (e.g., social work internships that are specifically chosen to allow interns to work with these specific populations.) 

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