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LAMFT LICENSURE INSTRUCTIONS
Congratulations, on reaching this important stage of your goal to obtain an LAMFT license in the State of Arkansas. Please read the following information that will help you through the process of completing all the steps necessary to obtain the LAMFT.  There are five steps that have sets of paperwork and items that should be submitted to the board office. Each of the five steps must be completed in consecutive order before moving to the next step.

The following summary of the steps and the paperwork required in each step are described below:

Step I: Initial Application

1. Submit LAMFT application to the board office. DOWNLOAD
2. Include a check for $100.00 payable to AR Board of Examiners in Counseling.
3. Include a color, passport size photo, taken within last 12 months.
4. Complete the core curriculum summary for LAMFT (note that some sections require 3 courses per category, only grades B- or above are allowed). DOWNLOAD
5. If you are in your last semester of Grad studies, you can submit an unofficial transcript and a letter from the Dean, Program Director, or Registrar describing the courses you are enrolled in to complete your Master’s Degree. The official transcript reflecting your conferred Master’s Degree will be required prior to final file review.

Suggestions:

• Collect each of these items and send all of them together in one mailing to the board office. These are necessary to complete Step One of the application process.
• The board office will evaluate the core curriculum in order to approve you to take the AMFTRB (Association of Marital & Family Therapy Regulatory Board) exam and the AR Jurisprudence Exam. An LAMFT license cannot be granted in Arkansas until all the core courses have been reviewed and approved by the board. Courses in progress described in #5 above for Graduate students yet to graduate, must submit a letter from the university official in order to complete the core course review.
• If the core courses are approved, an approval letter from the board will be sent to you granting you permission to schedule the written exam through the exam provider, the Association of Marital & Family Therapy Regulatory Board (AMFTRB). The cost is $350.00 and is payable to the AMFTRB and $30.00 payable to NBCC (Arkansas Jurisprudence Exam). Scheduling the date and time of the exam is the responsibility of the candidate for licensure, not the board. The board only provides the approval letter to take the exams.

Step II: Written Exams & File Building

1. Board Letter of Approval for AMFTRB Exam
   1. Wait for the board of examiners to send the approval letter for the written exams.
   2. Contact the AMFTRB to schedule the written exam for MFT. CLICK HERE
   3. Pay Exam fees to both AMFTRB & NBCC.
   4. AMFTRB & NBCC send the results to the board within 3-6 weeks.
2. The Statement of Intent
   The statement of intent, also referred to as the scope of practice, is located on the following link with instructions. This document will be reviewed by the board. DOWNLOAD

3. (4) Letters of Recommendation |  DOWNLOAD
   1. Two recommendations must come from faculty or adjuncts (Act 540, 2017) who trained you.
   2. Two other recommendations (family and close friends excluded). It is suggested that each of these be sent to you in a sealed envelope. When you have collected all four references then they should be included in mailing them to the board office with all the other items for completing Step II. Please do not instruct your references to send these to the board separately.

4. Fingerprint Card Process
   1. The board office will mail a Fingerprint Packet that provides instructions for completing the Federal & State Background Checks. Please follow the instructions closely or this could delay your licensure process.
   2. Click on the above link to review the steps required and the items needed to be returned to the board office. The candidate must mail the packet back to the board once you have the fingerprints completed. A self-addressed board envelope is provided to complete this task.
   3. Act 1317 of 1997 mandated the Criminal Background Check for all licensed counselors and therapists. Click HERE to read Act 1317 of 1997.
5. Official University Transcript(s)
   Order the official university transcript(s) of Master’s level coursework to be sent to the board office. The official transcript conferring the completion of the Master’s degree must be on file with the board prior to the final file review.

6. License & Supervision Documentation (if licensed in another state for less than 3 years) | DOWNLOAD
   1. Click on the following link to complete the top portion of the form and send it to either the state board that issued your license to verify the type of license, the issuance date, and the expiration date.
   2. If you have completed the written exam (AMFTRB) then the scores need to be verified by the board office through your state board or AMFTRB must send these scores to the AR board.
   3. If the board can verify your Client Contact Hours (CCH) completed and the number of Supervision hours, then they can fill out the section for supervision documentation using this form. If the board does not verify CCH and Supervision obtained, then this form must be sent to the supervisor(s) who can verify your client contact hours (direct & indirect), number of marital/family/systemic hours, and the supervision hours you received. This form cannot be completed by you.
      Collect each of these items, except item 5, and send all of them together in one mailing to the board office. Item 5 (official transcript) must be sent by the university directly. These are necessary to complete Step Two of the application process.

Step III: Preparing for File Completion

The board cannot conduct a final file review until the following items have been received by the board office: 

1. Official Transcript.
   When you have completed your Master’s Degree, order official transcript(s) to be sent directly to the board office. The board cannot schedule the final file review until the official Master’s degree is conferred. Only the candidate can complete this item.

2. Official Exam Scores.
   The official results of your AMFTRB exam and the official results of the AR Jurisprudence Exam must be on file in the board office. This is the responsibility of AMFTRB & NBCC and usually takes 3-6 weeks for the results to arrive to the board. The candidate may know the unofficial results of the AR Jurisprudence Exam but the board requires the official score reports from AMFTRB & NBCC which are sent directly to the board.

3. Background Check Results.
   The official results of the Federal & State Background Check must be on file with the board office. If the results indicate an offense on the background check, you will be instructed concerning the procedure and process by the board office. The Board of Examiners is required to review the details of the offense(s) with candidates prior to conducting the final file review.  Act 1317 of 1997 mandates the procedures and processes required by Arkansas law concerning background check results.

Step IV: Final File Review

1. The Board Office will contact you via email to inform you when your file is complete and is being scheduled for final board review.
2. The Board will notify the candidate of the results via email, the week following the final board review of the file.

Step V: Obtaining the License

1. Submit a Signed Supervision Agreement |  DOWNLOAD
   1. Include any areas of stipulation made by the board.
   2. Both supervisor and supervisee must sign the agreement.
   3. The supervisor must be a Board Approved Supervisor.
   4. The supervision agreement does not go into effect until it is approved by the board office.
2. Revised Statement of Intent (if requested by the board)
3. Payment of New License Fee
   1. Check or Money Order payable to: ABOEC
   2. The licensure fee is pro-rated based on the month the board conducted your final file review.  The pro-rated fee will be emailed to you with the results of your final file review.  Paying the wrong fee will delay the process.

Please send Items # 1-3 all together to the board office. The office cannot officially issue you the license number until all of these items are received. DO NOT SEND SEPARATELY!

4. Issuance of License
   Once items #1-3 are received in the board office, the board can provide you with the actual license number so you can begin to see clients.

The wallet card will be emailed to you and the wall certificate will be mailed to the address listed on the application.

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Welcome to Arkansas! We commend you on your service to the public good.  It is the Board’s desire to assist you in continuing your professional journey in our state. Portability of license from state to state continues to be a difficult process to resolve.  Arkansas has created a Licensure by Endorsement Rule (Rules Section 9.1) that allows for endorsement guidelines for entering the state with a license from another state. All candidates must meet the minimum eligibility requirements described below and complete the application process for the 3-year option.

Eligibility Requirements for Licensure by Endorsement (3-year option)

• You must hold a full license for a minimum of 3 years (not under supervision) from another state.
• The license must be active and current, not expired.
• The license must be in good standing with no disciplinary actions.

** If any of these three items do not apply to you currently – STOP ** The Arkansas Licensure by Endorsement rule does not apply to you. You will need to complete the  LAC, LAMFT, or Dual Licensure application process.

Application Process for Licensure by Endorsement (3-Year Option)

Step I: Submit the following materials in one packet to the Board:

1. Completed Application for Licensure by Endorsement | DOWNLOAD
2. Include a color, passport size photo, taken within the last 12 months.
3. Check for $100.00 payable to AR Board of Examiners in Counseling.
4. Completed Core Curriculum form for desired license (LPC, LMFT, or Dual). Only grades B- and above will be accepted | LAMFT/LMFT  DOWNLOAD | LAC/LPC DOWNLOAD
5. Unofficial University Transcript(s)
   1. Order the official university transcript(s) of Master’s level coursework to be sent directly to the Board office.
   2. Provide the board with an unofficial copy of transcripts to review the core curriculum requirements.
6. Statement of Intent |  DOWNLOAD
7. (4) Letters of Recommendation |  DOWNLOAD
   1. Two recommendations must come from faculty or adjuncts (Act 540, 2017) who trained you.
   2. Two other recommendations (family and close friends excluded). One must come from a supervisor of the applicant’s clinical work and one from another mental health professional.  It is suggested that each of these be sent to you in a sealed envelope.
   3. When you have collected all four references, they should be included in the packet mailed to the board office, with all the other items for completing Step I. Please do not instruct your references to send these to the board separately.
8. Verification of State Professional License & Supervision form | DOWNLOAD

Step II: Written Exam & File Building:

1. National Exam Scores: Request test scores (NCE/MFT) from previous out-of-state Board to be sent directly to the Board office.
2. Official University Transcript(s): Order the official university transcript(s) of Master’s level coursework to be sent directly to the Board office.
3. Fingerprint Card Process
   1. Act 1317 of 1997 mandated the Criminal Background Check for all licensed counselors and therapists. Click HERE read Act 1317 of 1997.
   2. The Board office will mail a Fingerprint Packet that provides instructions for completing the Federal & State Background Checks.
   3. The candidate must mail the packet back to the Board once the finger prints have been completed. A board self-addressed envelope is provided to complete this task.
   4. If the results of the Federal & State Background Check indicate an offense on the background check (see Act 1317 or 1997), you will be instructed concerning the procedure and process by the Board office.

Step III: AR Jurisprudence Exam and Final File Review:

1. Jurisprudence Exam: Upon receipt of all above materials, the Board will notify you when you are approved to take the Arkansas Jurisprudence Exam.
2. Final File Review: The Board will inform the candidate via email, when the file is complete and is being scheduled for final board review.

The board cannot conduct the final file review until all the above items have been received by the board office.

Step IV: Obtaining the License

1. Revised Statement of Intent (if requested by the board)
2. Payment of New License Fee
   1. Check or Money Order payable to: ABOEC
   2. License fees are pro-rated based on the month the board conducts your final file review.  The pro-rated fee will be emailed to you with instructions the week after the board conducts the final file review.  Paying the wrong amount will delay the process.

** Please send Items # 1-2 all together to the Board office. The office cannot officially issue you the license number until all of these items are received. DO NOT SEND SEPARATELY!

3. Issuance of License
   1. Once items #1-2 are received, the Board will provide you a license number enabling you to begin seeing clients.
   2. The wallet card will be emailed to you and the wall certificate will be mailed to the address listed on the application.

Licensure by Endorsement (3-yr Option) Checklist

Step I

1. ____ Application
2. ____ Payment
3. ____ Photo
4. ____ Core Curriculum
5. ____ Unofficial Transcript(s)
6. ____ License Verification Form
7. ____ Statement of Intent
8. ____ (4) References

Step II

1. ____ National Exam Scores
2. ____ Send Official Transcript(s)
3. ____ Complete Fingerprint Card

Step III

1. ____ Pass the AR Jurisprudence Exam
2. ____Final File Review by Board

Step IV

1. ____ Revised Statement of Intent (if requested)
2. ____ Payment of Licensure Fee
3. ____ Received Official Wallet Card

License Application
License by Endorsement Application
LAC / LPC Core Course Requirements
LAMFT / LMFT Core Course Requirements
Statement of Intent / Scope of Practice
AR Verification of State Professional License & Supervision
Letter of Recommendation
Supervision Agreement Form
Pre-Licensure Background Check Form

For Supervisor Status Application Documents, visit the LICENSEE page and look under the Supervisor Status Documents tab.