Recent and emerging trends in marital and family therapy regulation

The Marital and Family Therapy Examination Program: A Survey of Participants

“…This suggests that, despite formal training programs, marital and family therapy is attracting individuals from many different mental health disciplines, and many with more than one master's degree. This is compatible with the history of the field (Lee, 1993;Nichols & Everett, 1986) and has been challenging to contemporary professional regulators (Sturkie & Johnson, 1994).…”

“…The meaning of variability in paper-and-pencil test performance between and within ethnic groups has been thoroughly debated (Cohen, Montague, Nathanson, & Swerdlik, 1988), and recently investigators have been cautioned not to draw naive conclusions based on apparent differences between ethnic groups (Vega, 1991). The present distribution of examination scores emphasizes the importance of empowering state regulatory boards with other methods when one form of assessment appears unsuited to an individual (Sturkie & Johnson, 1994).…”

“…Professional regulators believe that this function is crucial. Therefore, success on this examination is the final requirement for credentialing as a marital and family therapist (Sturkie & Johnson, 1994).…”

The National Marital and Family Therapy Examination Program

“…Again, the examination is intended to be only one piece of a diverse assessment package that includes having met the education and experience requirements of the respective states. In fact, at least 10 states have additional written and/or oral examinations and a multitude of other requirements (Sturkie & Johnson, 1994).…”

“…States typically employ a number of process and outcome measures in their attempts to assess competence (Sturkie & Johnson, 1994). A well-developed examination which assesses knowledge, and the application of that knowledge to the scope of practice, is almost universally regarded as an essential component of this holistic assessment process.…”