Executive Orders
Gov. Cooper’s Executive Order No. 116 allowed licensed healthcare workers from other states, U.S. territories and The District of Columbia temporarily to practice across state lines to provide services to those in North Carolina.
Additional extensions to the original order have occurred. Verify the current status if already registered by searching for your name in the Emergency Permit Table under the Verify section of this website.
Executive Order No. 177 extends the Emergency Permit to February 11, 2021.
NEW – EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2020
REQUIREMENTS FOR ISSUANCE OF AN EMERGENCY PERMIT
Emergency permits to practice Marriage and Family Therapy in the State of North Carolina may be issued based upon completion of the registration form found in the Emergency Permit section of the website – https://www.ncbmft.org/emergency-mft-permit/ and acceptance by the Board.
Any individual granted an emergency permit after 5:00 pm October 1, 2020, will be required to complete two additional requirements. Emergency permit holders must register for and take (pass) the National MFT Exam https://www.ncbmft.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/APPLICATION-NATIONAL-MFT-EXAM.pdf within 120 days of receiving their emergency permit in order to continue to practice in the State of North Carolina as well as apply for licensure as an MFT in the State of North Carolina. Retirees and Inactive Licensees must reactivate their license within 120 days of registration to continue practicing during the time the Executive Order is in force. Licensees with disciplinary actions (in any jurisdiction) or who have been denied licensure by the NC Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Board are not eligible for an Emergency Permit.
If you would like to receive an Emergency MFT Provider Permit as an out-of-state MFT licensee please complete the form below. REVIEW THE INFORMATION BELOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR AN EMERGENCY PERMIT. Accepted registrations may be verified at www.ncbmft.org (see the verification table for Emergency Permit Registration located under Verify. You will not receive a permit directly. You may print a copy of the permit from the verification table.
Volunteer Eligibility
While the Executive Order allows for healthcare licensure boards to establish provisions to allow volunteers to practice if needed for a particular profession, the NC MFT Licensure Board cannot issue a permit to practice to volunteers due to the advanced training required to properly provide the services of a marriage and family therapist. The only volunteers who would be able to meet those demands are already covered by allowing out-of-state licensees, students, retirees, and inactive licensees to serve the public.
Retirees and Inactive Licensees
In addition, those in North Carolina who have retired or have an inactive or expired license can return to the profession during the time authorized by the order and practice in North Carolina upon granting of the Emergency Permit. Effective October 1, 2020 – Retirees and Inactive Licensees must reactivate their license within 120 days of registration to continue practicing during the time the Executive Order is in force. Former licensees who are no longer licensed due to disciplinary actions are not eligible for this temporary practice permit.
Student Eligibility
Current regulations allow for students who are actively enrolled in mental health training programs to practice, so they do not need to complete the form below at this time. However, following their graduation, if they would like to practice MFT before their license applications are complete and reviewed by the Board, they need to complete the form below, providing the executive order covers the dates AFTER their graduation and BEFORE their license application is reviewed and/or approved. This option is available only to NC residents.
If you would like to receive an Emergency MFT Provider Permit as an unlicensed graduate please complete the form below. You will be required to obtain a minimum of one hour of supervision per week (defined as supervision with an AAMFT Approved Supervisor- which must be reported monthly on a Board approved report form).
A link will be provided to you in the confirmation email where you can submit those supervision reports. Clinical and Supervision hours earned while practicing with the emergency provider permit may count toward post-graduate, pre-licensure hours toward licensure hours.
Effective October 1, 2020 -Recent graduates who are granted an Emergency Permit must register for and take (pass) the National MFT Exam https://www.ncbmft.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/APPLICATION-NATIONAL-MFT-EXAM.pdf within 120 days of receiving their emergency permit in order to continue to practice in the State of North Carolina as well as apply for licensure as an MFT in the State of North Carolina.
EFFECTIVE October 1, 2020: The North Carolina Marriage & Family Therapy Licensure Board has adopted a policy that any recent graduates who are not yet licensed to practice MFT in the state must take and pass the exam within 120 days of registering for the emergency permit and apply for licensure.
Registration Eligibility
Effective June 16, 2020: The North Carolina Marriage & Family Therapy adopted a policy not to issue a temporary permit to practice to anyone who has been denied licensure as an MFT, had a license revoked, or is under any disciplinary order from the MFT licensure board in any state.
Ethical Obligations to Clients
In accordance with the AAMFT Code of Ethics to not abandon clients, and to provide referrals if providers are unable to continue providing services, all holders of Emergency MFT Permits will be expected to refer any clients you are seeing who are in need of on-going therapy to NC licensed mental health care providers once the Executive Orders expire. The Executive Orders currently provides that these permits will expire on February 11, 2021
Verification of MFT Service Providers
The Board always encourages the public- the individuals, couples, and families who are served by the profession to do their due diligence in finding a professional with the experience, skills, training, and relational fit who can best meet their needs. The Board has set up an additional chart on the Verification page of this site to allow North Carolina citizens to see if an out-of-state provider of marriage and family therapy has been issued an Emergency Permit allowing the practice of MFT. The NC MFT Licensure Board makes no representation as to the training and experience of Emergency Permit holders. The verification page also shows the current standing of NC MFT licensees.
