(1) (a) In accordance with section 12-245-504, the board issues a license to practice marriage and family therapy based on whether the applicant satisfies minimum educational and experience requirements that demonstrate professional competency to practice marriage and family therapy. After a license is issued to an applicant, the licensed marriage and family therapist shall maintain continuing professional competency to practice marriage and family therapy.
(b) The board shall adopt rules establishing a continuing professional competency program that includes, at a minimum, the following elements:
A self-assessment of the knowledge and skills of a licensed marriage and family therapist seeking to renew or reinstate a license;
Development, execution, and documentation of a learning plan based on the assessment; and
Periodic demonstration of knowledge and skills through documentation of activitiesnecessary to ensure at least minimal ability to safely practice the profession. Nothing in this subsection (1)(b)(III) shall require a licensed marriage and family therapist to retake any examination required pursuant to section 12-245-504 in connection with initial licensure.
(c) The board shall establish that a licensed marriage and family therapist is deemed to satisfy the continuing competency requirements of this section if the licensed marriage and family therapist meets the continued professional competence requirements of one of the following entities:
(I) A state department, including continued professional competence requirements imposed through a contractual arrangement with a provider; (II) An accrediting body recognized by the board; or (III) An entity approved by the board.
(d) (I) After the program is established, a licensed marriage and family therapist shall satisfy the requirements of the program in order to renew or reinstate a license to practice marriage and family therapy in Colorado.
(II) The requirements of this section apply to individual marriage and family therapists who are licensed pursuant to this part 5, and nothing in this section shall be construed to require a person who employs or contracts with a licensed marriage and family therapist to comply with the requirements of this section.
(2) (a) Records of assessments or other documentation developed or submitted in connection with the continuing professional competency program are confidential and not subject to inspection by the public or discovery in connection with a civil action against a licensed marriage and family therapist. The records or documents shall be used only by the board for purposes of determining whether a licensed marriage and family therapist is maintaining continuing professional competency to engage in the profession.
(b) Subject to the requirements of subsection (2)(a) of this section, nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict the discovery of information or documents that are otherwise discoverable under the Colorado rules of civil procedure in connection with a civil action against a licensed marriage and family therapist.
(3) As used in this section, "continuing professional competency" means the ongoing ability of a licensee to learn, integrate, and apply the knowledge, skill, and judgment to practice as a marriage and family therapist according to generally accepted industry standards and professional ethical standards in a designated role and setting.
Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1280, § 1, effective October 1.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 12-43-506 as it existed prior to 2019.