Generally, a Texas license is required to provide services to a client who is physically in Texas. However, on October 15, 2024, the Council approved adoption of 22 TAC §801.201 Temporary License (see the Council’s Statutes and Rules webpage), which authorizes issuance of a temporary 30-day Texas license for marriage and family therapists who are licensed to practice independently in another jurisdiction. Temporary license holders are allowed to use this license for up to 30 days within one year from the date of issuance, and the 30 days are not required to be consecutive. Temporary license holders are required to report the use of this license after utilizing the full 30 days or the expiration of one year from licensure, whichever occurs first.
If your client wishes to locate a service provider who holds a Texas license, it may be helpful to visit the Council’s Online Search/Verify a License webpage/portal. The portal displays a real-time reflection of publicly releasable items from the Council’s licensing database. No login or password is necessary. The portal’s search functions include Search-by-City and Search-by-County, which may be useful.
If you wish to provide services for more than 30 days per year, or if you do not hold non-Texas independent license, see Applying for LMFT with non-Texas License
To apply for the Texas Temporary LMFT license, see the Checklist for Non-Texas independent MFT license holder, applying for temporary 30-day license, available from the MFT Board’s Forms and Publications webpage, for step by step instructions.
After submission of application, staff will generally send deficiency notice within a business day or two. NOTE: Some email platforms filter staff’s messages (from “… .gov” address) into the recipient’s junk or spam folders. Please periodically check your junk and spam folders when expecting email from our staff. Please respond promptly to any deficiency notice.
When your application is approved, staff will issue an authorization letter and, generally, email a copy of the authorization letter to you. Please retain this authorization letter for your records.
The same staff who review applications and issue authorizations and licenses also respond to phone calls and email messages. The more phone calls and emails staff receive, requesting confirmation that an item has been received or status of an application review, the longer it takes staff to process actual applications. Your patience and restraint are appreciated and speeds the application processing for everyone. If needed, the best way to contact staff via the webform on the Council’s Contact Us webpage.
Upon utilization of the full 30 days, or the expiration of one year from the date of authorization, whichever occurs first, the temporary licensee must submit written notification to the Council of the dates the licensee provided services to a client in this state. Please use our Contact Us webpage to submit this required reporting.
NOTE: A person is eligible for only one Temporary LMFT license in a year’s long timeframe.
NOTE: The Council’s Online Search/Verify a License webpage/portal will not display your profile as a Temporary LMFT.
In case it is useful to you: The Council provides an easily searched courtesy copy of the current rules in its Consolidated Rulebook for Marriage and Family Therapy on its Statutes and Rules webpage. The Consolidated Rulebooks are updated shortly after a new or revised rule is adopted. The Texas Secretary of State maintains the official version of the rules on its website for Title 22 of the Texas Administrative Code, Parts 35 and 41.
PLEASE NOTE: Rules and procedures are subject to change. You may wish to subscribe to Email Updates from the Board. The Email Updates include notice of board meetings, proposed rule changes, and notice of newly adopted rules, as well as other significant operational changes. To subscribe, complete the form on the Email Updates webpage; then follow the prompts and instructions to complete the subscription confirmation process.
