Bill > AB2579

This bill amends various sections of the Business and Professions Code related to the licensing of marriage and family therapists, primarily by delaying the operative date of certain provisions from January 1, 2013, to January 1, 2014. Key changes include updating the requirements for passing examinations, specifically introducing a California law and ethics examination and a clinical examination as mandatory for licensure, and requiring marriage and family therapist interns to take the law and ethics exam within their first year of registration. The bill also clarifies that registrants can only take the clinical examination after completing all supervised work experience, education requirements, and passing the law and ethics exam. Furthermore, it outlines conditions for retaking examinations, including a requirement for a 12-hour law and ethics course if an applicant fails the exam during their first renewal period, and adjusts the fee structure to reflect the new examination requirements, replacing references to the "standard written examination" and "clinical vignette written examination" with the "California law and ethics examination" and "clinical examination" respectively.