Prisoners: professional mental health providers: marriage and family therapists.

Existing law requires any person employed or under contract to provide mental health diagnostic or treatment or other mental health services in the state correctional system to be a physician and surgeon, psychologist, or other health professional, licensed to practice in this state, except as specified. This licensure requirement may be waived in order for a person to gain qualifying experience for licensure as a psychologist or clinical social worker in this state. This bill would also authorize the waiver for a person to gain qualifying experience for licensure as a marriage and family therapist. The bill would provide that a person gaining qualifying experience for licensure as a marriage and family therapist is limited to working within his or her scope of practice.