§ 34-17A-5 — Exemptions

(a) The following persons shall be exempt from this chapter:
(1) A person practicing marriage and family therapy as part of his or her duties as an employee of a recognized educational institution; a federal, state, county, or municipal governmental institution or agency; a public corporation authorized by Section 22-51-2, which is certified by the Alabama Department of Mental Health pursuant to a contract with the State of Alabama; or an organization that is nonprofit while performing those duties for which the employee was employed by the institution, agency, facility, or organization.
(2) A person in training.
(3) A psychologist, properly licensed by the State of Alabama, who is practicing within the scope of his or her expertise.
(4) A professional counselor, properly licensed by the State of Alabama, who is practicing within the scope of his or her expertise.
(5) A licensed certified social worker, properly licensed by the State of Alabama, who is practicing within the scope of his or her expertise.
(6) A minister of religion or a nurse when practicing within the scope of his or her expertise.
(b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent qualified members of other licensed professional groups, including social workers, attorneys, psychiatric nurses, psychologists, physicians, or professional counselors, or members of the clergy, from providing or advertising that they provide marriage and family therapy or counseling consistent with the accepted standards of their respective professions.
(c) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to permit marriage and family therapists licensed pursuant to this chapter to administer, dispense, or prescribe drugs, or in any manner engage in the practice of medicine as defined by the laws of this state.

Legislative History

(Acts 1997, No. 97-170, p. 247, §5; Act 2006-540, p. 1243, §1; Act 2022-238, §1.)