(225 ILCS 55/15) (from Ch. 111, par. 8351-15)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 15. Exemptions.

(a) Nothing contained in this Act shall restrict any person not licensed under this Act from performing marriage and family therapy if that person does not represent himself or herself as a "licensed marriage and family therapist" or an "associate licensed marriage and family therapist".

(b) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as permitting persons licensed as marriage and family therapists and associate licensed marriage and family therapists to engage in any manner in the practice of medicine as defined in the laws of this State.

(c) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent qualified members of other professional groups, including but not limited to clinical psychologists, social workers, counselors, attorneys at law, or psychiatric nurses, from performing or advertising that they perform the work of a marriage and family therapist consistent with the laws of this State, their training, and any code of ethics of their respective professions, provided they do not represent themselves by any title or description as a licensed marriage and family therapist or an associate licensed marriage and family therapist.

(d) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent any person from the bona fide practice of the doctrines of an established church or religious denomination if the person does not hold himself or herself out to be a licensed marriage and family therapist or an associate licensed marriage and family therapist.

(e) Nothing in this Act shall prohibit self-help groups or programs or not-for-profit organizations from providing services so long as these groups, programs, or organizations do not hold themselves out as practicing or being able to practice marriage and family therapy.

(f) This Act does not prohibit:

(1) A person from practicing marriage and family therapy as part of his or her duties as an employee of a recognized academic institution, or a federal, State, county, or local governmental institution or agency while performing those duties for which he or she was employed by the institution, agency or facility.

(2) A person from practicing marriage and family therapy as part of his or her duties as an employee of a nonprofit organization consistent with the laws of this State, his or her training, and any code of ethics of his or her respective professions, provided the person does not represent himself or herself as a "licensed marriage and family therapist" or an "associate licensed marriage and family therapist".

(3) A person from practicing marriage and family therapy if the person is obtaining experience for licensure as a marriage and family therapist, provided the person is designated by a title that clearly indicates training status.

(4) A person licensed in this State under any other Act from engaging the practice for which he or she is licensed.

(5) A person from practicing marriage and family therapy if the person is a marriage and family therapist regulated under the laws of another State, territory of the United States or country and who has applied in writing to the Department, on forms prepared and furnished by the Department, for licensing as a marriage and family therapist and who is qualified to receive a license under Section 40 until the expiration of 6 months after the filing of the written application, the withdrawal of the application, a notice of intent to deny the application, or the denial of the application by the Department.

(Source: P.A. 100-372, eff. 8-25-17.)