Advocacy Update: Tackling OK’s Licensure Challenges through Alternate Pathways

In 2019, the Oklahoma “Marital and Family Therapy Licensure Act” was amended to include language for “licensure by endorsement.” This change paved the way in Oklahoma for what was already trending across the U.S. – a growing discussion, and new laws being passed, responding to the need for licensure portability. 

A problem remained within Oklahoma, however, having to do with the process by which applications for licensure endorsement were processed. The Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (OKBBHL) only met every other month. All completed applications – for candidacy status, for a license, and applications for endorsement from out of state professionals, were held until those meetings for an approval vote by the Board. If applications were in prior to “the Tuesday prior to the Friday board meeting,” they could be included in the agenda for a vote. Those who got them in by the Wednesday prior to meetings had to wait almost two months for approval. 

Challenges with this process were numerous. Candidates, just out of training programs and desperately needing their first paychecks, were waiting seven weeks or longer for the next board meeting. Candidates waiting on licensure approval had to keep paying supervisors and while also waiting on that licensure pay bump. And professionals from out of state delayed travel plans, sometimes letting job offers go, because of this process delay. The combined loss in finances and time, compiled with the stressful waiting process, certainly took its toll. 

During discussions of a portability amendment bill to correct this problem, the Executive Director of the BBHL was engaged by a local policy analyst to discuss these challenges. He shared that historically they had tried to improve the process once before, but it had been a few years. After reviewing the law, rules and office protocols, he and the analyst agreed there could be flexibility with the flow of how applications were managed. However, a review of the language by the Attorney General’s office would need to be requested prior to a formal request to the BBHL. 

As is often the case, it was “collegiality” that alerted the work team to an agenda item listed for the December, 2025 meeting. The item read: “Review of the Board’s licensure issuance procedure, with possible Board discussion and vote.” Text messages immediately began to fly, speculating that this could mean the AG’s office had cleared the language and the ED was going to raise the topic with the board. An email to the ED call confirmed the speculations. He wrote, “…as promised, I have followed up on our conversation from a few weeks ago. The Board will have an opportunity to review our licensing procedures on Friday.” 

When the December meeting took place and that agenda item was discussed, then cleared by the board, students, faculty, board members and others attending all applauded. While the board would formally approve all applications during meetings, applicants could begin working under their new status as soon as the BBHL office sent their approval notices. 

The workgroup who had been addressing this issue was comprised of Oklahoma TIN leaders, Family TEAM members, a local policy analyst who was an LMFT, and AAMFT governance/advocacy team members. Due to their work meetings, more ideas are on the agenda for improvement. Next step? Work with the ED and Board to improve the state jurisprudence exam. To be continued!… 

About the Author

Dr. Kelly Roberts

Dr. Roberts is a policy analyst at the Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, a think tank to improve mental health services in Oklahoma. She is also a licensed marriage and family therapist, an AAMFT supervisor, and an adjunct professor for the Oklahoma Christian University marriage and family therapy training program.