MFT Portability Law

LB 257, our NAMFT bill, has successfully passed its final reading and was signed into law by the Governor on May 20, 2025.

License portability refers to the ability to transfer an individual’s licensure qualifications from one state to another, streamlining the process for practitioners relocating or seeking multi-state practice opportunities. Since 2023, approximately half of the 50 states have adopted the model portability law or revised their existing portability and reciprocity laws to align with this approach.

The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) has developed a model of MFT license portability aimed at promoting objectivity in evaluating qualifications and standardizing licensure criteria across states.

The model endorsed by NAMFT through LB 257 adopts a “full endorsement” approach, facilitating the seamless recognition of licensure credentials among participating states.

The full text of the law can be found at:
Section 1. 38-2125 (3), which states that the Department, with the recommendation of the Board, shall, based on licensure in another jurisdiction, issue a mental health practitioner license or an independent mental health practitioner license to a marriage and family therapist who:
(a) holds a valid, independent, and unrestricted license and is in good standing in another state or territory,
(b) completes an application and pays all applicable fees, and
(c) has passed the Nebraska jurisprudence examination.
The same language is echoed in Section 2. 38-2130.