How to Become a Marriage and Family Therapist: 3 Steps

Published on: June 20, 2020 | 8 minute read

By: David Stewart

Psychology

Within families, expectations around communication, roles, and relationships have changed. As people have become more open about their needs and challenges, they have also become more willing to seek professional guidance when communication breaks down.

This is where marriage and family therapists step in.

Couples and families turn to licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) to navigate conflict, life transitions, grief, addiction, and mental health concerns. If you are considering this path as a career, you are likely motivated by the desire to help people strengthen their relationships and build healthier systems at home.

Entering this profession requires intentional preparation, including graduate education and licensure. This guide outlines how to become a marriage and family therapist and what to look for in a master’s degree program aligned with your long-term goals.

Key Takeaways

A Master in Family Therapy degree provides supervised clinical experience, and passing a state licensing exam is required to practice independently as a marriage and family therapist.
Empathy, active listening, conflict resolution, critical thinking, and clear communication are foundational skills for success in the field.
Accreditation, program format, hands-on training, and specialization options significantly shape preparation and long-term career opportunities.

What Does it Take to Become a Marriage and Family Therapist?

Marriage and family therapists support individuals, couples, and families facing emotional distress, relationship breakdown, infidelity, divorce, addiction, and other mental health challenges. The work requires both personal skills and formal preparation in mental health counseling.

Key Skills and Education Requirements

Effective therapists know how to listen deeply and create a safe space where clients feel comfortable speaking honestly. They apply empathy-based problem-solving while thinking critically, without assigning judgment. Clear communication, patience, and compassion are essential when guiding families through conflict.

Educationally, the path begins with a bachelor’s degree. Most master’s programs accept applicants from various majors, as long as the prerequisite of marriage and family therapy education coursework has been completed. These prerequisites typically include psychology, human development, research methods, and foundational counseling concepts.

Although not always required, supervised or relevant work experience can strengthen graduate applications and better prepare students for advanced clinical training. Exposure to mental health professionals and settings, social services, or clinical MFT environments can help applicants understand the realities of the profession before committing to a graduate program.

Steps to Become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Many of the specific requirements for clinical practice and licensure vary from state to state. Still, there are major steps you need to take to become an LMFT or family therapist, no matter where you live in the US.

Step One: Master’s Degree

To practice as a marriage and family therapist, you must earn a Master in Marriage and Family Therapy or a closely related field. Coursework in Marriage and Family Therapy programs commonly covers:

Developmental science
Human sexuality
Couples therapy
Research methods
Parent-child conflict
Children’s behavioral concerns
Mental health conditions
Addiction

Full-time programs typically take two to three years to complete. During this time, students may have opportunities to explore areas of specialization, conduct research, and complete supervised practicum experiences that lay the foundation for post-graduate clinical work or pursue a doctoral degree, such as a PhD in Marital and Family Therapy.

Step Two: Clinical Experience

After earning a master’s degree, most states require approximately two years of supervised clinical experience. Requirements typically range from a specific number of hours, often 1,500 to 4,000 hours, depending on the jurisdiction.^[1]

Clinical internship experience may be completed in nonprofit organizations, private practices, universities, hospitals, community agencies, or other approved mental health settings. Supervision must be provided by a licensed clinical therapist, including a marriage and family therapist, psychologist, or clinical social worker.

Step Three: Licensing Exam

Once clinical hours are near completion or fulfilled, trainee therapists must pass a marriage and family therapy licensure exam. Many states use the national examination in Marital and Family Therapy administered by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB).^[2]

The exam typically includes 180 multiple-choice questions completed within four hours. Topics include systemic therapy practice, assessment and diagnosis, treatment planning, evaluating and terminating treatment, crisis management, and ethical and legal standards.

To take the exam, candidates must:

Apply for licensure through their state board
Receive eligibility approval
Schedule the exam through the designated testing organization
Pay required fees

Retake policies vary by state, though most jurisdictions permit at least one retake within a specified timeframe.

MFT Programs

Choosing the Right Master’s Program

Selecting the right program is just as important as understanding the licensure process. Key considerations include:

Accreditation – Choosing an accredited program ensures educational quality and licensure eligibility.
Program Format – Options may include online, in-person, or hybrid delivery. Selecting a format that fits your schedule and learning style is critical.
Hands-On Training – Clinical placements during graduate study can contribute toward supervised hour requirements.
Specialization Tracks – Programs may offer focus areas such as addiction counseling or child and family therapy.
Financial Aid – Evaluating scholarship and financial support opportunities can make graduate education more accessible.

Career Opportunities for Marriage and Family Therapists

What jobs can you get with an MFT degree? After completing the steps above, you can decide on a career path that is right for you based on your preferences, vision, and long-term goals.

Private Practice and Counseling

In private practice, therapists work directly with couples and families to address relational conflict, communication breakdowns, and emotional challenges. Graduate training in systemic theory and intervention models prepares therapists to conduct assessments and implement structured treatment plans.

Mental Health Centers and Hospitals

Therapists and mental health counselors in hospitals or community mental health centers collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to provide therapy and crisis support. Master’s-level training equips clinicians to manage treatment plans and document care within healthcare systems.

Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling

Marriage and family therapists may work with individuals and families affected by addiction.^[3] Specialized coursework in substance use treatment prepares clinicians to address behavioral health challenges within this context.

Nonprofit and Community Organizations

Community agencies employ therapists to support families navigating housing instability, trauma, or systemic stressors. Clinical education enables therapists to provide counseling while coordinating with community services.

Government or Public Health Agencies

Public health and government agencies may employ licensed therapists to deliver family-based interventions, program support, or community mental health services. Clinical licensure expands eligibility for independent roles within these systems.

MA in Marital and Family Therapy From Alliant University

At Alliant University, you can get a COAMFTE-accredited Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy, offered by the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP), in as little as two years. This forward-thinking, inclusive program prioritizes cultural competency and representation, and has generous scholarship opportunities. It also meets the high standards of the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education.

While Alliant is proud to be one of only a small group of on-campus COAMFTE-accredited marital and family therapy programs in the state of California, the program is also offered fully online. You can also focus on your interests, such as the Chemical Dependency specialization track, where students work with individuals and families struggling with addiction and substance abuse.

Make an Impact with a Long-Lasting Career

Becoming a marriage and family therapist offers the opportunity to support individuals and families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. And as more people seek professional guidance to strengthen their relationships and address their mental health challenges, the need for qualified therapists will continue to rise.

If you are ready to answer the call, explore the master’s in marriage and family therapy at Alliant University and begin planning your path forward.

Sources:

^[1] AAMFT. “About marriage and family therapists.” American Association for Marital and Family Therapy. March 06, 2023. https://www.aamft.org/AAMFT/About_AAMFT/About_Marriage_and_Family_Therapists.aspx. Accessed March 1, 2026.

^[2] AMFTRB. “Exam Reference – AMFTRB.” Association of Marital and & Family Therapy Regulatory Boards. January 1, 2026. https://amftrb.org/exam-info/. Accessed March 1, 2026.

^[3] Hogue, Aaron, Sara J. Becker, Kevin Wenzel, Craig E. Henderson, Molly Bobek, Sharon Levy, and Marc Fishman. “Family involvement in treatment and recovery for substance use disorders amog transition-age youth: Research bedrocks and opportunities.” Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment. October 1, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108402. Accessed March 1, 2026.