Becoming a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist in Arizona

Accredited programs contain the following coursework to meet the requirements of the Board of Behavioral Health Examiners:

• 3 courses of marriage and family studies
• 3 courses of marriage and family therapy
• 3 courses in human development
• 1 course in professional studies
• 1 course in research

An internship of at least 300 client contact hours that’s completed under direct supervision must also be a part of your master or doctoral degree program.

An increasing number of colleges and universities now offer MFT programs in a hybrid/blended or online format. These programs are designed to facilitate the process of earning your degree when professional and personal responsibilities make attending in-person classes difficult or downright impossible.

Read about MFT degrees in Arizona.

If you currently hold a master’s degree or higher in a related field of study (social work, ministry, psychiatric nursing), you may also meet the educational requirements for licensure as an MFT in Arizona by completing a post-graduate training program in marriage and family therapy.

Work Experience Required for MFT Licensure in Arizona

Once you’ve earned your degree, you must complete at least 3,200 hours of work experience within a minimum of two years’ time. You must complete this requirement under the direct supervision of a licensed counselor who’s approved by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners.

At least one half of the required hours (1,600) hours must be in direct client contact. One thousand of these hours must in direct client contact with families and couples, while the final 600 hours can be with groups and individuals.

Examination Requirements to Become a Counselor in Arizona

To become an LMFT in Arizona, you must take and pass the national exam developed by the Association of Marital & Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB).

You’ll be able to take the exam either after you’ve completed your education or after you’ve completed your supervised experience. You’ll apply with the Board and pay the $250 application fee. Once the Board approves your application, you’ll be eligible to schedule and take the exam.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Career Outlook In Arizona

Between 2020 and 2030, jobs among marriage and family therapists in Arizona are projected to grow by 39% - that’s much higher than the national projected growth rate of 14% (between 2021 and 2031) during this time.

During this ten-year period leading to 2030, the state expects about 150 annual job openings in this profession through a combination of new job growth, retirements, and natural job turnover.

As of May 2022, marriage and family therapists in Arizona earned a median salary of $46,860, while seasoned pros in this field earned salaries that reflected the 75^th – 90^th percentile, which was about $64,280 - $64,290.

Research Additional Psychology Professional Licenses Granted by Arizona

As you begin to learn more about how to become an LMFT and the career possibilities in this field, you may also want to explore the licensing processes and earning potential of similar careers:

• Learn how to become a psychologist in Arizona: Requires a PhD or a PsyD; clinical, counseling, and school psychologists in Arizona earned a median salary of $82,210 as of May 2022, while the profession’s top earners (75^th – 90^th percentile) earned about $105,340 - $140,050 during this time.
• Learn how to become a counselor in Arizona: Requires a master’s degree with a focus in the specialty; substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors earned a median salary of $41,560 in Arizona as of May 2022, while those with considerable experience earned salaries that more closely reflected the 75^th – 90^th percentile, which was $49,220 - $61,960 during this time.
• Learn how to become a social worker in Arizona: Requires a master’s in social work; Arizona’s child, family, and school social workers earned a median salary of $43,060, and mental health and substance abuse social workers earned a median salary of $41,560 as of May 2022. The top earners in these fields (75^th – 90^thpercentile) earned $48,060 - $59,890 and $49,220 - $61,960, respectively, during this time.

2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET (a website sponsored by the US Department of Labor) job market trends and salary figures for clinical and counseling psychologists, marriage and family therapists, substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, child, family, and school social workers, and mental health and substance abuse social workers are based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2023.

Schools with MFT Degree Programs Accepting Students from Arizona