How to Become an LMFT in Your State

Featured Online Psychology & Counseling Programs

LMFT is such a commonly used acronym by psychology professionals, which it can be easy for laymen to forget what the term even stands for. But licensed marriage and family therapists are an important branch of the psychology tree and marriage and family therapy is a growing specialty.

Marital and family issues may not seem all that important when compared to serious mental and physical issues, but they are very common, and using a therapist to resolve them can help lead to increased happiness and healthiness in life for the patients. To be capable of helping resolve these issues, you need to have a wide-base of experience and knowledge, both of which are requirements to earn a LMFT license in basically every state in the country. Keeping up with the different licensure requirements in different states can be tricky and we wanted to help, so we compiled detailed LMFT licensure outlines for each state.

Featured MFT Degree Program

State	Summary of License Requirements	Education Requirement
Alabama	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years Post-Degree, Full Time Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Alabama	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT
Alaska	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: 2 Years / 3,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Alaska	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT
Arizona	Education: Bachelor's + Master's, or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: 3,200 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Arizona	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT
Arkansas	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: 3 Years Post-Degree Examination: National MFT Exam + Oral Exam Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Arkansas	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE Accredited
California	Education: Bachelor's + Master's, or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: 2 Years / 3,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: LMFT Law & Ethics / LMFT Clinical Read More About Licensing Guidelines in California	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *BPPE / COAMFTE Accredited
Colorado	Education: Bachelor's + Master's, or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 2,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Colorado	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE Accredited
Connecticut	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: 1,000 Hours of Direct Client Care Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Connecticut	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE Accredited
Delaware	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: 1,600 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Delaware	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT
Florida	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 1,500 Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Florida	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT
Georgia	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Three Years / 2,000 Clinical Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Georgia	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *CHEA Accredited
Hawaii	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: 24 Months / 1,000 Hours in MFT Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Hawaii	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT
Idaho	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Work Hours: Two Years / 3,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Idaho	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE or CACREP Accredited
Illinois	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two- Five Years / 3,000 Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Illinois	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE Accredited
Indiana	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 1000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Indiana	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT
Iowa	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 3,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Iowa	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE Accredited
Kansas	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: 4,000 Clinical Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Kansas	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT
Kentucky	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 1,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Kentucky	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE Accredited
Louisiana	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 3,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Louisiana	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE Accredited
Maine	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 3,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Maine	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE Accredited
Maryland	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 2,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: AMFTRB Exam + MD Jurisprudence Exam Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Maryland	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT
Massachusetts	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 3,360 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Massachusetts	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT
Michigan	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: 1,000 Hours of Direct Client Contact Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Michigan	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE Accredited
Minnesota	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: 4,000 Post- Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Minnesota	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT
Mississippi	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 1,000 Clinical Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Mississippi	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE Accredited
Missouri	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: 3,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Missouri	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE Accredited
Montana	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: 3,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Montana	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE or CACREP Accredited
Nebraska	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 3,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Nebraska	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE Accredited
Nevada	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 3,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Nevada	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT
New Hampshire	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 1,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in New Hampshire	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE or AAMFT Accredited
New Jersey	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Read More Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in New Jersey	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT
New Mexico	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 1,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in New Mexico	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT
New York	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: 1,500 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in New York	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE Accredited
North Carolina	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 1,500 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in North Carolina	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE, SACS, WACS, MSCHE or NCA-HLC Accredited
North Dakota	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 2,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in North Dakota	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE Accredited
Ohio	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 1,000 Client Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Ohio	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE Accredited
Oklahoma	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 1,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Oklahoma	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *Regionally Accredited
Oregon	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Work Hours: Two Years / 2,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Oregon	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE Accredited
Pennsylvania	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Work Hours: Read More Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Pennsylvania	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT
Rhode Island	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 2,000 Direct Client Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Rhode Island	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *NEASC or Regionally Accredited
South Carolina	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 1,500 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in South Carolina	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE Accredited
South Dakota	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 1,700 MFT Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in South Dakota	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE or CACREP Accredited
Tennessee	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 1,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Tennessee	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE or SACS Accredited
Texas	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 3,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: AMFTRB Exam + TX Jurisprudence Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Texas	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE or CHEA Accredited
Utah	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: 4,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Utah	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE Accredited
Vermont	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Work Hours: Two Years / 3,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Vermont	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE Accredited
Virginia	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Read More Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Virginia	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT
Washington	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 3,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Washington	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT
West Virginia	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Read More Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in West Virginia	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE or CHEA Accredited
Wisconsin	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: Two Years / 3,000 Post-Degree Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Wisconsin	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *Regionally Accredited
Wyoming	Education: Bachelor's + Master's or PhD Find Schools Supervised Experience: 3,000 Clinical Hours Examination: National MFT Exam (AMFTRB) Read More About Licensing Guidelines in Wyoming	M.A. / PhD / Psy.D in MFT* *COAMFTE or CACREP Accredited

Find a Marriage and Family Therapy Degree in Your State

It's important to choose a school that offers the degree program that checks all the boxes for you, whether that's providing online courses or offering a combined master's and doctoral program. To get even more detail about psychology degree program options in your area, find your state below. You may also consider online MFT degree options available from many accredited colleges & universities.