MFT Degrees, Schools, and Careers in Nevada
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Students interested in pursuing graduate studies in marriage and family therapy (MFT) within the state of Nevada have exactly two options for pursuing a degree. There is only one program in the state that has been accredited by the main MFT accreditation body—the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy (COAMFTE). That program is the Master's degree program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Designed to take 2.5 years to complete and requiring 6o semester hours for graduation, the program has been around since the 1990s and since 1999, the school boasts that 100 percent of program graduates have passed the MFT licensure examination. Students must complete a practicum and/or an internship to graduate and they are supported in their work by resources such as the Center for Individual, Couple and Family Counseling on campus.
In addition to the UNLV program that is currently accredited by COAMFTE, prospective students might consider other graduate programs accredited by closely-related institutions, such as the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). In fact, there is one school specifically, the University of Nevada, Reno, that offers an accredited specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy within its Counseling and Educational Psychology program. The program is designed to take three years to complete and is a 67 credit hour program. Graduate students have the opportunity to intern in the Downing Counseling Clinic, located within the College of Education and the clinic serves as a low-cost clinic for the surrounding community and as a chance for students to get hands-on experience under the direct supervision of licensed MFTs.
Online MFT Degrees in Nevada
Online-only graduate programs offer flexible scheduling and class times for those students that do not thrive in a traditional classroom setting, live in a particularly rural setting, or wish to pursue other interests to their education simultaneously. Unfortunately, there are zero Nevada-based schools that offer accredited online MFT degrees. In fact, there are only two schools across the country that are entirely online and also accredited by the COAMFTE. Capella University, which is based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, offers an online Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and Northcentral University, based out of Arizona, offers COAMFTE-accredited PhD and Master’s degree programs in MFT. Otherwise, there are a number of other educational programs that offer online programming; however, it is advised that any prospective students ensure that any program meets the educational requirements outlined by their state’s licensure board.
Learn more about an MFT degree online.
MFT Accreditation in Nevada
The Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists does not explicitly name accrediting bodies that are acceptable for licensure. But they do spell out some requirements for the degree and where it can be from. According to Nevada, each applicant’s graduate degree "must be from an institution which has been accredited by a recognized regional accrediting organization". Although the state may not tell us specifically what counts as a recognized accrediting organization, it is safe to say that the two main accrediting bodies are the ones with the best reputation. The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy (COAMFTE) and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) are the most widely recognized accrediting bodies. It is likely that a degree from a program accredited by either COAMFTE or CACREP will automatically meet the educational requirements outlined by the board.
Accreditation essentially means that the program has been determined to meet certain educational standards outlined by an objective licensing board and thus the education a student received can be trusted. There are some programs that are accredited but may not prepare students specifically for the MFT exam and there are other programs that may offer MFT degrees and may claim to prepare students for the MFT exam, but if they aren't accredited, it won't matter. It is recommended that students check that the coursework offered by their graduate institution of choice meets the requirements outlined by the state in which they’d like to practice.
Career Opportunities for MFTs in Nevada
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts there will be a rapid increase in the number of employment opportunities available for MFTs, estimating that, from 2021 to 2031, there will be a 14% increase in jobs available to those with a master’s or doctorate degree in the field! As of May of 2022, Nevada employed about 250 professional MFTs in setting ranging from hospitals to universities and residential treatment centers. These professionals earn an annual average salary of $70,590, which is about $7,000 more than the national average in the industry. Specific salaries will depend in part in the setting in which they’d like to work; national BLS data indicates that the highest salaries for MFTs are encountered within local and state government positions, outpatient care centers, and individual and family services. Learn more about NV MFT license requirements.
2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics job market trends and salary figures for marriage and family therapists are based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2023.
Marriage and Family Therapists Salary in Nevada
| Location | 10% | 25% | Median | 75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $33,140 | $39,130 | $51,340 | $68,020 | $92,930 |
| Nevada | $45,620 | $52,490 | $59,220 | $67,740 | $81,200 |
| Las Vegas-Paradise, NV | $27,650 | $39,800 | $51,640 | $77,220 | $91,890 |
| Reno-Sparks, NV | $39,270 | $50,400 | $71,680 | $88,850 | $132,950 |
Table data taken from 2020 BLS (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211013.htm)
Featured Nevada Schools with MFT Degree Programs
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