A Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) is a mental health professional trained to address psychological issues within the context of family and relationship systems. MFTs provide diagnosis and treatment for individuals, couples, and families experiencing emotional and behavioral problems. The path to becoming an MFT is a multi-stage process governed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS). The BBS oversees the requirements for education, supervised experience, and examination necessary for licensure in California.
Educational Requirements for MFT Licensure
The journey begins with obtaining a qualifying graduate degree, which must be a master’s or doctoral degree in marriage, family, and child counseling, marriage and family therapy, or a closely related field like counseling psychology. This program must be obtained from a school that holds regional or national accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, or an institution approved by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. Recent applicants must complete a program containing a minimum of 60 semester units or 90 quarter units of instruction, as specified in the California Business and Professions Code (BPC).
The curriculum must include specific instruction in the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of mental disorders. Required coursework mandates specialized training in areas such as psychopharmacology, professional ethics, and child abuse assessment. Out-of-state graduates must ensure their program meets California’s specific statutory requirements. The educational institution must certify to the BBS that the applicant has fulfilled all necessary academic and practicum requirements.
Registering as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT)
After the qualifying degree is awarded, the applicant must officially register with the BBS as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT). This mandatory registration allows post-degree clinical hours to be legally counted toward licensure. All hours of supervised experience in California must be accrued while holding a valid AMFT registration, though a brief 90-day grace period follows the degree conferral date.
The application process requires applicants to submit to a criminal history background check through the electronic Live Scan fingerprinting process. This check is conducted by the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Once the application is approved and initial fees are paid, the BBS issues the AMFT registration number. This associate status is subject to annual renewal and has a six-year lifespan, emphasizing the need for timely accrual of supervised experience.
Accumulating Supervised Clinical Experience
The most extensive phase involves accumulating a total of 3,000 hours of supervised professional experience over a minimum of 104 weeks. These hours must be gained in a setting that provides mental health counseling or psychotherapy. The experience must include a minimum of 1,750 hours of direct counseling with individuals, groups, couples, or families.
Within the direct counseling requirement, a minimum of 500 hours must be dedicated to working with couples, families, or children. The remaining hours, up to a maximum of 1,250, can be composed of non-counseling activities such as clinical report writing, consulting with professionals, and attending workshops. Compliance with strict supervision standards is necessary for hours to be accepted by the BBS.
The supervision requirements specify that the associate must receive at least one hour of direct supervisor contact for every five hours of direct client contact accrued weekly. This supervision must be provided by a qualified professional, such as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). The associate must maintain detailed weekly logs of all experience hours and supervision sessions.
The 3,000 hours must be completed over a minimum time frame of 104 weeks. Furthermore, the hours of experience must be gained within the six years immediately preceding the date the final application for licensure is received by the board. This six-year rule ensures that an applicant’s experience and skills are current at the time of licensure.
The Required Licensing Examinations
The licensure process requires the successful completion of two examinations administered by the BBS. The first is the California Law and Ethics Exam, which associates can take once they receive their AMFT registration number. This exam focuses on the laws, regulations, and ethical standards for MFT practice in California, and it must be taken annually for associate registration renewal until passed.
The second examination is the Clinical Exam, which tests the applicant’s clinical knowledge and skills in diagnosis, treatment planning, and crisis management. Eligibility for the Clinical Exam is granted only after the applicant has completed all 3,000 supervised hours and met all other educational and experience requirements. Both exams must be passed before the final application for licensure can be submitted and approved by the BBS.
Applying for and Receiving Licensure
Once all educational requirements, supervised experience hours, and both licensing examinations are completed, the applicant submits the Application for Licensure to the BBS. This application requires the verification of all accumulated hours, necessitating accurate record-keeping throughout the associate period. The BBS conducts a final review to confirm that all statutory requirements have been met.
Upon application approval, the applicant is granted eligibility to request the official license. This final step involves submitting a Request for Initial License Issuance and paying the final licensing fee. The BBS then issues the official LMFT license number, permitting the professional to practice independently in California. Applicants must complete this final request and fee payment within one year of passing the Clinical Exam to avoid the licensing file being closed.
Maintaining Your MFT License
Maintaining an active MFT license in California requires adherence to professional requirements. The standard renewal cycle for the license is every two years. For each two-year cycle, a licensee must complete a minimum of 36 hours of Continuing Education (CE) from approved providers.
A mandatory component of the CE requirement is a minimum of 6 hours in Law and Ethics, which must be completed during every renewal period. The BBS also mandates certain one-time courses, such as training in Suicide Risk Assessment and Intervention, and Telehealth. Staying current with changes to the BPC and BBS regulations is necessary to ensure the license remains active and in good standing.