Top Marriage & Family Therapy (MFT) Degrees 2023+ (2023)

FAQs

What is the best degree for a marriage and family therapist? ›

A graduate degree in psychology or a Master of Social Work (MSW) can prepare you to obtain the state licensure required to work as Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). The best degree for aspiring marital family therapists, however, is the Master of Family Therapy (MFT).

MFT Degree Summary

Obtaining your marriage and family master's degree can be beneficial and worthwhile if you want a career with high job satisfaction, a substantial salary, and an excellent work-life balance.

Best-Paying States for Marriage and Family Therapists

The states and districts that pay Marriage and Family Therapists the highest mean salary are Utah ($86,490), New Jersey ($81,330), Colorado ($73,040), Minnesota ($68,660), and Nevada ($66,600).

Becoming a MFT therapist is still a tough process, even though it's shorter and less expensive. You have to earn a bachelor's degree, which will take around four years. Then you will move up to a master's degree. That's usually an additional two to three years of study.

How much does a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist make in California? The average Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist salary in California is $68,519 as of January 26, 2023, but the range typically falls between $57,969 and $87,260.

As you'll see, they generally hover around 70%. For the NCMHCE, NCE, National MFT Exam, ASWB Clinical Level Exam, passing scores are typically set at the state level, though the exam developers set a recommended passing score to provide state boards a reference point.

Career and salary outlook

With more and more people seeking mental health treatment, there will likely be a continued need for qualified providers in the future. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for MFTs is growing much faster than average.

Those interested in helping clients with their relationships may wish to pursue their master's in MFT. Those looking to help people with mental health disorders may be more interested in an MSW. If compensation is the deciding factor, a master's in MFT may help you earn slightly more than an MSW.

Psychiatrist positions are by far the highest-paying jobs for psychology majors. The average salary is $217,798, according to PayScale. A psychiatrist should be licensed as a board-certified psychiatrist.

What type of counseling makes the most money? ›

According to U.S. News & World Report, most MFT degree programs take full-time students two to three years to complete open_in_new due to the number of clinical hours and different settings needed to prove competency as a therapist.

If your application is in order, you'll become an LMFT in California. However, if you fail the LMFT Clinical Exam, you must take it again within a year from the date of failure. If you wait too long, your eligibility period is over and you must start the application process over again.

California LMFT Clinical Exam

The passing score cutoff has typically been around 100 out of 150 scored items (67%). It would be unusual to have a passing score cutoff below 97 or above 103. You can improve your chances of passing by using our online California LMFT Clinical Exam prep program.

Start preparing early

Make sure you are keeping up with advances in law and professional ethics. Test-specific preparation (specific study time, workshops, practice exams, and/or other methods you find useful) should start at least a few months before your test date.

It's pretty easy. Then you start the test and have four hours to finish 170 questions. That's less than 90 seconds per question. There are three or four counters at the top of your screen, counting questions, up and down, and time.

How much does a MFT make in California? As of Feb 1, 2023, the average annual pay for a MFT in California is $105,666 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $50.80 an hour. This is the equivalent of $2,032/week or $8,805/month.

How much does a Masters Level Therapist make in California? The average Masters Level Therapist salary in California is $58,398 as of January 26, 2023, but the range typically falls between $53,495 and $63,618.

Why choose marriage and family therapy? ›

Research indicates that marriage and family therapy is as effective, and in some cases more effective than standard and/or individual treatments for many mental health problems such as: adult schizophrenia, affective (mood) disorders, adult alcoholism and drug abuse, children's conduct disorders, adolescent drug abuse, ...

How often can I take the examination? This may vary by state. However, a candidate may take the examination no more than three times in any 12-month period.

The MFT exam contains 180 multiple-choice questions and has a time limit of 4 hours. The exam is split into six domains of practice.

How much does a MFT Intern make in California? As of Jan 31, 2023, the average annual pay for a MFT Intern in California is $44,415 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $21.35 an hour. This is the equivalent of $854/week or $3,701/month.

Clientele: LMFTs are trained to focus their services on families, couples, parent-child relationships, while LCSWs are more focused on individuals and community work. Licensure: Licensure requirements vary between marriage and family therapists and clinical social workers.

Can I provide services via telehealth? Yes! All trainees and associate marriage and family therapists are permitted to perform services via telehealth with clients who are located in California under the supervision of their supervisor.

Therapists may place a heavier emphasis on psychological approaches, whereas social workers often focus on a client's overall social and socioeconomic circumstances. Professionals in both fields work toward developing positive solutions for their clients.

Can therapists make 6 figures? ›

But it turns out that it's more than possible to generate six figures as a private practice therapist. In this article, I'm going to take it a step further and share how I generate six figures a year while working part-time as a private practice therapist.

Licensed therapists must have, at minimum, a master's degree in a field related to psychotherapy. Psychologists must have a doctorate-level degree such as a PhD or PsyD.

Typical therapist salaries range widely – from $30,000 to $100,000. For a therapist (who is not a psychiatrist or a psychologist), salaries depend in part on education and training, as well as clinical specialization. Individual therapists may make anywhere from $30,000 per year to over $100,000.

Entry Requirements

Essentially, as long as a relevant counselling access course or 'pre-entry psychology qualification' is completed, any degree is acceptable, although it can be easier to follow the course and career path if your degree is in a related subject, such as education, theology or social studies.

a registerable professional qualification. an AFT accredited Intermediate Level qualification in Systemic / Family Practice (see Grad Cert in Family Therapy) or equivalent. clinical experience. currently working in a clinical setting involving regular patient/client contact.

Clinical psychologists are more likely to work with individuals who have severe mental illness, but some marriage and family therapists do so as well. When a person has a serious illness, it's often more effective to involve the whole family, and this is an area where LMFTs have specialized training.

LCSWs require a degree in Social Work, while an LMFT will likely require a master's in Marriage and Family Therapy to properly equip them with behavioral therapy techniques to effectively provide solutions to clients.

What are the requirements for MFT in Texas? ›

To be eligible to become an LMFT Associate in Texas, you must have graduate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy or a related field from an accredited program and pass the national licensing exam administered by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AAMFTRB).

Clinical psychologists are more likely to work with individuals who have severe mental illness, but some marriage and family therapists do so as well. When a person has a serious illness, it's often more effective to involve the whole family, and this is an area where LMFTs have specialized training.

Marriage counseling focuses on the needs of the couple. Family counseling can include any number of people in the family – parents, children, grandparents, co-parents, etc. Family counseling may only involve one parent and one child, or it may include an entire household.

Marriage and Family Therapist License Requirements

A minimum of 3,000 hours of supervised experience, during a period of at least 104 weeks. A minimum of 1,700 hours must be earned post-degree, and a maximum of 1,300 hours obtained during graduate training may count towards this requirement.

Licensed professional clinical counselors (LPCC) offer treatment and counseling to those with mental health and substance abuse issues. Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) professionals also provide counseling, but they focus on families and individuals whose problems are social and relationship based.

How much does a Clinical Social Worker - LCSW make in California? The average Clinical Social Worker - LCSW salary in California is $85,700 as of December 27, 2022, but the range typically falls between $79,100 and $95,200.

If you are able to commit to 8 hours a week of reviewing, at TDC, we believe the optimal amount of time to study is 4-6 weeks for the National LMSW/LCSW; 8 weeks is for the California Standard Written Exam MFT or LCSW exam and 3-5 weeks for the MFT or LCSW Clinical Vignette Exam.

If your application is in order, you'll become an LMFT in California. However, if you fail the LMFT Clinical Exam, you must take it again within a year from the date of failure. If you wait too long, your eligibility period is over and you must start the application process over again.

While there is no magic number guaranteed to improve exam performance, it is not unusual to hear MFTs say they spent six months or more specifically preparing for the exams. Licensing exams are anxiety-provoking enough; do not make the anxiety worse by procrastinating on your preparation to the last minute.