If you’re reading this article, that means you’re probably considering pursuing a master’s or Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy. Or, after completing a graduate degree in MFT, you’re planning to work as a licensed marriage and family therapist in Arizona. Arizona marriage and family therapy licensure is managed by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (AzBBHE), and in addition to completing a graduate program, additional requirements are in place to fully license MFTs. With the Grand Canyon in its backyard, Arizona is an impressive place to live and work and this article is your guide to how to become an LMFT in Arizona by exploring Arizona MFT programs.
Arizona MFT Program Quick Facts
- MFT Programs in the State: 5
- COAMFTE Accredited Programs: 0
- CACREP Accredited Programs: 1
- Average MFT Program Tuition: $24,000 to $72,000 total
Accredited Arizona MFT Programs
Before you apply to a school, it’s important to check whether the MFT master’s or Ph.D. program has been accredited. A program that has accreditation means it has been approved by an accrediting body and meets the minimum standards for training future therapists.
One of the most common therapy accrediting agencies is the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). CACREP accredits clinical mental health counseling programs in the U.S. and Canada. However, an increasing number of schools are seeking accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), which is an accreditation that specifically examines couples and family counseling programs. Unfortunately, there aren’t many Arizona MFT programs that are accredited. However, let’s take a look at some unaccredited programs and programs you could pursue online while living in Arizona, if you so choose.
Most of these next five programs are not accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, so it’s important that you check the requirements of the state in which you’ll be seeking licensure to make sure the program you choose meets educational requirements for licensure in your state.
Arizona State University
Marriage and Family Therapy, M.A.S.
City: Temple, Arizona
Length: 39 credits minimum and a master’s research paper
Modality: On-campus
Tuition: $27,810 total base tuition for non-residents of Arizona, not including additional fees.
Program Overview:
This on-campus program requires at least 39 credits to complete alongside a graduate project and a 300-hour internship within a community placement site. This program approaches couples and family therapy from a systems approach, and students learn a foundational understanding of MFT practice at what the school claims is the only MFT program offered at a state school in Arizona. The program’s curriculum is approved by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners and designed to meet educational standards for licensing as a couples and family therapy counselor in Arizona, according to the school’s site.
Why We Like This Program:
This program is offered on an accelerated basis, so students can complete the program in 16 to 18 months.
Additional Considerations:
Students must have a vehicle and Arizona driver’s license for the internship portion of the program.
University of Arizona
M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy
City: Tucson, Arizona
Length: 61 credits
Modality: On-campus
Tuition: From $12,700 (Arizona resident) to $23,400 (Non-resident) base tuition, not including additional fees.
Program Overview:
Another Arizona program that isn’t formally accredited by a national accrediting agency is University of Arizona’s M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy. It is, however, approved by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. Students participate in coursework on interventions with parents and children; group and individual counseling foundations; family systems in a cultural context; ethics; human sexuality and development; and research and assessment, including others and required practicum and internship.
Why We Like This Program:
We appreciate this program’s commitment to cultural competency and affordability, with multiple courses dedicated to cultural mindfulness in various areas of MFT and applying interventions to diverse groups. In terms of affordability, the school offers multiple scholarship options and offers a two week period for students to commit to applying for the school’s various scholarship opportunities.
Additional Considerations:
No GRE is required to apply.
Grand Canyon University
Online MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Marriage and Family Therapy Emphasis
City: Phoenix, Arizona
Length: 74 credits
Modality: Online
Tuition: $600 per credit hour, which comes to about $44,400 total tuition, not including additional fees.
Program Overview:
Grand Canyon University’s Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling M.S. has an emphasis in marriage and family therapy that teaches fundamentals of counseling to families, couples, and individuals. Family dynamics and parent-child relationships are a key part of the curriculum, and students also get a firm foundation in issues related to couples. Students take classes in subjects like development and treatment of substance disorders; family dynamics and family structures; assessments and interventions in the couples and family counseling context; working with diverse families; and biopsychosocial approaches to families and family systems.
Why We Like This Program:
There are two things specifically we love about this program, all related to convenience. First, they are CACREP accredited, meaning that you won’t need to worry about whether or not the degree will satisfy educational requirements. Second, the program is 100 percent online, so you can complete the program from anywhere.
Additional Considerations:
Program coursework is taught from a Christian worldview.
Fuller Seminary
M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy
City: Phoenix, Arizona
Length: 98 credits
Modality: On-campus
Tuition: $540 per credit hour, which comes to about $52,920 total tuition, not including additional fees.
Program Overview:
Fuller Seminary offers a faith-based program in couples and family therapy that it says is pre-approved by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, so it should meet the minimum educational requirements for licensure in the state. Students can complete the program in two or three years.
Why We Like This Program:
Students have a number of options for practicum placement when it comes time to find an internship site, and students are supervised by licensed faculty members of the program.
Additional Considerations:
The program is also offered in the school’s Pasadena location, and the program’s website says the program in that location also meets minimum requirements for licensure in California.
Arizona Christian University
M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy
City: Glendale, Arizona
Length: 57 credits for the general course; 66 credits for the concentration in families with disabilities.
Modality: On-campus
Tuition: $690 per credit hour, which comes to about $39,330 to $45,540 total tuition, not including additional fees.
Program Overview:
This on-campus program from Arizona Christian University teaches its courses from a Christian worldview. Something unique about this program from others on this list is its unique concentration in families with disabilities. Students can follow the general course made up of 57 credits in basics of family and couples counseling, or they can choose to do an extra 9 credits for the families with disabilities concentration and working with this unique population.
Why We Like This Program:
No other program on this list, or many others we have come across, have a concentration in families with disabilities. This unique concentration offering stands out to us as a major plus for this program.
Additional Considerations:
The program hasn’t been accredited by an accrediting agency, but the school notes it has made a “good faith” effort to ensure the program meets state requirements for licensure.
What will you learn in an Arizona MFT program?
Arizona does not currently have any accredited MFT programs. However, an education that will satisfy the requirements for licensure in Arizona is similar to the standards in other states. In general, you can expect to take a number of courses in various subjects, including human development, marriage and family studies, marriage and family therapy, research, and professional studies.
In addition to your coursework, you will also complete a practicum and an internship during your graduate career. The practicum and internship differ in intensity, with the practicum usually requiring fewer hours per week than the internship. Both require you to have permission from your school to work at a clinic under an approved supervisor. Together with faculty and peers, you work within your coursework and practicum experiences to learn the most recent best practices in counseling related to families and couples.
How to Become an LMFT in Arizona
To qualify for licensure in Arizona, your education should be from a COAMFTE-accredited program that includes a minimum number of credit hours in specific courses as well as a practicum with 300 hours of client contact.
After you’ve graduated from your program, it’s time to apply for a license as an associate for your two-year post-graduate supervision hours. This is essentially your residency period, when you work under an approved supervisor in a clinic. During this time in residency in Arizona, your official title is a licensed associate marriage and family therapist (LAMFT), and you will be required to gain 3,200 hours of supervised experience. At least 1,000 of those hours should be with families or couples. You will also need 200 hours of supervision. At the end of your period as a supervisee, your clinical supervisor provides the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (AzBBHE) with an evaluation of the candidate’s performance.
To take the MFT exam for licensure, you must send in your licensing application to the AzBBHE. Then you will receive permission from the Board to take the exam. This permission allows you to sign up for the exam. After you have applied and received permission, you have 12 months to complete and pass the exam.
When it is time to submit your application for licensure, you will have to send in one application, which is a general behavioral health application, and one that is for becoming a marriage and family therapist. You will submit these applications along with official transcripts, a DPS clearance card or fingerprint card for a background check, and an application fee of $250. If you’ve passed your exam, gotten your supervised clinical hours, and submitted your application without any issues, then congratulations! You should soon hear back about your licensure.
What does an LMFT in Arizona do?
A licensed marriage and family therapist in Arizona has a similar role as a licensed clinical mental health counselor. Both use similar techniques to bring about a better quality of life for their clients. The difference lies not only in education but also in the specific issues and backgrounds of their clients. LMFTs work with families, couples, and individuals to resolve and work through their relational issues. While they may also work with individuals on many other challenging areas, their work is defined by the well-being of relationships. LMFTs in Arizona may work with other agencies and communities to ensure the well-being of their clients. Such agencies may include social workers, healthcare providers, or even government agencies, among many others.
Arizona LMFT Career and Salary Opportunities
Despite the fact that there are some states that do not have MFT graduate training programs, the marital and family therapy field is one of the fastest-growing industries in the country. The field is projected to grow by 16% nationwide by 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Once you have gained your MFT license, you will be joining a national workforce of 54,800, a number that is quickly growing as demand continues to increase. The average salary for LMFTs in the U.S. was $59,660 as of May 2021. Arizona’s average yearly salary was similar to the national average at $58,360, making it a great place to start your career. As of 2021, there were 460 registered LMFTs.
