Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) vs. Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC)

If you are pursuing a master’s-level career in mental health, you will likely come across two common licensure paths: the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Both allow you to provide therapy independently after completing supervised hours, though they differ in training focus and the types of clients you would typically work with. Below is a comparison of the two licensures to help you determine which path aligns with your professional interests.

Quick Facts: LMFT vs LPC

	LMFT	LPC
Focus	Relationships, couples, families	Individual mental health, broader scope
Degree	Master’s in MFT or related field	Master’s in counseling or related field
Accreditation	COAMFTE-accredited preferred	CACREP-accredited preferred
Supervised Hours	~2,000–3,000 (varies by state)	~2,000–3,000+ (varies by state)
National Exam	AMFTRB exam (state-specific)	NCE or NCMHCE
Median Salary (2024)	$63,780 (BLS, MFTs)	$53,710 (BLS, Mental Health Counselors)
Job Growth (2024–2034)	13%	19%
Private Practice	Yes, after full licensure	Yes, after full licensure
Common Settings	Private practice, agencies, hospitals	Community centers, schools, private practice

2026 Updates

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics released updated salary data in May 2024. Marriage and family therapists now earn a median annual salary of $63,780, with 13% projected job growth through 2034. Mental health counselors (the category that includes most LPCs) earn a median of $53,710, with 19% projected growth.
• The MFT Licensure Compact has been adding member states, which allows LMFTs to practice across state lines more easily. LPCs have a similar option through the Counseling Compact.
• Many states have made their pandemic-era telehealth rules permanent, which has increased demand for both LMFTs and LPCs who can see clients remotely.

What Is an LMFT?

Licensed Marriage and Family therapists (LMFTs) are master’s level clinicians with a focus on identifying maladaptive patterns of functioning within individuals, couples, and family systems and how they intersect to influence each other. The primary focus for LMFTs is the family unit. LMFTs are able to work in environments similar to LPCs and treatment is approached from a solution-focused perspective where the therapist and client/s set and work toward goals within ten to twelve sessions on average. 

MFT Programs That Can Lead to Licensure

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What Is an LPC?

Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) are mental health clinicians that are qualified to provide psychotherapeutic interventions to individuals, families, and couples. Treatment focuses are based on clinical and conceptual principles that address barriers to healthy personal and social cognitions and behaviors. They are trained in psychological approaches to assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and interventions within a variety of therapeutic settings. LPCs can practice in various settings including private practice, hospitals, in-patient and outpatient treatment centers, schools, and rehabilitation centers. LPCs address general counseling issues and typically see clients on a long-term basis of ten to fifteen sessions, working towards realistic and attainable goals.

Counseling Programs That Can Lead to Licensure

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Differences and Similarities Between LMFTs and LPCs

What does an LMFT do?

The work LMFTs do is centered around pursuing the optimal functioning of a family system. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the most common work environments of LMFTs are as follows:

• Individual and family services (29%)
• Offices of other health practitioners (24%)
• Self-employed workers/private practice (13%)
• Outpatient care centers (11%)
• State government (excluding education and hospitals) (7%)

What does an LPC do?

LPCs work with a wide population including individuals, couples, families, and groups, but primarily focus on clinical treatment centered around an individual’s needs and optimizing mental and emotional health. LPCs are trained in handling general counseling needs across a variety of issues including trauma, interrelationship issues, substance abuse, work, and school-related difficulties, depression, anxiety, and comorbid mental health problems. Highlighted below are the most common work environments of LPCs according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):

• Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers (19%)
• Individual and family services (15%)
• Hospitals (10%)
• Residential mental health and substance abuse facilities (9%)
• Government (8%)

Education

Both LMFTs and LPCs need a master’s degree, but the programs differ in focus. If you are pursuing an LMFT, your coursework will center on family systems theory, relational dynamics, and couples therapy, typically through a COAMFTE-accredited program. If you are pursuing an LPC, you would complete a CACREP-accredited program with broader training in individual psychopathology, assessment, career counseling, and group work.

Job Outlook and Salary

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024), marriage and family therapists earned a median annual salary of $63,780. Salaries ranged from about $38,020 at the low end to over $97,950 at the high end. The BLS projects 13% job growth for MFTs between 2024 and 2034.

For LPCs, the BLS groups most under “substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors,” where the median annual salary was $53,710 as of May 2024. Projected job growth for this category is 19% through 2034. While the median salary is lower than for MFTs, the broader scope of practice means there are more positions available across a wider range of settings.

How to Become an LMFT

An LMFT is a master’s level mental health clinician that holds all the necessary credentials and training to be competent in their scope of practice. Obtaining a graduate degree from an institution accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) or the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is important. Successful completion of the coursework requirements set by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT) ensures your education and training in being a competent clinician upon graduation. 

Your clinical training is a vital part of fulfilling the program requirements. The clinical practicum typically is for 12 semester hours and consists of supervised clinical experienced. Upon fulfilling the program requirements, you would then have to successfully complete the state of national licensing examination by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB). At this point, you would have the necessary requirements to file your application for initial licensure as an LMFT Associate (LMFT-A). Information on state boards and requirements can be accessed here. 

As an LMFT-A you would have to accrue 3000 hours of supervised clinical experience, half of which are direct services with a patient, and the other half indirect. This requirement may vary by state, however, upon completion of these hours, you would then be able to obtain licensure as an LMFT.  As an LMFT, you will be able to practice independently as a clinician without the board requirement for a supervisor. 

Keeping up with your state board is vital as it holds information regarding obtaining and maintaining licensure, continuing education opportunities, and even the availability of other resources for personal and professional development. 

How to Become an LPC

A Licensed Professional Counselor is a licensed individual that has graduated from an accredited institution, complete a probationary licensure period of being an LPC-Associate in the field of psychology and counseling, and has accrued 3000 hours of clinical experience (depending on the state of licensure) to qualify for an LPC licensure. The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) is the governing body that regulates graduate accreditation, and clinician competence, and sets the guidelines and regulations for licensure-related activities.

The first step in becoming an LPC is obtaining a bachelor’s degree. While a bachelor’s degree in psychology is not a requirement to pursue a graduate degree in the field, it may provide a good foundation of what to expect in graduate school. Upon obtaining a bachelor’s degree, you would then seek further education of a graduate degree in psychology or clinical mental health. It is important that the program is accredited by the CACREP, as it is a requirement for licensure upon graduation.

Upon successful graduation from a master’s program, you would then have to complete the NBCC licensure examination and apply through your state board for initial licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC-A), which is a probationary license until you accrue approximately 3000 supervised clinical hours to qualify for upgraded licensure to an LPC. Of these hours, at least 1500 would have to be direct clinical treatment hours and the total cannot be accrued prior to 18 months after initial licensure.

The next step would be to submit proof of completed supervised hours and other required documentation to your state board for review and approval of your licensure as an LPC. At this point, you would be able to practice independently without a supervisor. The NBCC provides information on examinations, the procedure for licensure, and resources for state, educational, and supervisory requirements.

Which Suits Me Better?

A career in counseling offers a generalized approach to assessing, diagnosing, and treating mental health issues across a variety of populations. An LPC has the flexibility of choosing a work environment similar to the choices of an LMFT. LPCs would also get to choose a population that best fits their skill set and interests along with diverse specialties in presenting problems allowing you to choose an area of specialty that resonates with you. 

There are similarities between being an LPC and an LMFT. Those being that both are master’s level clinicians assessing and treating mental health issues impeding functioning. While LPCs have the ability to treat couples and families, LMFTs are highly specialized in the intricate dynamics that go beyond cognitive and behavioral dysfunction. They are able to assess and treat interrelationships and simultaneous social issues faced by the individual and the family. LPCs on the other hand, take a more clinical and psychopathological approach to treatment, focusing on internal motivations and processes. 

Within the realm of MFT, the highest level of licensure is that of an LMFT regardless of continued education beyond a master’s degree. In general counseling, you would have to obtain a Ph.D. to obtain licensure as a counseling or clinical psychologist, which is the highest level of licensure. There are differences in the level of income obtained as a psychologist, however, between an LPC and LMFT, differences are minimal in terms of work environments, populations, and income ranges. At this level, your interests and plans play a role in which licensure best suits your goals and work style. 

Resources

American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
https://www.aamft.org/

Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards
https://amftrb.org/

Bureau of Labor Statistics
https://www.bls.gov/

Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education
https://www.coamfte.org/

Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
https://www.cacrep.org/

National Board of Certified Counselors
https://www.nbcc.org/

O*Net
https://www.onetonline.org/

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an LPC do marriage and family therapy?

In most states, yes. LPCs can work with couples and families as part of their general scope of practice. However, their graduate training typically does not go as deep into systemic and relational therapy models as an LMFT program would. If your goal is to specialize in couples or family work, the LMFT track gives you more targeted preparation. Some states also restrict certain family therapy billing codes to LMFTs.

Which pays more, LMFT or LPC?

As of the May 2024 BLS data, LMFTs have a higher median salary at $63,780, compared to $53,710 for mental health counselors (the category most LPCs fall under). That said, your actual earnings will depend on where you practice, what setting you work in, and whether you eventually open a private practice.

Is it easier to get licensed as an LMFT or LPC?

Neither is significantly easier. Both require a master’s degree, thousands of supervised clinical hours (typically 2,000 to 3,000+), and a national exam. The difference is mainly in which program you attend and which exam you take. LMFTs usually go through COAMFTE-accredited programs and sit for the AMFTRB exam, while LPCs complete CACREP-accredited programs and take the NCE or NCMHCE.

Can I hold both an LMFT and LPC license?

Yes, and some clinicians do. You would need to meet the education, supervision, and exam requirements for each license separately, which usually means additional coursework and supervised hours beyond what one license requires. Holding both can open up more insurance panels and a broader client base, though it does take extra time and cost to maintain both credentials.