Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) in Georgia have opportunities and spaces to flourish academically and professionally. Georgia is home to the University of Georgia, the oldest higher educational institution in the nation, which has expansive MFT doctoral, graduate and certificate programs. The Association for Marriage and Family Therapy within Georgia (GAMFT) is also a very large and active group with regional chapters spanning across 159 counties. It is organizations such as these that host conferences, workshops, courses, professional networking and supervision opportunities, all with the goal of making the road to licensure in this field of mental health, an attainable and fulfilling one.
Steps to Becoming an MFT in Maryland
To become a licensed MFT in the state of Georgia, applicants must receive both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in MFT or a related social science from accredited educational institutions. After graduating with having met the necessary educational requirements, applicants can begin gaining supervised clinical experience under a Associate Marriage and Family Therapy (AMFT) provisional license. After providing these accrued hours and passing the national MFT exam, clinicians can receive their final Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy (LMFT) license and begin practicing therapy independently in the state of Georgia. All aspects of this process are to be approved by the Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists.
Step 1. Education
Undergraduate Studies
Starting a career as an MFT in Georgia begins with graduating from a 4-year social science bachelor’s program. Psychology programs are among the most ideal areas to study as it teaches you about clinical research, evaluations and assessments, scientific writing and reading as well as general learning of mental health issues.
Graduate Studies
Licensure candidates in Georgia must have a Master’s or doctoral degree in MFT or another closely related field. The University of Georgia, known as a historical and large doctoral granting and public higher educational institution, has various MFT degree options for candidates of different paths to choose from. Their MFT certificate program is unlike any other in the country in that it involves three core disciplines all within the curriculum;
- College of Education
- College of Family and Consumer Sciences
- School of Social Work
Within these departments are the following academic areas that relate to MFT (both at University of Georgia and other schools across the state):
- Human Development and Family Science
- Counseling and Human Development Services
- Social Work
- Psychology
- Educational Psychology
Pursuit of this certification is ideal for any student currently enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Georgia and can also be perceived as an add-on to degrees. Its primary goal is to help prepare students for licensure by setting them up with supervision following the receipt of this certification.
In addition to the University of Georgia’s certification program, they also offer an MFT doctoral degree that focuses on two major areas of the profession; scientific research and counseling services to individuals, couples and families. Students of this program work directly in the community to provide mental health services through the school’s very own ASPIRE clinic; a state of the art, on-site facility. Programs such as this one are estimated to take 5 years to complete and result in eligibility for licensure.
Another graduate program in Georgia that helps set students up for careers in the field is Valdosta State University, which relies on bridging classroom learning to clinical practice of relational systems.
Step 2a. Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) Requirements
After earning a master’s degree in a closely related field, candidates can apply for the AMFT associate-level license.
- Master’s degree from a COAMFTE- accredited school (Commission of Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education.
- One year practicum with a minimum of 500 hours of direct clinical experience
- 100 of these hours must be directly supervised
- A registered contact or supervisor that will oversee post-graduate experience.
- Complete and pass the national MFT exam prescribed by the board after experience is approved.
The purpose of this particular license, like many permit or associate titles for MFT’s, is to provide candidates with more opportunities to continue learning beyond graduation and begin gaining supervised clinical experience, all of which are necessary in growing as an MFT in Georgia.
It is important to note that applicants can apply directly to be LMFT’s, however, the state board recommends that if you are eligible for the associate level license, that you do that step first as a pathway to eventually practicing independently. The following are specific circumstances in which an applicant may pursue full licensure and essentially skip the provisional step:
- You are fully licensed in another state and hope to be licensed in Georgia by means of portability.
- Your academic graduate or doctoral program did not meet the requirements put forth by the associate license. This puts you in a position of having to take more classes, obtain additional supervision or participation in trainings, etc.
- You anticipate needing to take more than five years to accrue required hours or you think you may have to take a significant break between graduation and licensure.
Step 2b. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) Requirements
Full MFT licensure in the state of Georgia is represented by a LMFT license. There are numerous journeys to obtain this particular license, depending on the experience of the applicant. These are outlined below;
Requirements for LMFT applicants that hold an AMFT license:
- Completion of education requirements for AMFT license
- Pass exam prescribed by the board
- 2 years of full-time (at a rate of 20 hours per week) post-masters experience/supervision
- Minimum of 2,000 hours of direct clinical experience
- If not full-time, the equivalent amount of part-time work must be completed over a period of at least two years and no more than five years.
- 100 hours of direct supervision
- 50 of these hours must be individual and the rest can be received within a group setting.
Requirements for LMFT applicants that hold a masters degree:
- 3 years of full-time post-masters experience or equivalent of part-time
- If not full-time, the equivalent amount of part-time work must be completed over a period of at least two years and no more than five years.
- Minimum of 2,500 hours of direct clinical experience
- One year of this experience can be obtained through a practicum before or after graduate studies and being granted a masters degree.
- At least two years of this experience must be within marriage and family therapy.
- 100 hours of direct supervision
- A minimum of 50 hours must be individual and rest can be received within a group setting.
Requirements for LMFT applicants that hold a doctoral degree:
- 2 years of full-time postdoctoral experience and supervision
- Minimum of 1,500 hours of direct clinical experience
- 1 year of experience that can be obtained during a practicum or internship, which includes a minimum of 1,000 hours of direct clinical experience.
- 100 hours of direct supervision
- A maximum of 50 of these hours can be received within the applicant’s doctoral program or internship.
- A minimum of 50 hours must be individual supervision and the rest can be received in a group setting.
Step 3. Examinations
Like most states within the U.S., Georgia requires the passing of the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Board (AMFTRB) National Exam to become a fully licensed MFT.
The AMFTRB exam involves applicants to be familiar with 6 core competency areas in the field (it is recommended to study for at least 4-6 weeks prior to taking the exam):
- The Practice of Systemic Therapy
- Assessing, Hypothesizing and Diagnosing
- Designing and Conducting Treatment
- Evaluating Ongoing Process and Terminating Treatment
- Managing Crisis Situations
- Maintaining Ethical, Legal and Professional Standards
Once the board receives your initial licensure application, they will deem you as eligible to take the exam and provide you with written authorization and instructions to do so. If you have been granted one of Georgia’s MFT licenses by means of passing the exam and aim to receive the other, you will not have to take the test again and this part of the application process will be waived.
Maintaining Licensure:
LMFT’s in the state of Georgia must complete 35 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years. Of these hours, at least 5 must cover the topic of ethics, including competencies of client confidentiality, professional boundaries, use of technology in counseling and dual relationships. These ethical related credits also have to be obtained within a live setting. 20 of the required CE hours have to be accrued by means of in-person instruction such as conferences, live seminars and workshops. The state of Georgia prioritizes this format of CE receipt as it promotes direct interaction and collaboration among professionals of all different stages of licensure.
Lastly, 15 years of the 35 requirements can be completed online through virtual courses, webinars and even self-study programs. As long as such CE’s are approved and recognized by the state board. In addition to meeting these continuing education requirements, the state of Georgia stresses that all licensed mental health professionals keep a record of documents including certificate of CE completion and transcripts if education is received through an institution.
Overall, LMFT’s in Georgia can enhance their participation in the field by becoming involved in the many training and education opportunities provided within the state. In addition to achieving levels of licensure in joining the profession, LMFT’s serve a wide population of people by uniquely focusing on systems when approaching mental health issues, thus providing specialized yet comprehensive care.
