A state rich in history, culture and with a population as diverse as its landscape, Pennsylvania offers some of the best environments for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT’s) to establish their careers. Pennsylvania has experienced significant growth (38% since 2019) in the number of licensed mental health professionals practicing in the state.This has also led to the state becoming recognized by The National Bureau of Labor Statistics among states with the highest employment level and annual wage in the U.S. for LMFT’s.
Pennsylvania is known for having renowned higher education institutions including Carnegie Mellon University and Drexel University, both of which have robust and well-developed counseling graduate programs. Drexel University boasts a clinically rigorous Master of Family Therapy graduate program that is recognized by the Commission on Accreditation for MFT Education (COAMFTE). Setting itself apart from other universities, Drexel has on-site supervision, education and training opportunities through their Family Therapy Services on-campus clinic.
Philadelphia is also home to Council for Relationships, a non-profit organization that provides community-based, affordable mental health services. They have a unique post-graduate program geared towards supporting candidates who desire to specialize in the following prospective MFT career tracks; clergy, clinical and sex therapy.
Pursuing this specific type of mental health profession in Pennsylvania gives you the chance to positively impact so many people in need and fortunately, the state helps make this process an attainable one.
Steps to Becoming an MFT in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania just recently, in 2024, followed the legislature of neighboring states like New Jersey in launching an associate license for MFT’s known as Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT). LAMFT’s are able to assess, diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders while being guided by an approved and licensed supervisor. This change is pivotal in providing candidates with the opportunity to obtain jobs where meeting clinical hour requirements is significantly more attainable. The initiative also benefits the general public within the state by increasing access to mental health services.
To become an LMFT in the state of Pennsylvania, applicants must receive both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in MFT or a related social science (such as social work) that provides an equivalent curriculum. Then, students gain clinical experience during their graduate studies and/or post-education where they are supervised in conducting individual, couple and family therapy. The final step is having two-three years of post-graduate clinical work, as well as educational experience, submitted and verified by the state board who will potentially grant you permission to take the MFT National Exam. Achieving a passing score awards candidates with full licensure in marriage and family therapy in the state of Pennsylvania.
Step 1. Education
Undergraduate Studies
The path to licensure in Pennsylvania begins with students graduating from a 4-year social science bachelor’s program. Psychology is the primary recommended major to declare as it includes all of the necessary courses in later pursuing a mental health graduate degree and career. The topics a psychology undergraduate degree typically covers are clinical research, evaluations and assessments, scientific writing and reading as well as general learning of mental health issues.
For individuals who have already obtained a bachelor’s degree in an area of study unrelated to psychology, graduate programs may provide guides for additional coursework that can be completed to become eligible to apply to an MFT graduate program. If this part of the licensure journey directly applies to you, it is best to reach out to the appropriate departments at the university or college of interest to gain more direction.
Graduate Studies
Candidates for MFT licensure in Pennsylvania must have a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy or another closely related field. The state of Pennsylvania recognizes the following academic programs as potentially related;
- Counseling
- Psychology
- Education
- Medicine
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Nursing
- Ministry
- Theology
- Pastoral Counseling
Most graduate programs within this field take 2-3 years to complete. The MFT master’s and doctoral programs within Pennsylvania prepare students to work in diverse healthcare environments while focusing on the complex issues that individuals, couples and families may face.
Urban areas like Philadelphia are home to countless social service institutions, many of which university faculty members and professors work within. In higher education, this creates realistic learning environments for students interested in mental health careers. Some of the course topics covered within these programs include;
- Family Systems Theories
- Gender and Sexuality
- Cultural and Ethnic Considerations
- Professional Studies
- Research
- Ethics
- Human Development
Additionally, Marriage and Family Therapy, Social Work, Counseling and Psychology graduate programs help connect students with internship opportunities to prepare students for associate licensure upon graduation. As per Pennsylvania licensing requirements, graduate practicums are expected to provide students with at least 300 hours of experience (which translates to three semesters worth of practicum).
Step 2a. Associate Marriage and Family Therapy License (LAMFT) Requirements
After earning a master’s or doctoral degree in MFT or a closely related field, applicants are ready to take advantage of the state’s brand new associate licensure initiative. The requirements in applying for this are as follows:
Documents to provide to the State Licensing Board:
- Official educational transcripts
- Clinical supervision plan completed by the applicant and a supervisor approved and certified through the state and American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). The plan must include;
- The name of the employer as well as the location where client contact and supervision will take place.
- Detailed job description of responsibilities and duties at supervision site.
- 3 hours of Board-approved continuing education (CE) on the topic of child abuse and reporting.
- Submission of an initial licensing fee.
Step 2b. Marriage and Family Therapy License (LMFT) Requirements
Clinicians can apply for full licensure by providing documents to the Pennsylvania state board that show their fulfillment of the requirements below:
3,000 hours or at least two years of post-graduate, supervised MFT clinical experience (with the following inclusions met):
- 150 hours of direct supervision by a board approved supervisor (at a rate of 2 hours for every 40 a clinician works).
- Half of the required supervisory hours can be in a group setting.
- Candidates can earn anywhere from 500 to 1,8000 hours each year
- Stay at the same clinical setting for at least three to six months
- At least 1,500 of these hours have to be direct service work which refers to when a clinician is actively conducting assessments, providing consultations as well as providing psychoeducation and therapy services.
- Remaining hours needed can include time spent advocating and record keeping. Keep in mind that Pennsylvania does not count administrative duties (such as finances) as direct service work.
Applicant’s with Doctoral Degrees
Those interested in obtaining an MFT license and already hold a doctoral degree must accomplish 2,400 hours of direct client contact required.1,200 of these hours must be obtained after having received the doctoral degree.
Within all of these different licensure tracks, no more than 1,500 hours may be group supervised, meaning that individual supervision should be the primary form of educational and training guidance provided.
The official website of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania details the specific rules, regulations and terms within these steps of licensure.
Step 3. National Exam
At this highly anticipated stage, applicants are ready to submit all of their documentation to the Pennsylvania state board to determine eligibility to take the MFT National Exam. If you are eligible, the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Board (AMFTRB) will send you a letter stating so and provide you with further instructions on how you can go about paying the necessary fee and scheduling your exam date.
There are 6 core competency areas covered within the national MFT exam that applicants should be prepared to study and become familiar with (it is recommended to study for at least 4-6 weeks prior to taking 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
Maintaining Licensure:
Achieving full MFT licensure in Pennsylvania involves continuing education, maintenance of professional liability insurance and a renewal fee once every two years. These are all part of the commitments mental health professionals make to uphold the ethical, legal and clinical standards of their license while also staying informed and educated on evolving therapy topics beyond licensure. LMFT’s in Pennsylvania also have the opportunity to further specialize in their careers by participating in the expansive certification and training programs the state has to offer.
The continuing education requirement for LMFT’s in Pennsylvania is a total of 30 hours over a two year period. Of these hours, 2 must be within the state-mandated child abuse reporter training, 3 hours must be related to ethics and at least 1 regarding suicide prevention.
Overall, the educational, social and economic resources available for MFT’s in Pennsylvania make it an ideal place for aspiring clinician’s to be supported and current mental health professionals to thrive.
