With its historic districts and sandy beaches, South Carolina is a great place to consider living, working, and studying. Plus, where else in the U.S. can you find wild monkeys (Morgan Island has at least 4,000 monkeys and is located north of Beauford)? Luckily for students pursuing marriage and family therapy licensing, the state has a few accredited MFT programs. But what makes South Carolina MFT programs different from other regions in the U.S.? Let’s take a look at a few programs and some of the different standards in this state.
Accredited MFT Programs in South Carolina
When looking for marriage and family graduate programs, it is important for students to make sure it is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency. One of the most well-known agencies is the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). CACREP accredits clinical mental health graduate and Ph.D. programs in the U.S. and Canada, assessing the quality of each program to make sure they provide the right training for future therapists. In South Carolina, there is only one CACREP-accredited program in the state.
University of South Carolina, College of Education:
Ed.S. in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
This university, located in the city of Columbia, approaches its MFT degree systemically, seeing the families, couples, or individuals being counseled from a holistic place. Students learn how to identify resources for their clients and get the chance to practice their skills in the program’s supervised practicum and internships, which make up about 9 credits. In total, there are 33 core course semester hour requirements, 6 semester hours in specialization specific to marriage and family counseling, 12 semester hours of clinical preparation, 3 semester hours of human growth and development, and 3 semester hours in research.
COAMFTE Accredited South Carolina MFT Programs
CACREP isn’t the only accrediting agency for marriage and family programs. The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy (COAMFTE)) has become more popular among MFT programs to ensure the quality of the coursework and training. The difference between CACREP and COAMFTE is that COAMFTE specifically examines marital and family graduate and Ph.D. programs in the U.S. and Canada. Both a COAMFTE and CACREP-accredited program will satisfy the educational requirements to become an MFT. South Carolina has two COAMFTE-accredited programs, and they are actually the same program but in different locations.| Name | City | State | Degree Level | Accreditation | GRE Required? | Full Program Name | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Converse University - University Center of Greenville | Greenville | SC | Masters | COAMFTE | No | M.A. in Marriage & Family Therapy | Learn More |
| Converse University (MMFT) | Spartanburg | SC | Masters | COAMFTE | No | Master of Marriage and Family Therapy | Learn More |
| Converse University | Spartanburg | SC | Masters | COAMFTE | N/A | Master of Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT) | Learn More |
| Converse University | Spartanburg | SC | Masters | COAMFTE | N/A | Converse’s Master of Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT) | Learn More |
Converse University in Greenville and Spartanburg:
M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy
Converse University’s MFT program is the only COAMFTE-accredited program in South Carolina. Both the Greenville and Spartanburg programs have clinics run by EMERGE Family Therapy Center, the program’s partner. The 63-credit program includes a 15-hour practicum where students get real experience applying therapeutic techniques to clients in the EMERGE Family Therapy Center. Students will gain 500 hours of client contact, with half of those hours in relational counseling.
No GRE Required MFT Programs in South Carolina
Likely in part due to the Covid19 pandemic, many graduate schools are not requiring candidates to take the standardized test for consideration. Preparing to take the GRE or other standardized tests can cost money, time, and peace of mind, so for those hoping to avoid this process, below are some of the MFT master’s programs in South Carolina that don’t require GRE scores for consideration in the program:| Name | City | State | Degree Level | Accreditation | GRE Required? | Full Program Name | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Carolina | Winston-Salem | SC | Masters | CACREP | No | Counselor Education, Ed.S. (Marriage, Couples & Family Counseling) | Learn More |
| University of South Carolina, College of Education | Columbia | SC | Ed.S. | CACREP | No | Ed.S. in Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling | Learn More |
| Converse University - University Center of Greenville | Greenville | SC | Masters | COAMFTE | No | M.A. in Marriage & Family Therapy | Learn More |
| Converse University (MMFT) | Spartanburg | SC | Masters | COAMFTE | No | Master of Marriage and Family Therapy | Learn More |
| University of South Carolina | Winston-Salem | SC | Masters | CACREP | No | Counselor Education, Ph.D. | Learn More |
What will you learn in a South Carolina MFT program?
It can take around two years to complete an MFT program in the state, if you choose to enter on a full-time basis. In South Carolina, to qualify for MFT licensure, you must complete an accredited program with at least 48 semester hours of coursework.
You can expect to take courses in individual development and family relations, family subsystems, theoretical foundations and clinical practice, professional studies, ethics, psychopathology, psychopathology diagnostics, and research. You will also be required to complete supervised practicum and internship hours, where you will get your first hands-on clinical experience. You can expect to get at least 300 hours of clinical practicum.
Some accredited programs will also require in-person or online residencies during the program. These residencies are your first chance to practice your techniques in a safe environment. Generally, students in the program gather with staff and guest speakers to learn and practice together. While not all programs require these residencies, be sure to check on the requirements for your school of choice.
How to become an LMFT in South Carolina
Getting a license as a marriage and family therapist requires candidates receive education from a COAMFTE or CACREP-accredited graduate program or a program deemed equivalent. The MFT may have a doctorate, master’s, or specialist degree. MFT masters programs students in South Carolina have to complete 48 semester hours of coursework.
Students who hope to treat serious mental illness will need to complete a 600-hour-long internship with practice assessing and treating clients facing these problems.
After graduating from your program, you will need to become a resident in training, which means working in a clinic approved by your school and working under a licensed marriage and family therapy supervisor to gain clinical practice hours. In South Carolina, students should complete a minimum of two years of internships with at least 1,500 hours of clinical experience (1,350 hours of client care and 150 hours of supervision).
You should send in your first application for licensure to the Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists and Psycho-Educational Specialists before taking your exam or when beginning your supervised residency. If you meet the educational requirements, you will be approved to sit for the Examination in Marital and Family Therapy. Your application should be sent nine weeks before the testing window in which you want to take the exam. The application is $170, and you will pay an additional $224 to the Professional Examination Service once approved to sit for the test. After the test, the Board will make a final review of your final and your license can be issued.
What does an LMFT in South Carolina do?
The duties of an LMFT and a licensed professional counselor (LPC) do overlap. However, the main difference is in the perspective and clients taken by the professional providing services. LMFTs offer their services to families, couples, and individuals and act as a help on their journey toward healing and growth in their interpersonal relationships. Techniques used during sessions are implemented from a family systemic perspective. An LMFT in South Carolina can also act as a connector for clients to services and specialists who can further help improve client wellbeing.
South Carolina LMFT Career and Salary Opportunities
The mental health field is on the rise, both because of the increased demand for services and because of the greater access due to the rise of telehealth services. The marriage and family therapy field is expected to grow 16 percent from now to 2030 nationwide, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Clinical mental health counselors and MFTs can integrate into hospitals, schools, traditional clinics, and many other settings, so there will likely be no shortage of jobs for students upon graduation.
Students have good prospects from a salary perspective as well. The national average for licensed marriage and family counselors was $59,660 as of May 2021. With around 210 LMFTs employed in 2021, the South Carolina average yearly salary for that same year was a bit lower than average at $56,480.
All MFT Programs in South Carolina
There are only a handful of MFT programs offered in South Carolina by both the University of South Carolina and Converse University. Those programs are listed below, and potential applicants can also review North Carolina MFT programs and Georgia marriage and family therapy offerings if they would like to explore going out of state.| Name | City | State | Degree Level | Accreditation | GRE Required? | Full Program Name | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Carolina | Winston-Salem | SC | Masters | CACREP | No | Counselor Education, Ed.S. (Marriage, Couples & Family Counseling) | Learn More |
| University of South Carolina, College of Education | Columbia | SC | Ed.S. | CACREP | No | Ed.S. in Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling | Learn More |
| Converse University - University Center of Greenville | Greenville | SC | Masters | COAMFTE | No | M.A. in Marriage & Family Therapy | Learn More |
| Converse University (MMFT) | Spartanburg | SC | Masters | COAMFTE | No | Master of Marriage and Family Therapy | Learn More |
| Converse University | Spartanburg | SC | Masters | COAMFTE | N/A | Master of Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT) | Learn More |
| Converse University | Spartanburg | SC | Masters | COAMFTE | N/A | Converses Master of Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT) | Learn More |
| University of South Carolina | Winston-Salem | SC | Masters | CACREP | No | Counselor Education, Ph.D. | Learn More |
South Carolina MFT Resources
To help you navigate the information and options for training programs, here are a few links to relevant resources mentioned throughout this article.
Additional Resources:
University of South Carolina, College of Education: Ed.S. in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
Converse University in Greenville and Spartanburg: M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy
