An LMFT, or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, is a licensed professional who works with couples, families, and other types of relationships to help counsel and guide them through difficulties such as contentious relationship dynamics, mental health issues, parenting struggles, and much more. The main difference between an LMFT and another type of licensed mental health therapist or other professional is that an LMFT is specifically trained in relationships of all kinds. To become an LMFT, you must earn a master’s degree, complete a certain number of internship hours, and take a licensing exam.
Mental health jobs tend to be in demand in the United States, so if you decide to become an LMFT, you have the chance for many job options after you have completed all the steps to become licensed. Below is an overview of the median US income and career projection of a counseling career. This data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- Median Annual Income: $58,510
- Job Outlook: 16% (much faster than average)
The BLS reports that the highest ten percent of LMFT income earners make more than $104,710, while the lowest earners make less than $39,090. The median income in organizations and industries that an LMFT might work in is outlined below, courtesy of the BLS.
- State government: $86,030
- Outpatient care centers: $61,390
- Individual and family services: $50,700
- Other health practitioners: $49,190
As you can see, there are many types of organizations that employ LMFTs. The pay can vary even within organizations of the same kind. Other factors that affect pay include factors such as additional certifications, years of experience, and more. A marriage and family therapist might work part time or full time.
The process to become an LMFT can be quite involved and take multiple years, but if you want to help people, it might just be the right career for you. This article will go over the career of a licensed marriage and family therapist, specifics on how to become one, and other things you should consider.
Why are LMFTs important?
LMFTs are helpful to promote a healthy, functioning society, by encouraging productive and positive dynamics in relationships, and/or by helping people with behavioral and mental health issues. According to the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT), LMFTs are able to reduce symptoms or resolve problems by utilizing their skills in crisis intervention and psychotherapy. These are skills that are learned within an MFT program, the following practicum, and through career experience. Crisis management skills can do a lot to reduce the risk of someone harming themselves or others.
LMFTs benefit people in the communities they live in by providing a neutral place for someone to express the struggles they are going through and discuss conflicts in their relationships. An LMFT can also provide insight as to how an individual’s behavior impacts parts of their life and relationships.
While other mental health professionals are able to do much of the above, an LMFT is particularly important and effective when working with people in relationships of all kinds. According to Forbes, the divorce rate as of 2024 is 43% for first time marriages, 60% for second marriages, and 73% for third marriages. An LMFT is important because, although they can’t always prevent divorce, they can potentially improve a relationship. Psychology Today reports that 75% of couples “see improvements in their relationships after couples therapy”. Beyond romantic relationships, though, marriage and family therapists can help dynamics between a child and parent, siblings, and more.
What do LMFTs do?
LMFTs use evidence-based treatment techniques to provide a non judgemental place for families to talk about and work through their struggles. LMFTs can help with a broad spectrum of issues that can arise in relationships, including, but not limited to:
- Communication issues
- Trauma
- Chronic illness
- Divorce
- Unemployment
- Anger
- Stress
- Life changes
- Mental health disorders, such as anxiety, OCD
- Eating disorders
- Substance use disorders
- Neurodivergence (such as ADHD and autism)
These issues are handled typically through therapeutic techniques. According to The Chicago School, there are three main types of therapy used to solve client problems. One is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT. This type of therapy involves working with a client to identify unhealthy behaviors or thought patterns and attempting to change them. You may be able to see how someone’s behaviors or thoughts could impact their relationship with loved ones, hence the need for an MFT. Another type of therapy is Structural Family Therapy (SFT), which involves the MFT working with families to change negative dynamics in family relationships. Intergenerational Family Therapy involves the MFT using their awareness of generational family dynamics and how it influences someone’s behavior. In this method, the MFT also identifies recurring cycles and patterns that are passed down the generations.
The duties of a marriage and family therapist aren’t just limited to working directly face-to-face with clients in a therapeutic context. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that LMFTs also create treatment plans, complete and maintain records of sessions, and refer clients to resources and other services. In each of these, an LMFT must maintain strict confidentiality to protect a client’s privacy. What an LMFT does can also depend on where they work or if they are employed for themselves.
Careers Similar to LMFTs
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). An LPC is similar to a marriage and family therapist because it requires a similar amount of education and experience. Both careers require you to earn your master’s degree. In addition, both degrees require the student to complete a practicum while in school, as well as a certain number of hours post graduation in order to qualify for the licensing exam. However, an LPC differs slightly from an LMFT in regards to what they study while in school, as well as the type of clients they might take on and the work they might do with them. An LPC counsels clients through issues, and they may intervene in client’s problems by a general overall route of navigating behaviors and life circumstances. Since both are licensed, it would really be up to the client to discover which one is best for them. For someone trying to decide which degree to pursue, a good idea might be to explore the curriculum offered by the program to find which classes suit their interest and goals.
- Licensed Clinical Social Work (LCSW). An LCSW, like an LMFT, is able to provide therapeutic services to clients including diagnosing them with a mental health disorder if relevant, or guiding them through difficulties. However, an LCSW’s education and approach is different from an LMFT. An LCSW learns about people and the world partially through a macro (big-picture) perspective, and understands how society and a person’s life situation affects them and makes them the way that they are. An LCSW might focus on things like human behavior, policy, and sociology while in their master’s degree program. They are also trained to provide resources to clients and solve problems in a different way than LMFTs are trained. However, much like an LMFT, the career requires a master’s degree and a similar number of practicum and postgraduate supervision hours.
- Psychologist. A psychologist differs from an LMFT and the other careers discussed above in that this career typically requires a doctoral degree instead of a masters. An LMFT and psychologist are similar because they can each provide mental health services. However, a psychologist receives further training by participating in a doctoral program that qualifies them to engage in other services, such as psychological testing. This is helpful when it comes to more complex mental health disorders or neurodivergence, such as schizophrenia or autism. Additionally, a psychologist can do things like conduct research and make discoveries to contribute to the field of psychology. They can also teach psychology at universities. However, both psychologists and LMFTs along with the other careers can open their own private practice.
Marriage and Family Therapy Areas of Specialization
Specializations in a marriage and family therapy master’s degree program allows you to focus on learning about what you are interested in. This can customize your education, and help you tailor your knowledge to suit what you want your future career to look like, especially if you already have an idea of the population you want to work with. There are many possible specializations out there, but they aren’t all offered by every university. So, it’s important to explore potential universities to see which one offers a specialization that you are interested in.
Below are several examples of specializations that an MFT program might offer. This can lead to specializing in this through their practice once the student has their license.
- Child and Adolescent Family Therapy. This type of therapy is important for families and children going through tumultuous times. This could include helping a child through their parent’s divorce, parent’s fighting, emotional and behavioral challenges of the parent or child, and much more. The curriculum for this type of specialization focuses on using a systems approach to family therapy, and in particular, includes information for working with children and adolescents.
- Couples Therapy. This type of therapy is for spouses or couples who experience conflict over the course of their relationship. This can involve addressing infidelity, divorce, separation, conflict, stress, abuse, and more. Couples therapy can also just be a good tool to help someone communicate more effectively with their partner. The therapist can be the mediator through conversations, but can also provide suggestions and resources to the couple as an impartial third party.
- LGBTQ Therapy. People on the LGBTQ+ spectrum often need a certain level of understanding in regards to the difficulties they are going through. That’s where the LGBTQ+ specialization comes in. Students who choose this specialization will learn about the issues that LGBTQ+ people go through and how to help them feel heard and helped. Someone in this specialization might work with LGBT youth, couples, or individuals while understanding the breadth of experience and knowledge that is required to serve this population.
- Military Family Therapy. People who have gone through the military may have gone through trauma or other experiences that cause them mental or behavioral health issues. Families who have an individual in the family who is in the military may face separation for months or years, which can create issues as well. This unique experience may require a specialized understanding. Thus, the military therapy specialization focuses on working with military families.
- Addiction Treatment Therapy. Addiction is a difficult disease to recover from, and those going through it can typically use some help. Addiction can cause conflict in families and other relationships. This specialization can teach the student how to work with families going through addiction, and help them understand the cause behind it. An MFT in this specialization can also help a client understand their addiction and support them through their recovery.
How to Become an LMFT
Becoming a mental health professional such as an LMFT takes many years of dedication for the complex and rewarding career of helping others. It can take 6-10 years to get through school and become fully licensed depending on several factors. For example, if you already have a bachelor’s degree (which takes about four years to complete), you may already be ahead of the timeline, depending on what the degree is in. To see if you already qualify to apply for a masters in marriage and family therapy program, you can look at the application requirements section of your chosen university to see if you have met the criteria. From there, it can take one to 4 years to earn a master’s degree, and a couple of years post graduation to earn the required supervision hours.
Overall, the process to become an LMFT may differ by state. It is up to each state’s established board of behavioral services. However, there are some general steps you can follow, which are outlined below.
1. Earn a bachelor’s degree.
Before working towards a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, you will need to earn a bachelor’s degree. This degree can be in something related to marriage and family therapy, such as psychology or social work. It’s important to maintain as high of a GPA as possible when you apply for the master’s program. It is also important to attend an accredited university.
2. Earn a master’s degree.
There are many different MFT programs in the US. When it comes to deciding which one to attend to earn your degree, there are several important factors to consider. Choosing an affordable MFT program is the most important for some students. Others might wish to attend a program that does not require the GRE to apply. One of the most important features of an MFT program to consider though, is one that has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) or Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). These organizations award accreditation to schools that meet their standards of quality.
3. Complete supervised clinical hours.
A marriage and family therapy degree requires students to complete a certain number of practicum hours while completing the program. After graduating, in order to become licensed, students must also complete clinical hours with clients under the supervision of a marriage and family therapist who is already licensed. The number of hours that are required varies by state. State-specific information can be found on the AAMFT website. California, for example, requires students to complete 3,000 hours of supervised experience, and some of the practicum hours completed during the master’s program can count towards this.
4. Take your licensing exam.
Once you have completed the previous steps, it will be time to apply to take the licensing exam. Be sure to check your state’s requirements to ensure that you are eligible to apply. Prior to taking the exam, you must first take a law and ethics exam in some states. Certain websites, such as the Association at Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB), offer resources for learning more about the exam and study materials, as well as next steps if you pass or don’t pass the exam.
5. Apply for licensure.
If you have passed your state’s licensing exam, it’s time to apply for licensure. To do so, you will fulfill your state’s requirements for submitting exam scores and anything else that is needed for the board to issue you your license. Once the information is submitted, it may take several weeks for you to receive confirmation that you have received your license. After this, you can practice marriage and family therapy independently in your state.
6. Maintain your license.
Even after you are officially a licensed marriage and family therapist, your journey isn’t over yet. Licensed mental health professionals must renew their license every couple of years (depending on the state) along with completing continuing education units (CEUs). The specific ones that you need to take, as well as the amount of units, depends on your state’s requirements. The Board of Behavioral Services has approved Vista Continuing Education as one provider of CEU’s. When it comes to renewing your license every two years or so, there is also a fee you will need to pay to renew your license.
Marriage and Family Therapy Program Accreditation
There are two main organizations that are responsible for accrediting marriage and family therapy programs. These are the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
COAMFTE is the main accrediting organization, while CACREP primarily focuses on counseling programs. They determine the standards for educational MFT programs because they are made up of professionals and experts in the field of marriage and family therapy. This includes people like licensed therapists, professors, and many others who contribute to the organization. Most employers want to see that their potential hire came from a COAMFTE-accredited program. The main goal of accrediting organizations is to ensure that marriage and family therapy master’s programs are providing an education that is innovative and up to modern standards. This is important because knowledge in the field is always changing as new information is discovered. As the information changes, the education should too, along with an improved practice.
LMFT Licensure vs Certification
An MFT certificate and degree are not the same. Some MFT programs offer a certificate to go along with the degree. A degree is what is required to get into the marriage and family career. It takes longer to earn a degree over a certificate.
Certificate related to marriage and family therapy is typically in a specific subject, and is used to boost the individual’s knowledge and credentials. It can be earned by the student either while they are completing the master’s program or after graduation. Getting an MFT certificate can help someone increase their income potential when applying for an MFT job. It can also allow someone to learn about a specific topic that they are interested in, to serve a population they are interested in.
Below are some common MFT certificates you may be able to earn:
- Couple Therapy
- Military Family Therapy
- Diverse Families and Community
- Ethical Practice in Marriage and Family Therapy
- LGBTQ+ Therapy
How to Find the Best MFT Program
There are many great master’s in marriage and family therapy programs in the US. Choosing which one is best for you might be difficult. There are several factors to consider that can help you decide. These are discussed below.
Online vs In-Person Programs
The format in which you receive your education can make all the difference in your success. For some, attending an online program is best for their learning preferences or lifestyle. Online courses often offer instruction via a recorded video or livestream, and homework is completed and turned in online. This can be helpful to those who have a full-time job and can’t attend class during the day, or can’t go to campus for any other reason. However, others thrive best in an on-campus environment. It might help them focus better, and they might enjoy socializing. Consider which might be best for you!
In-State vs Out-of-State Programs
If affordability matters to you, then going to a MFT program in your state may be the best option. State universities tend to offer the most accessible tuition. This is because, as a resident of the state, you can enjoy a lower tuition due taxes supplementing some of the tuition cost. However, some students attend school in a state that they are not a resident in because they want to move there, the school has features they like, and many other possible reasons. It really comes down to what is most important to you.
Accreditation
In an earlier section, the importance of accreditation was discussed. In short, though, accreditation is a status awarded to a university or program within the university when they meet the quality standards of the accrediting organization. This ensures that students are receiving a quality education that prepares them adequately for their future career. The standards are determined by members of the accrediting board, who are experts in the field.
Attending a properly accredited university is incredibly important for success when earning your MSW master’s degree.
Directory of Marriage and Family Therapy Programs
The two accrediting bodies of MFT programs, COAMFTE and CACREP, offer a directory where you can search to see if your ideal program is accredited. These are below.
How to Afford an MFT Degree
Affordability may be a roadblock for some people when it comes to attending grad school. However, there are options that can make an unaffordable tuition feel more accessible. Consider using the strategies below to help fund your education.
General Funding: FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available to any student. It can be filled out every year that you are in school. It takes into account your assets, family size, income, and other factors. This information helps the application determine if you are available for federal loans or grants. Grants are ideal, since you don’t have to pay them back. However, federal loans may also be helpful, as they tend to have a lower interest rate and other benefits compared to private loans.
Scholarships
Websites such as the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy sometimes offer scholarships (money that you don’t have to pay back) through their website. Another source of scholarships may be the university that you are interested in. It may be worth checking out the program website or calling the financial aid office. Additionally, there are websites such as Scholarships.com where you can look for scholarships that suit your needs.
Resources to Become an LMFT
Online MFT Programs
Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards
Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Marriage and Family Therapist, How to Become One
