Marital Therapy Licensing and Certificate
Once a student has finished their Masters or Doctoral in Marriage and Family Counseling, the next step is to obtain a state license. Each state has its own process for applicants to apply for their licensure.
Marital and Family Therapist Licensure Process
Marital and Family Therapist who are ready to take the test have been through several years of schooling and have a degree. They must meet the minimum educational and clinical requirements. The MFT License is now required in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. 
Marriage and family therapist have three different options to becoming licensed: obtaining a master’s degree (2-3yrs), doctoral program (3-5yrs), or a post-graduate clinical training program (3-4yrs). Marriage and family therapists have historically come from very diverse backgrounds such as: psychology, social work, nursing, religious positions and education.
Marital and family therapists have been appointed by the Federal government as the core in the mental health profession. This position is held by professions like psychiatry, psychology, psychiatric nursing, and social work.
In most states the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Clinical Membership Standards are equivalent. When a therapist graduates from an accredited program the marital therapist must go through a supervised clinical experience period lasting approximately two years long. This process is necessary in order for the marital therapist to take the state licensing exam. The AAMFT can be taken for a single state licensure or for a national licensure.
Marital and Family Therapist Certificate Programs
There are many applicants that obtain a master’s in psychology, social work, mental health profession, and counseling. These applicants must have clinical experience prior to applying for the certification. The certification to become a marital and family therapist has some distinct additional training classes that must be taken. The coursework is centered around preparing the therapist to work with children, adolescents, the elderly and couples. It enhances on the clinical knowledge that is currently possessed and instructs therapists on building appropriate relationships with clients. Here are a few of the classes required:
- Couples Therapy
- Family Dynamics
- Developmental psychology
- Human sexuality
- Mediation techniques
- Multicultural issues in counseling
- Ethical issues in counseling
Obtaining a certification allows the marital and family therapist to have certain specializations and target their career choices according to the working environment that they choose. The processes to acquire a certification still takes an additional one to three years. After certification the AAMFT state exam still must be passed prior to obtaining a licensure as a marital and family therapist.
Where to take the state exams and national exams are located on the American Association of Marital and Family Therapist website. The website contains information on each sate’s requirements as well as contact information. The AAMFT also can provide the necessary links and contact information for preparation assistance.
Marital and family therapist are in high demand and though the process to certification and licensure is rigorous, it is still a very unique and special niche` in the therapy professions.