Applicants who are currently licensed in another state or were previously licensed in any state, including Texas, must meet the current requirement for licensure.
Download or view requirements chart for licensure as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists/Associate in Texas
Download or view charts displaying the tracts for becoming licensed as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists/Associate in Texas
Academic Requirements
In order to become licensed as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate in Texas, a person must demonstrate having met one of the following categories of qualifying academic achievement.
- a master’s degree or doctorate degree in marriage and family therapy from an institution or program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)
- a master’s degree or doctorate degree in marriage and family therapy from an institution or program accredited by accrediting bodies that are recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), but which are not accredited by COAMFTE, provided that the practicum is at least 9 credit hours or 12 months. If the practicum is not at least 9 credit hours or 12 months an applicant may be approved to take the licensing examination and may be issued an associate license upon successfully passing the examination. Prior to receiving a license as a marriage and family therapist, the applicant shall complete the pre-graduation practicum deficit in addition to the post-graduate supervised experience requirements consistent with the requirements in §801.142
- a master’s or doctorate degree in a related mental health field with a planned course of study in marriage and family therapy as described in 801.113(d) and (e) with minimum course content as described in §801.114. NOTE: If applying under this section, FORM I must be completed and submitted by the applicant.
Licensing Examination Required for Licensure
In order to become licensed as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate in Texas, a person must have passed the national licensing examination available through the Association of Marital and Family Regulatory Boards
More information on the examination is available on the Association of Marital and Family Regulatory Boards' website at: http://www.amftrb.org/ .
- A person who has already passed the AMFTRB national licensing examination is not required to re-take the licensing examination.
- A person who is currently licensed in the state of California and has passed the California state licensing examination is considered to have met the examination requirement. Verification of passage of the California state licensing examination must be submitted from the state of California.
- A person who is currently licensed in another jurisdiction who was “grandfathered,” or is licensed without having passed the national (or California) licensing examination must pass the examination in order to gain a license in Texas, except as noted in the Occupations Code, Chapter 502.
- A person who has not previously passed the AMFTRB national licensing examination or the state of California state licensing examination must pass the AMFTRB national licensing examination.
- You will need to submit Form A of the enclosed application, all required supplementary documentation and the application fee prior to the next application deadline (see web page).
- You will need to submit an original transcript.
- A person who is enrolled in the last semester of study in one of the following types of programs is eligible to be authorized by the Board to take the national licensing examination:
- a master’s degree or doctorate degree program in marriage and family therapy from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)
- a master’s degree or doctorate degree program in marriage and family therapy from an institution accredited by accrediting bodies that are recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), but which are not accredited by COAMFTE.
- You will also need to submit a letter from the university showing that you are currently enrolled, when you are expected to complete the course of study, and the coursework you will need to complete in order to graduate as planned.
Licensure as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (LMFTA)
After successfully completing the examination and graduation, you will then be eligible for an Associates license. As a L MFTA, you are authorized by your license to use the title and engage in the practice of Marriage and Family Therapy only under an approved Supervisory Agreement Form. An initial L MFTA license is issued for a period between 13 and 24 months, depending on the birth month of the applicant. The L MFTA license may be renewed two (2) times for two years for a total of 6 years. An expired license may be renewed for up to one year by paying the renewal fee and applicable late fees. A license that has expired for more than one year is no longer renewable.
In order to be licensed as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a L MFTA must complete a minimum of 2 years of full time supervised work experience providing marriage and family therapy services. This work experience must include at least 3000 hours of clinical services, 1500 hours must be direct clinical services, 750 hours must be to couples or families. The remaining 1500 hours may come from related experiences. Of the 3,000 hours, up to 500 hours may be transferred from a COA MFTE accredited doctoral program.
In order to be licensed as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a LMFTA must also complete 200 hours of supervision. Of the 200 hours 100 hours must be individual supervision. Up to 100 of the 200 hours of the required supervision hours may be credited from supervision accrued during a supervised clinical practicum in a graduate program.
An initial LMFTA license is issued for a period of 24 months. The LMFTA license may be renewed biennially for a period not to exceed 72 months. In order to be licensed as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a LMFTA must complete a minimum of 2 years of full time supervised work experience providing marriage and family therapy services. This work experience must include a total of at least 3,000 hours of clinical services. Of the 3,000 hours of clinical services, at least 1,500 hours must be direct clinical services. Of the 1,500 hours of direct clinical services, at least 750 hours must be services to couples or families. The remaining 1500 hours may come from related experiences. A LMFTA must complete 200 hours of supervision; 100 hours must be individual supervision. Up to 100 of the 200 hours of the required supervision may credited from supervision earned during a supervised clinical practicum in a Marriage and Family Therapy graduate program.
Licensure as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
After successfully completing the required supervised marriage and family therapy experience and supervision, a L MFTA will then be eligible for a full license as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (L MFT). As a L MFT, you are authorized by your license to use the title and engage in the practice of Marriage and Family Therapy without supervision. There is an initial L MFT license fee of $90 which is payable at the time application for upgrade is made. A L MFT license is renewable every two years. A person may not practice as a Licensed marriage and Family Therapist with an expired license. An expired license may be renewed for up to one year past the expiration date by paying the renewal fee and applicable late fees. A license that has expired for more than one year is no longer renewable.
After a minimum of three years of licensure as a LMFT, a licensee may apply for recognition as a board approved supervisor. Other requirements to be a supervisor are: (1) successful completion of a one-semester graduate course in marriage and family therapy supervision from an accredited institution; or a 40 hour continuing education course in clinical supervision offered by a board approved provider; and (2) at least 3,000 hours of direct client contact in the practice of marriage and family therapy over a minimum of three years as a licensed marriage and family therapist. In lieu of meeting the qualifications noted, a person is an acceptable supervisor if the person has been designated as an approved supervisor or supervisor-in-training by the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). The designation by AAMFT must have occurred before the person provides any supervision.
Licensure by Endorsement
If you are requesting that the Texas board consider your having passed the national (or California) licensing examination or supervision that you completed in that jurisdiction toward licensure as a L MFT, you must contact that licensing board and request that verification be sent to this board.
- You must meet the academic requirements for licensure in Texas. Often applicants from other states must complete additional coursework.
- You will need to submit an original transcript.
- In order to become licensed as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate in Texas, a person must have passed the national licensing examination available through the Association of Marital and Family Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB).
- You will need to submit application Form A and all required supplementary documentation.
- You will need to obtain verification of your test score and/or supervision from the other state licensing board. The board has a form for this purpose which may be sent to the other board. The Board will also accept other board’s form designed for this purpose.
- You will also need to document your experience requirements in that state on Form B.