Online MFT programs and student resources

What is an MFT?

A marriage and family therapist (MFT) is a licensed professional who diagnoses, assesses, and treats a variety of clients with different issues. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, to become an MFT, professionals must earn a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, psychology, or a related mental health field from an accredited school and complete a minimum threshold of supervised clinical experience and pass board exams. An MFT can work in numerous settings, including private practices, schools, government agencies, medical facilities, and nonprofits.

Therapist vs. psychologist

Although the terms therapist and clinical psychologist are often used interchangeably, they are distinct.

A clinical psychologist typically requires an advanced degree, such as a master’s or doctoral degree in psychology. Many psychologists conduct research, teach in higher education, and work alongside psychiatrists. They may receive licensure through the American Psychological Association. That said, they may also provide clinical psychotherapy to individuals, families, or couples.

Although some therapists hold doctoral degrees, a doctoral degree is not required for the profession. Therapists and most mental health professionals must have master’s degrees to provide services to clients independently. Therapists typically receive licensure from their respective state boards.

LMFT vs. LCSW

There are two additional professions that appear similar but are very different. The two therapist roles are an LMFT and a licensed professional counselor (LPC).

LMFTs help families and couples manage interpersonal issues. LMFTs teach their clients the importance of identifying destructive behaviors through one-on-one or family therapy sessions. Many work in private practices and meet regularly with their clients to maintain a consistent routine.

LPCs assess clients’ mental well-being and develop treatment plans to help them achieve their goals. They may specialize in mental health, but do not necessarily have to because they help clients deal with a variety of issues ranging from stress and low self-esteem to grief or loss of a loved one. LPCs work in private practices and other healthcare facilities, including mental health and outpatient care centers.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in a helping profession, discover how to become a counselor.

LMFT vs. LPC

There are two more professions that seem similar, but are very different. The two therapist roles are an LMFT and a licensed professional counselor (LPC).

LMFTs help families and couples with managing their interpersonal issues. LMFTs teach their clients the importance of identifying destructive behaviors through one-on-one or family therapy sessions. Many work in private practices and meet regularly with their clients to maintain a consistent routine.

LPCs evaluate their clients’ mental well-being and create treatment plans to help them reach their goals. They may specialize in mental health, but do not necessarily have to because they help clients deal with a variety of issues ranging from stress and low self-esteem to grief or loss of a loved one. LPCs work in private practices and other healthcare facilities including mental health and outpatient care centers.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in a helping profession, discover how to become a counselor.

MFT degree program details

The first step toward becoming a licensed marriage and family therapist is earning a degree in marriage and family counseling. There are several traditional and online MFT programs available for prospective therapists. Students should consider school accreditation, location, program length and rigor, and financial aid when narrowing their options. Regarding admissions, each school has its own GRE and GPA requirements.

Application requirements

Admission requirements can vary by school. However, applicants may need:

• Updated transcripts indicating the completion of a bachelor’s degree program as well as GPA.
• Résumé highlighting relevant clinical work or volunteer experience.
• Personal essay that showcases their writing skills and passion for the field.
• Recommendation letters from former employers or instructors who can speak to the student’s work ethic, academic performance, and character.

Coursework

Coursework will vary depending on the university, but coursework for a master’s in marriage and family therapy degree may include:

• Clinical treatment with individuals, couples, and families: Includes the development of a range of diverse approaches to treatment for varying groups and cases.
• Diverse, multicultural, or underserved communities: Includes understanding diversity, power, and privilege as they relate to outcomes like health statues, socioeconomic status, and social identity.
• Research and evaluation: Includes evaluation methods and becoming an informed consumer of research in the space.
• Professional identity, law, ethics, and social responsibility: Includes ethics in the MFT practice and legal responsibilities.
• Biopsychosocial health and development across the lifespan: Includes individual and family development, human sexuality, health across the lifespan.
• Assessment and mental health diagnosis and treatment: Includes traditional psycho-diagnostic categories, psychopharmacology, and treatment of major mental health issues.
• Contemporary issues: include immigration, technology, same-sex marriage, and school violence.
• Community intersections and collaboration: includes developing competencies within defined contexts, such as schools, military settings, and other settings.
• Preparation for teletherapy practice: includes legal and ethical requirements, crisis response, and appropriate interventions.

Clinical placement requirements

MFT students must complete a state-specified number of postdegree supervised clinical hours (often completed over about 2+ years, depending on the state). or supervised clinical work to become eligible for licensure, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Many schools provide clinical placement support when students are ready to start their internship.

Internships provide students with the valuable opportunity to practice therapy under ongoing clinical supervision and support. Many schools require students to discuss their current clinical cases through conceptualization papers and supervision meetings. Each state has its own requirements in terms of the minimum number of hours and type of hours students must accrue before becoming licensed.

Student support for online students

Like traditional offerings, online programs typically offer many student support services. Such services and resources depend on the particular institution, but they may include:

• Virtual office hours.
• Technology support.
• Alumni programs and career placements.
• Library access and services.
• Admission and financial aid advising.
• Academic tutoring.
• Personal support (e.g., health and counseling services).
• Military support for service and family members.

Live class discussions

Many online programs offer synchronous or live class discussions. Synchronous classes entail interactive discussions through different mediums like video chat and instant messaging. Students gather to meet in their virtual classrooms at a designated time each week or month.

Asynchronous classes, on the other hand, refer to the coursework that isn’t live. For example, this may apply to independent homework, message board responses, listening to audio recordings and reviewing presentations. Despite deadlines, students enjoy the freedom to work on their own schedules.

Small Class Sizes

A 2025 study in Research in Higher Education examined live (synchronous) online college classes and found that larger classes often lead to worse outcomes. Students in larger classes tended to earn lower grades and report lower satisfaction with the course. The largest drop in student satisfaction occurred when class size increased from about 2–15 students to 16–24 students. The researchers also found that the main reason larger classes can hurt learning is simple: when there are more students, there are fewer opportunities for each person to talk, ask questions, and receive feedback during class.

What can you do after earning an MFT degree online?

Focus of treatment

MFTs primarily use cognitive behavioral therapy to help clients understand their own thoughts and perceptions. Cognitive behavioral therapy involves changing thought patterns that make the client’s life difficult and establishing healthier outlooks to use going forward, according to the American Psychological Association. This can be done systematically by asking questions and listening to the answers to find underlying problems in the client’s psyche.

Questions can address how a person feels when they receive praise or when they relive a past experience to clarify emotional responses. While the client is experiencing deep emotions, the MFT provides support and feedback to nurture their growth. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on developing coping tools to keep life in perspective.

Skills gained from an MFT degree program

MFTs assist individuals, couples, and families in addressing their relationship problems. By earning an MFT degree, they learn how to help others cope with, and address, their issues. In addition to tools and techniques, students can learn a range of skills useful in their profession. A degree in marriage and family therapy can equip individuals with skills such as:

• Communication skills, including the use of compassion and empathy
• Organizational skills
• Professionalism
• Conflict resolution
• Leadership and teaching skills
• Critical thinking

Where do MFTs work?

LMFTs and MFTs can work in different environments. These places include schools, healthcare offices, inpatient care facilities such as hospitals, outpatient care facilities, private practices, social service agencies, mental health centers, and nursing care facilities.

MFTs are employed at all levels, from entry-level workers to chief executives. No matter what level the role is, the overall duty remains fairly similar. LMFTS and MFTs help to implement sustainable healthcare practices for their companies and their clients. MFTs may advance within an organization to oversee organizational and community well-being, with duties that may include developing treatment plans for large groups of people.

Doctorate in marriage and family therapy

A doctorate in marriage and family therapy is the highest degree an MFT can earn. Some students pursue this track to conduct research, supervise therapists, or work in academia. Others want to apply advanced principles and knowledge to their clinical practice. The doctorate may provide more career opportunities due to the additional education and internship requirements.

Depending on the school, degree names and options vary. Examples include:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Medical Family Therapy
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Marriage and Family Therapy
• Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Marital and Family Therapy
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Counseling and Psychological Studies
• Family Sciences Doctorate
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Couple and Family Therapy
• Human Development and Family Studies PhD

Other doctoral degree options

Those interested in pursuing doctoral studies in MFT have many options to consider. Earning a PhD in MFT may lead to new career opportunities because marriage and family therapy is a broad, all-encompassing term. A master’s degree holder can study counseling related to a variety of topics such as a specific philosophy or trauma-related illness to become a specialized MFT. Whether you want to work more closely with clients or spend time on your research, there are options for continuing education after earning a master’s degree.

Licensure requirements to become an LMFT

LMFTs and MFTs who have their license or certificate have met or surpassed the necessary clinical experience and education needed to legally practice. These are state-specified post-degree supervised hours, so they vary by state (for example, California’s requirement is 3,000 hours). To learn more about licensure requirements, read our article on how to become an MFT.

Depending on the state, MFTs typically require a master’s degree that meets state requirements. Check your state licensing board (AAMFT’s state resources hub is a good starting point).

State requirements

Each state and territory has specific regulations governing MFT practice. Learn more from your state’s advisory board. For example, California is among the states with higher/ more detailed supervised-experience requirements. California’s licensure laws are stricter than those of other states. California requires 3,000 hours of supervised professional experience and 104 supervised weeks to qualify for LMFT licensure.

Salary and job outlook

The job outlook for marriage and family therapists is much faster than the average for all occupations. The BLS projects that the employment of MFTs is expected to grow 13% between 2024 and 2034.

The expected increase in job demand is partially due to the integrative practices that are growing in healthcare facilities. Integrative care enables MFTs to collaborate with other healthcare professionals to provide a holistic overview and treatment for clients. According to the BLS, the median annual wage for MFTs was $63,780 in 2024. The top 10% of earners made more than $111,610 while the lowest 10% earned less than $42,610.

Resources for MFT students and graduates

Board of Behavioral Sciences State Licensing Board

The Board of Behavioral Sciences State Licensing Board (BBS) aims to provide Californians a standard for the safe, ethical and competent practice of mental health counseling. BBS sets, communicates, and enforces each standard, ensuring residents of California can trust the competency of their therapists.

American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) is the professional association representing all LMFTs and MFTs in the United States, Canada, and abroad. AAMFT’s Clinical Fellows develop social and family policies and promote research that advances the field of marriage and family therapy.

International Family Therapy Association

The International Family Therapy Association (IFTA) collaborates with professionals around the world to improve the quality of family therapy. IFTA hosts international conferences that educate audiences on a range of topics related to improving family therapy standards.

California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists

The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) is an independent professional organization dedicated to improving the field of marriage and family therapy. CAMFT actively monitors and works with regulatory boards and state legislatures to sponsor bills and pass laws that help the public receive higher quality care.

American Counseling Association

As a not-for-profit organization, the American Counseling Association (ACA) dedicates itself to the advancement of the counseling profession. ACA’s mission is to create ethical standards that protect those who use counseling services and provide education and professional development for counselors.

American Family Therapy Academy

The American Family Therapy Academy (AFTA) is an organization of family therapists and associated professionals, such as program directors, clinicians, and researchers, who work to create a national organization free of bias. AFTA’s members pride themselves on thinking critically about the systematic theory and practice of ethical counseling and transforming social contexts to promote the overall well-being of families and communities.

National Council on Family Relations

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is “the oldest nonprofit, nonpartisan, multidisciplinary professional association focused solely on family research, practice, and education.” Founded in 1938, it provides an educational forum for educators, practitioners, and researchers to share insights and methodologies to advance the field of family therapy.

Delta Kappa: International Marriage and Family Therapy Honor Society

As the official honor society for the field of marriage and family therapy, Delta Kappa serves to work with the AMA, AFTA, and IFTA to promote the ethical practice of family counseling. Delta Kappa provides educational training for emerging leaders, structure for developing forums, and promotes achievements within the field.

Related online mental health degrees

Online master’s in psychology degree programs
Online master’s in applied behavior analysis (ABA)
Online master’s in social work (MSW)