Why are there distinctions between pre-degree and post-degree experience in the practice of marriage and family therapy?
An applicant for licensure in marriage and family therapy can meet the education requirement with a degree in marriage and family therapy or in an allied mental health field. All experience, including supervised experience as part of the degree program, must be verified by a qualified supervisor, acceptable to the Department. A program that is registered by the Department as licensure-qualifying in marriage and family therapy, or determined by the Department to be the equivalent, will award a master’s or doctoral degree on the basis of meeting the curriculum requirements, including a supervised practicum in marriage and family therapy of at least 300 client contact hours. The Education Law and Commissioner’s Regulations allow supervised client contact hours completed in the marriage and family therapy program to count toward the 1,500 client contact hours of supervised experience required for licensure. An applicant for licensure as a marriage and family therapist may meet the educatio
