The Arizona Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

Supporting Arizona’s Marriage and Family Therapists

Caring for Arizona’s Families

A Division of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

MFT LICENSURE IN ARIZONA

Licenses for MFTs in the state of Arizona are issued by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (AzAMFT does not issue licenses). If you are a recent MFT graduate and/or have recently moved to Arizona and need to become licensed in this state, you must follow the application procedures as outlined on the AzBBHE website. For detailed information related to becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Arizona, check out the links below:

        Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (AzBBHE)

        AzBBHE Marriage and Family Therapist Licensure Information

      

To become a licensed MFT in Arizona, you must follow a series of steps required by the AzBBHE:

1. 1) Graduate from an MFT graduate program
   

2. 2) Pass the National Licensing Exam
   

3. 3) Apply to be a Licensed Associate MFT
   

4. 4) Practice under the direct supervision of a fully licensed MFT for at least 2 years
   

5. 5) Apply to be a fully Licensed MFT
   

The following information will address each of these steps:

Step 1: Graduate from an MFT graduate program

There are a variety of MFT programs throughout the United States, many of which are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) - this means that they meet a particular standard with respect to the types of classes offered and the clinical opportunities available to students. For those students who attend a program that is not COAMFTE accredited, they will need to provide significantly more information about their program to the state licensing board when they apply for licensure after graduation (and possibly risk not being licensed by the Board due to insufficient training). Graduates of COAMFTE accredited programs most likely will not have to provide much additional information about their program.

Click here for a comprehensive list of MFT training programs in North America that are COAMFTE-approved.

Currently in Arizona there are three known Marriage and Family Therapy training programs offered, however none of them are COAMFTE-approved. There are also several counselor training programs, which may be another option to explore if the school you’re interested in does not have an MFT program - thus, rather than being an MFT you would be a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). The programs are summarized in the table below. 

             * Counseling Psychology

               ** Offers a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) in Marriage and Family Therapy

              *** Not COAMFTE approved

For information about Arizona graduate programs in psychology, compiled by Arizona State University, click here.

AZBBHE determines the educational requirements for MFTs in the state, as outlined in their licensure requirements, which also lists the Board-specified curriculum, examination, work experience and supervision requirements.

Step 2: Pass the National Licensing Exam

Once you’ve completed your graduate MFT training, you now need to take the National Licensing Exam. This exam is given four times a year around the country for people wanting to become licensed MFTs. Once you pass the exam, you will not need to take it again in the future.

First, complete the application to take the exam. Once you are approved by AzBBHE for certification testing, you must contact  Professional Examination Service (PES) at (212) 367-4248 to schedule your examination. The exam is 200 multiple-choice questions and you are given 4 hours to complete it. You will receive your results via mail several weeks after the testing window closes.

In preparation for the exam, people are highly encouraged to purchase study materials through the Family Solutions Institute, which has compiled a lot of the material that you will be tested on (e.g., models, terms and definitions, theorists). Visit them online or call them at (888) 583-3388. You can also contact our AzAMFT member, Amie Celender, at (602) 743-8070 or celendermckee@cox.net for questions related to test taking.

Step 3: Apply to be a Licensed Associate MFT

Once you have graduated from the MFT program and passed the National Licensing Exam, now you can apply to be a Licensed Associate MFT (LAMFT) in the state of Arizona. You can download the MFT licensure application here. Be sure to include all requested information in one packet. Once you have submitted your application, it can take several months for the Board to determine whether or not you are qualified to be licensed. In the meantime, you may apply for a temporary license so that you can begin working with clients.

Step 4: Practice under the direct supervision of a fully licensed MFT for at least 2 years

Now that you are an LAMFT, you are able to practice under the direct supervision of a fully licensed MFT (an LMFT). Because LAMFTs are not allowed to practice independently, you must secure a job at an agency where you are able to work with individuals, couples, and families. LAMFTs may work as an Independent Contractor but may not receive payment directly from clients. Supervisors must oversee all of your clinical work; this person does not have to be an AAMFT-approved supervisor, but they must be an Arizona-licensed LMFT who has taken a generic 12-hour supervision course (some supervisors meet both requirements).

LAMFTs must accrue 3200 hours of clinical work, at least 1600 of which must be direct client contact hours. Additionally, a total of 200 supervision hours must be accrued during this time. LAMFTs may apply for licensure as an LMFT after these requirements have been met and after having been an LAMFT for at least 2 years.

Supervision is the key while working as an LAMFT. Unfortunately, in Arizona it is very difficult to find an agency job where there is an LMFT on-site who is qualified to supervise you (i.e., they are an AAMFT-approved supervisor and/or have taken the 12-hour supervision course). Thus, most LAMFTs are employed at an agency and then hire an external supervisor to oversee their cases. It is the supervisee’s responsiblity, not the agency’s, to locate a qualified supervisor. For more information about the supervision process, please visit our supervision page. For a list of Arizona supervisors, please click here.

Step 5: Apply to be a fully licensed MFT

Once you have completed the necessary requirements as an LAMFT, you may apply to be a Licensed MFT (LMFT). You can download the MFT licensure application here. Similar to the LAMFT application, be sure to include all materials in one packet and expect the Board to take several months to determine if you have met the criteria to be fully licensed. Once you are deemed an LMFT, you no longer need to receive supervision and you may practice independently. Your licensed will need to be renewed on a regular basis and you will need to earn 20 CEUs each year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do with an MFT license?

1. ✴Provide systemic therapy to individuals, couples, families, and groups
   

2. ✴Become a clinical member of both the Arizona Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AzAMFT) and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
   

3. ✴Provide qualified mental health care
   

4. ✴Work in a range of educational, health and social service institutions or have a private practice
   
   

Where do MFTs practice?

1. ✴Community mental health centers
   

2. ✴Family counseling centers
   

3. ✴Clinics
   

4. ✴Hospitals (working in inpatient or outpatient family therapy)
   

5. ✴Residential schools (working with children and families)
   

6. ✴Family business consultants and therapists
   

7. ✴Hospice programs
   

8. ✴Administration in mental health programs
   

9. ✴Human resources or Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) for businesses
   

10. ✴Private practice
    
    

How much money do MFTs make?

According to a 1997 survey in Psychotherapy Finances published in May 1997, MFTs were the only branch of the mental health field to show an increase in salary. MFTs showed an increase of 7.2 percent, bringing their median professional income to $57,119. Psychotherapy Finances attributes this exclusive increase to an improvement in "opportunities to receive payment from managed care and other insurance companies." According to Family Therapy News, "MFTs’ share of managed care income went up, while it went down for professional counselors and stayed the same for all other groups." The Psychotherapy Finances survey also reported that the mean hourly payment for MFTs in private practice was $58. However, beginning therapists generally earn significantly less than this. Recent graduates report salaries ranging from the mid-$20,000's to the mid-$30,000's.