FIND YOUR FUTURE.

Marriage and Family Therapy Master’s Programs in California

 

Congratulations on your decision to pursue a career in psychotherapy!

Whether you've been out of school for many years or haven't finished your undergraduate degree yet, I want to help you get accepted to the master's program that's right for you and become the best therapist you can be.

The first step on your journey to becoming a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) in the state of California is to graduate from a qualifying program that meets the education requirements for MFT licensure in the State of California.

This site catalogs California-based programs to streamline comparisons, so you can more easily identify which might be the best fit for you.

 
 

Use this site to find the right program for you.
Then, I can help you get in!

Hi, I’m Carrie Wiita.

I graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the Honors College at UCLA with a degree in English. After a stint in for-profit education marketing and administration, I worked professionally as an actor in Los Angeles for 15 years. But at 35, I needed to make a major life change. I decided to switch careers, and I realized I needed to go back to school to get my master’s degree if I wanted to become a psychotherapist.

It was a nerve-racking process, made worse by the fact that information about graduate programs was scattered all over the internet. After exhaustive research and getting admitted into my top-choice program, I didn’t want all that work to go to waste. So I created MFT California with the hope that future applicants would have an easier time.

Since I entered grad school, I have been offering coaching and essay editing services to help others get admitted to their target programs. I’ve also done consulting for an in-development MFT program, so I’ve gotten to see the behind-the-scenes processes of program developers, faculty, and administrators. All of this work informs the courses and services I currently offer.

Courses and Services

  • Get Into Grad School

    An online course that helps you learn how to strategically craft a compelling application for grad school. This streamlined, 90-minute, 6-module course leads you through the process of developing your “applicant narrative,” along with all the critical do’s and don’t’s of applying!

    Learn More or Enroll Now

  • Private Coaching

    Sometimes, you just need to talk it out one-on-one. Helping you discover things you haven’t thought of yet is a major reason why I love what I do.

    Learn More or Book an Appointment

  • Essay Editing/Proofreading

    Your essay is one of the most critical parts of your grad school application. Don’t waste this opportunity to convince your dream program that you’re a perfect candidate.

    Learn More or Order Now

How to Use MFT California

  • Start by familiarizing yourself with the LMFT Education Requirements that qualifying programs must meet, and continue reading below to learn why it is crucial that you graduate from one of these programs if you want to become an LMFT. Next, make sure you have thoroughly read the Advisory Message.

  • Then, use the Map to find programs in your area, or use the List to browse through all of the programs we catalog.

  • Check out the comparison pages to see programs organized by Estimated Total Program Tuition or Accreditation, and quickly reference which programs have a GRE Requirement, are Faith-Based MFT Programs, or are mostly Online Programs.

  • Finally, narrow down your list of prospective programs, compare the programs you feel are the best fit for you, and track your application deadlines using the free MFT California Graduate School Application Planning Guide. This download is available in the Member Resources area, which is free to join!

  • For more support around becoming a mental health professional, applying to graduate school, or developing your professional identity as you embark on your new career, check out my online courses, private coaching, and proofreading/editing services!

What qualifies a program or institution?

Many universities offer master's or doctoral programs in psychology that are NOT designed to prepare students to become LMFTs; master's programs like these are generally intended for students who intend to pursue a PhD and become licensed psychologists or pursue other academic goals. Graduating from one of these programs does not make you eligible to become licensed or registered as an LMFT in California.

If you graduate from a master's program that is not intended for the MFT-licensure track, OR if you graduate from an MFT-licensure program that does not meet California state regulations for MFT education, you will not be able to use that degree to become a licensed marriage and family therapist in California.

To qualify for a license or registration as an MFT in the state of California, you must possess a doctoral or master's degree that meets all of the regulations set forth by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) from a school, college, or university approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPS), or accredited by either the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), or a regional or national institutional accrediting agency that is recognized by the United States Department of Education. (For full regulations, see the Statutes and Regulations issued by the BBS here.)

You must be very careful to find a qualifying program. For every program you are interested in, confirm with a program representative that the program will meet all BBS requirements to qualify for licensure during the years you would be attending.

What programs are listed on MFT California?

The BBS provides a list of California schools "with MFT Programs which have been evaluated by the Board. These programs meet the MFT licensure requirements, pursuant to California Business and Professions Code (BPC) §4980.36, for students who began graduate studies on or after August 1, 2012."

While the BBS list encompasses both master's-level and doctoral-level programs, at this time MFT California only catalogs master's programs on this list.

We periodically update our catalog to reflect the BBS list as well as any changes to individual programs; however, MFT California cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided on this site.

What if I'm interested in a program not listed on MFT California?

There are other programs not based in California (online or otherwise) that may meet California requirements for licensure, but the BBS does not maintain a list of these programs and they are beyond the purview of MFT California. If you seek information on these programs, ensure they meet both educational and accreditation standards before committing to the program.

If you attend an out-of-state program or become licensed out-of-state, be aware that the BBS "does not have reciprocity with any other state licensing board. Any applicant, whether licensed or unlicensed, will need to meet all requirements mandated by California law prior to being issued a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) license," including proving equivalency.