The Guide to Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy Online Programs (MFT)

A master’s program in marriage and family therapy (often referred to as an MFT program) is designed to prepare you for this work. COAMFTE’s accreditation standards call for coursework across seven foundational curriculum areas and for supervised clinical experience (COAMFTE Standards Version 12.5). In practice, therapists ask questions that help clients identify their feelings and behaviors and counsel them on relationship concerns (O*NET OnLine).

State licensing boards set the academic requirements for MFT licensure. New York, for example, requires a master’s or doctoral degree from a registered or COAMFTE-accredited marriage and family therapy program or an acceptable equivalent (New York State Education Department), and California requires a qualifying master’s degree (California Board of Behavioral Sciences). An online MFT program can be a flexible way to start a career in family or marital therapy. This, along with licensure, will allow you to become a marriage and family therapist in a range of settings.

The Online MFT Experience

A key difference between traditional and online MFT is the classroom experience. Depending on the program, classes can be taught online through synchronous (live) or asynchronous models, and some programs combine both (Northwestern University; Loma Linda University). Because classes are held online, confirm what equipment, such as a camera and a microphone, each program expects you to have.

When you compare online marriage and family therapy programs, look at the following elements:

• Virtual live classes: Some programs hold live online class sessions, which let you take part in discussions and interact with your teacher and classmates in real time (Northwestern University; Syracuse University).
• Learning management system: Ask how the program delivers course materials, homework, live sessions and discussion forums, for example through a learning management system.
• Mobile and offline access: Ask whether you can reach coursework from multiple devices and whether any of it is available without a Wi-fi connection.
• Access to tech support: Ask what tech support is available when assignments are time-sensitive and depend on technology.

Some online programs include an in-person immersion or residency (Northwestern University), and some keep live classes small, at about 15 students per class in one program (The Family Institute at Northwestern University).

Marriage and Family Therapy Online Program Admissions Requirements

It is important to contact your accredited institution of choice before you begin the application process for information about any prerequisites you may need to fulfill. Depending on the requirements of the marriage and family therapist online program you are applying to, you may be asked to submit some or all of the following items, as program admissions pages such as Northwestern University’s and Loma Linda University’s show:

• Application: Fill out an initial application, which you can find on the website of your accredited institution of choice.
• Bachelor’s degree: You should have a bachelor’s degree prior to applying to a master’s program, and some programs specify one from a regionally accredited institution.
• Transcripts: Request transcripts in advance of the application deadline and upload official copies according to the application instructions.
• Personal statement: Write a personal statement, which is typically in the form of an essay. You may be required to submit multiple essays to fully express the intent and purpose of your application.
• Resume/CV: Upload a copy of your most recent resume or curriculum vitae as part of your application.
• Letters of recommendation: Submit your letters of recommendation. The number of letters required varies with each school; the two programs above ask for two and three. Be sure to request them well in advance of the deadline.
• Test scores: Some programs do not require GRE scores, including the two programs above. Some programs ask for TOEFL or IELTS scores from applicants whose prior degree was earned outside the United States or in another language. Check each program’s admissions page for its current policy.

Online MFT Program Curriculum

The curriculum and number of credits required to complete online MFT programs vary by school and specialization. For example, Syracuse University describes a 60-credit online curriculum, while Northwestern University describes 25 graduate-level courses. COAMFTE’s accreditation standards require accredited programs to address seven foundational curriculum areas, including theories and models of MFT, diverse and multicultural communities, professional ethics and law, and human development and human sexuality (COAMFTE Standards Version 12.5). Topics that appear in MFT curricula include:

• Human sexuality and intimacy
• Multicultural counseling
• Ethics and law for mental health professionals
• Theories of counseling and psychotherapy

Accreditation for Online MFT Programs

Accreditation is one of the first things to check when you compare online MFT programs. The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) accredits marriage and family therapy education programs and publishes a directory of accredited programs you can use to check a program’s status. Because COAMFTE accredits individual programs, also confirm the school’s institutional accreditation separately.

Licensing boards decide whether your education meets the requirements for licensure, and those requirements differ by state. Before you enroll, contact the licensing board in the state where you plan to practice to confirm that the program’s curriculum, clinical training and accreditation meet its rules. AMFTRB, the association of MFT state licensing boards, lists each state board in its state licensure resources.

Clinical Training in Online MFT Programs

Accredited MFT programs include supervised clinical training in addition to coursework. COAMFTE’s accreditation standards (Version 12.5) require students to complete at least 300 direct clinical contact hours, including at least 100 relational hours over a minimum of 12 months, and to receive at least 100 hours of MFT relational/systemic supervision from a program clinical supervisor (COAMFTE Standards Version 12.5).

The same standards allow programs to include teletherapy in those hours when they have policies to support student teletherapy practice and its supervision, so how clinical hours are completed can differ from program to program. Ask each program how it arranges placements and whether any clinical hours can be completed by teletherapy, and confirm with your state board that it accepts the approach.

Marriage and Family Therapist Career Outlook

Licensure for marriage and family therapists is handled by state boards. AMFTRB, the association of these regulatory boards, has 53 member boards covering all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands (AMFTRB). To qualify for MFT licensure, therapists typically complete a graduate degree, supervised clinical experience after graduation and a licensing exam, and the details differ by state. As of September 2026, New York requires at least 1,500 client contact hours of supervised experience and the national MFT examination developed by AMFTRB (New York State Education Department), while California requires 3,000 supervised hours over at least 104 weeks and two California-administered exams (California Board of Behavioral Sciences). Continuing education also varies: New York LMFTs complete 36 hours in each three-year registration period (New York State Education Department), and California LMFTs complete 36 hours in each two-year renewal period (California Board of Behavioral Sciences). Check with your state board for the requirements where you plan to practice. AMFTRB’s state licensure chart compares requirements by state.

Marriage and family therapists work in a variety of settings. Below are a few of the typical MFT careers (and their median annual wages), from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 national estimates:

• Marriage and family therapists, all industries – median annual wage of $66,940
• Marriage and family therapists in outpatient care centers – median annual wage of $75,560
• Marriage and family therapists in state government, excluding schools and hospitals – median annual wage of $92,150

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated 66,740 employed marriage and family therapists in the United States in May 2025 (OEWS).

Online MFT Program FAQs

What is the MFT National Examination?

It is an exam AMFTRB provides to help state boards evaluate applicants’ knowledge for licensure. Each form has 180 multiple-choice items, and candidates have four hours to complete it. Candidates may sit for the exam only after their state finds that their credentials meet its education and experience requirements (AMFTRB exam information). Not every state uses it alone: California, for example, requires its own law and ethics exam and clinical exam (California Board of Behavioral Sciences). Your state board gives instructions on fees, deadlines and applications.

Do online MFT programs require the GRE?

GRE requirements are set by each program. Some online MFT programs state that GRE scores are not required, including Northwestern University’s and Loma Linda University’s. English-proficiency tests such as the TOEFL or IELTS are a separate requirement that some programs apply to applicants educated outside the United States. Check the admissions page of every program you are considering for its current policy, and see the admissions requirements above for the other items programs often ask for.

How does an MFT differ from a clinical social worker?

Marriage and family therapists and clinical social workers follow different education and licensure paths. In New York, for example, MFT licensure requires a graduate degree from a registered or COAMFTE-accredited marriage and family therapy program or an acceptable equivalent, plus the AMFTRB national MFT examination (New York State Education Department), while licensure as a clinical social worker requires a master’s degree in social work with clinical coursework, at least three years of post-MSW supervised experience and the ASWB Clinical examination (New York State Education Department). See our comparison of LMFT vs. LCSW for a closer look.