Maryland Department of Health
Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists

​Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Requirements (LCMFT)

Applicants must have:

A. 

 

A master’s degree with a minimum of 60 graduate semester credit hours or 90 graduate quarter hours OR a doctoral degree with a minimum of 90 graduate semester credit hours or 135 quarter hours in a marriage and family therapy field from an accredited college or university. 

B.

Of the graduate credit hours required above, at least 45 credit hours shall be in the following areas: 

(1)

Three courses in the analysis of family systems, with one course in each of the following: 

 

 

(a)

A supervised clinical practice that includes at least 60 hours of approved supervision and 300 hours of direct client contact with couples, families, and individuals, at least 100 hours of which are relational therapy; 

 

 

(b)

Normal and abnormal personality development which includes individual development across the life span and the family life cycle; and 

 

 

(c)

Psychopathology with emphasis on standard diagnostic manuals, as well as family systems models; 

(2)

Courses in couples therapy theory and techniques as follows: 

 

(a)

One course in diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders in family systems; 

 

(b)

A comprehensive survey course with substantive overview of the extant major models of family therapy; and 

 

(c)

Two additional courses which focus on one or several marriage and family therapy models, or three separate courses, each of which focuses on one or several marriage and family therapy models; 

(3)

Courses in couples therapy theory and techniques as follows: 

 

(a)

A comprehensive survey of extant, major models of couples therapy; 

 

(b)

An intensive study of at least three different models; or 

 

(c)

Three separate courses, each of which addresses a separate couples model; 

(4)

One course covering gender and ethnicity as they relate to marriage and family theory and practice, or two separate courses with one focusing on gender issues and the other one on ethnicity; 

(5)

One course covering sexual issues in marriage and family therapy, including sexual normality, sexual dysfunction, and sexual orientation; and 

(6)

One course in ethical, legal and professional issues in marriage and family therapy;

 

Supervised Clinical Experience
Not less than 2 years with a minimum of 2,000 hours of supervised clinical experience in marriage and family therapy obtained under the supervision of an approved marriage and family therapy supervisor after the award of the master’s degree, doctoral degree, or its substantial equivalent as determined by the Board, of which:

      (1)         1,000 hours shall be face-to-face client contact hours; and

       (2)        100 hours shall be face-to-face clinical supervision hours, of which

                           (a) 100 hours shall be face-to-face clinical supervision hours, of which:

                            (b)    A maximum of 50 hours may be face-to-face group clinical supervision.

Examination

Achieve a passing score on the Examination in Marital and Family Therapy developed by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards; and the State examination on law and regulations.

 

Marriage and family therapy definitions

(1)

'Approved marriage and family therapy supervisor' means:

 

 

(c)

An Association of American Marriage and Family Therapies approved supervisor;

 

 

(d)

 An Association of American Marriage and Family Therapies approved supervisor in training;

 

 

(e)

A Maryland licensed clinical marriage and family therapist; or

 

 

(f)

Another health care provider certified or licensed under the Health Occupations Article,Annotated Code of Maryland, who:

 

 

      •

Documents 5 or more years of clinical experience working with couples and families;

 

 

       •

Documents completion of a graduate level course in marriage and family therapy supervision; and

 

 

        •

Has been approved by the Board.

 

(2)

“Practice clinical marriage and family therapy by a licensee” means to engage professionally and for compensation in marriage and family therapy and appraisal activities by providing services involving the application of therapy principles and methods in the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and amelioration of psychological problems, emotional conditions, or mental conditions of individuals, couples, families, or groups.

 

(3)

“Supervised clinical experience in marriage and family therapy,” means therapy services conducted under the supervision of an approved marriage and family therapy supervisor.

 

(4)

“Under the supervision of an approved marriage and family therapy supervisor” means engaging in an ongoing process of receiving direction from an approved supervisor that includes:

 

 

(a)

Monitoring the performance of a trainee; and

 

 

(b)

Documented and direct consultation, guidance, and instruction with respect to clinical skills and competency.​