Colorado State University Human Development and Family Studies
At the College of Health and Human Sciences, students can pursue the Master of Science in Human Development and Family Studies with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy. This is a unique program among the accredited by COAMFTE due to some of the fundamental coursework in the discipline.
Required courses include Treatment Planning in Family Therapy Practice, Early Child Development, and Ethical and Legal Issues. 60 total credits are needed to complete the program, and students will need to complete at least 500 hours of direct client examination and 100 hours of supervision.
Some of the goals the program has set is to prepare students to be ethical in their process, to serve marginalized and underserved communities, and to gain licensure and placement in an organization.
Consider a Featured Online MFT Program
| School and Program Information | Online Program? Entry Requirements |
Course Information |
|---|---|---|
| Walden University
MS in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
 CACREP Accredited |
✔ Online
|
Learn how to support the well-being of your students as they cope with complex personal and family challenges. Explore human sexual development as well as the relationships and family dynamics impacting young people’s lives today. Build the cross-cultural competencies and skills required to understand family structures, life-cycle dynamics, intergenerational influences, and healthy family functioning. The optional accelerated track is designed for students who are interested in taking three courses per quarter and potentially finishing their program in a shorter time frame. The accelerated track has the same curriculum, residencies, and field experience requirements as the general track, but requires a strong time commitment and is best suited for students who can dedicate themselves full time to their studies. Learn More |
| Walden University
PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
HLC Accredited |
✔ Online
|
In the PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision with a specialization in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling, you’ll look at human sexuality and empirically supported treatments and techniques for promoting the well-being of couples. Build competencies for working effectively with children and adolescents. You’ll also learn how to assess procedures for evaluating research in this area—and how to apply these findings to your practice. Learn More |
| Northwestern University
Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy
COAMFTE Accredited |
✔ Online
GRE Not Required Bachelor's Required |
The COAMFTE-accredited MFT@Northwestern is offered by The Family Institute at Northwestern University. Full-time students can complete the program in as few as 21 months. No GRE is required, but applicants must hold an undergraduate degree. Full and part-time tracks available. Learn More |
| National University
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
COAMFTE Accredited |
✔ Online
GRE Scores Not Required |
Earn your masters in Marriage and Family Therapy at National University. COAMFTE and IACSTE accredited. Learn More |
| National University
Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy
COAMFTE Accredited |
✔ Online
GRE Scores Not Required |
Earn your Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy at National University. COAMFTE and IACSTE accredited. Learn More |
| Grand Canyon University
Master's Degree in Counseling
HLC and NASAC Accredited |
✔ Online
|
Clinical Mental Health Counseling master's degree emphases include: Childhood and Adolescence Disorders, Christian Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Trauma. Designed to meet the academic requirements of the National Board for Certified Counselors for the National Certified Counselor credential, the Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor credential and the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. As a private university, GCU has the same in-state and out-of-state tuition. Learn More |
| Liberty University
MA: Marriage and Family Therapy
SACSCOC |
✔ Online
Online with required intensives |
A Liberty University marriage and family therapy master’s program online can prepare you to help individuals, couples, and families find healing through counseling. Online and on campus. Training Champions for Christ since 1971. Learn More |
| Colorado Christian University
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A. - Marriage & Family Therapy
CACREP Accredited |
✔ Online
Bachelor's Degree |
CCU's online Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A. - Marriage & Family Therapy program prepares you to address couples and families in a clinical environment. Required to attend a five-day on-campus residency held each summer of the program. Apply for free! Learn More |
| University of West Alabama
Online MS in Family Counseling
|
✔ Online
Flexible online environment |
Programs in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Guidance and Counseling Learn More |
Regis University MFT Program
The Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy is a 60-credit hour program that consists of mostly required courses with a few elective opportunities. Recommended elective options include Advanced Couples Therapy Techniques, Process and Counseling in group sessions, and Advanced Play Therapy.
This program will prepare eventual graduates to have thorough knowledge in cultural diversity when working with various clients and develop self-growth when observing treatment methods and making evidence-based decisions. Students on average complete the program between two to three years. Prospective students looking to get into the program should have an undergraduate degree with at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA, two letters of recommendation, two essays, updated resume, and completing a faculty interview. Admission takes place in the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
Certification for MFTs in Colorado
As an alternative to a full Master’s degree in MFT, the Denver Family Institute offers an accredited certification. This is taken during the post-graduate time frame or in the final portion of a graduate program, making it ideal for those that are taking a different graduate program but need experience in MFT education to gain state licensure.
LMFT Licensure in Colorado
The Department of Regulatory Agencies will analyze and make decisions on marriage and family therapy licensure in the state of Colorado. Much the criteria involves education, examination, and clinical supervision. All applicants must have at least a Master’s degree with 45 credit hours of coursework within the field. Subjects include human development, marital and family therapy and studies, and professional studies. This is met for students that have pursued a program that is accredited by the COAMFTE. There are two exams that must be taken in the state of Colorado – the national exam created by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards, and the Colorado Mental Health Jurisprudence Exam. For the latter exam, candidates must wait 10 days to retake the test if they fail.
MFT Licensure Requirements
Within clinical supervision, the applicant must be registered and complete at least 2,000 practice hours after post-graduate degree. Three-fourths of this total must be direct contact with the patient. 500 hours of clinical supervision is cut if the candidate has completed a doctorate degree as they likely completed further clinical hours in their curriculum. This entire process must be completed within five years in order to gain licensure, otherwise the application process starts over. In order to gain licensure by endorsement, applicants must verify supervised practice or at least two years of active practice without a break for over a half year.
Colorado State Board of Marriage and Family Therapist Examiners
Dept. of Regulatory Agencies
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
Denver, CO 80202
Website
LMFT Licensure:
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
LMFT Careers and Salaries in Colorado
Colorado is one of the highest-paying states for marriage and family therapists according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The median salary is at $65,120, which is well over the national average, and the 90th percentile sees professionals make over the six-figure mark. While average pay is lower than Hawaii and Maine, Colorado provides the best overall demographics in terms of pay and number of people employed. Over 750 workers are in this state, and much of that is concentrated in the Denver metropolitan area.
Popular companies to consider getting in touch with to pursue a career include Adult Services in the Mental Health Center of Denver, Centura Health, and Polaris Partners Counseling and Consulting.
Popular Online MFT Programs
Grand Canyon University 🗹 Online
Liberty University 🗹 Online
Campus-Based COAMFTE Accredited Colorado MFT Degrees
The COAMFTE (Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education) is the top accrediting board for MFT programs. Below is a list of COAMFTE accredited MFT programs in Colorado. You can view online COAMFTE accredited MFT counseling programs or all Colorado counseling degrees.
- MS in Marriage and Family Therapy
- MA in Marriage and Family Therapy
