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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pepperdine University Master’s Clinical Psychology (Licensed Professional Counselor) | ✔ Online No GRE Required Bachelor's Degree Required | Bachelor's holders can prepare to become a licensed professional counselor online. With no GRE scores required to apply, the 24 month online MA in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine allows you to advance your career and be a catalyst of change. Learn More |
| University of Denver Online MA in School Counseling Designed to adhere to CACREP standards | ✔ Live, online classes No GRE Required; Minimum GPA 2.5 Required | Earn your degree in as few as 24 months Learn More |
| Northwestern University Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy COAMFTE Accredited | ✔ Online GRE Not Required Bachelor's Required | The COAMFTE-accredited [email protected] 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 |
| Capella University Master's and PhD in Counseling  CACREP Accredited | ✔ Online GRE Not Required | Choose from Addictions, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Human Behavior. Marriage and Family Therapy, or School Counseling specialties Learn More |
| Grand Canyon University Master's Degree in Counseling HLC and NASAC Accredited | ✔ 100% Online Over 14 Specializations Available | Affordable with No Out of State Tuition Learn More |
| University of Denver Master of Social Work CSWE accredited. Designed to adhere to CACREP standards. | ✔ Campus, Online No GRE Required Minimum GPA 2.5 | Earn your CSWE-accredited MSW online from Denver's GSSW, a top-15 school of social work. GRE scores are not required. Students with a BSW can earn their MSW in as few as 18 months in the advanced standing track. Gain a strong foundation for social work practice with a concentration in Mental Health and Trauma or Health, Equity and Wellness. Learn More |
| National Louis University M.S. in Counseling CACREP Accredited | ✔ Online No GRE Required. Bachelor’s Degree Required. Minimum GPA 3.0. | CACREP accredited program prepares you to work as a counselor in schools, private practices and mental health clinics. Concentration in Addictions, School or Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Learn More |
| Grand Canyon University Master of Education in School Counseling NASAC Accredited | ✔ Online | At GCU, school-counselors-in-training candidates develop into more than school counselors, they grow into compassionate, servant leaders with strong ethics and morals to positively make a greater difference in communities and the lives of children. Learn More |
| Capella University MS in School Counseling CACREP Accredited | ✔ Online No GMAT or GRE Required | Our CACREP- and CAEP-accredited MS in School Counseling puts you in control, so you can learn on your own schedule and gain the skills to pursue your professional school counselor credential. 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
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
