COAMFTE-Accredited Programs in Iowa
University of Iowa
Those seeking higher-level graduate education may consider the PhD in Couple and Family Therapy through the College of Education. The majority of the curriculum is reserved for academic research with some clinical practicum. Students will pursue researching topics in qualitative research methods, intermediate statistical methods, and counseling research.
The program culminates with a comprehensive exam, dissertation, and a defense of the dissertation. To get into the program, students should have at least a Bachelor's degree from an accredited school, the Master's degree should be within marriage and family therapy, and the undergraduate and graduate GPA should be 3.0 or higher. Prospective students chosen in this process will then complete an on-campus interview.
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 |
| University of Southern California Online Master of Education (ME) in School Counseling Prepares you for school counseling credential | ✔ Live, online classes No GRE requirement | Bachelor’s degree and minimum 2.5 GPA required 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 |
| Our Lady of the Lake University Online Master of Arts in Counseling | ✔ Online No GRE required. | Help students navigate the emotional terrain of getting an education, empower people of all ages to overcome mental health hurdles, or support someone recovering from drug addiction as they obtain or maintain a job, with the Master of Arts in Counseling from OLLU. 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 |
| 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 |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling CACREP Accredited | ✔ Online Bachelor's Degree Required. | This online CMHC program prepares students for a career offering mental health services in a variety of settings; helping diverse clients through issues such as depression, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, stress, relationship difficulties, and suicidal impulses. Learn More |
Mount Mercy University's MA in Marriage and Family Therapy
Students can pursue the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy at Mount Mercy in Cedar Rapids. This is a 60-credit hour curriculum with classes that are completed in 5-week or 10-week blocks, and the entire program can be finished within two years.
Students will be also be completing clinical practicum sessions and will be prepared to take and pass the national exam for MFT professionals. Example courses include Models of Couples Therapy, Psychopathology and the Family, and Neuroscience for Marriage and Family Therapy.
A number of employers have partnered with the school to give students a 10 percent discount on the program, including nationally recognized companies like US Bank, Tax Act, Toyota, and PepsiCo.
LMFT Licensure in Iowa
In order to gain licensure in marriage and family therapy in the state of Iowa, students must have a Master’s degree in the field and the practicum should have at least 300 hours of clinical work.
MFT Licensure Requirements
Those that took a program accredited by the COAMFTE will satisfy all educational requirements, otherwise the graduate will need to review if the course they have taken meet the state criteria. After completing higher education, graduates can gain a temporary license and take the national exam. Post-graduate work should consist of 3,000 total hours of experience with half of that including direct client contact. At least 200 hours of supervision is required.
Iowa Board of Behavioral Science Examiners
Iowa Dept. Public Health
Prof Licensing Lucas State Office Bldg., 5th floor
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075
Website
LMFT Licensure:
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
LMFT Careers and Salaries in Iowa
There are over 680 jobs in the field of marriage and family therapy in the state of Iowa according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a modest number compared to other states across the United States and matches a number of locations around Iowa, such as Wisconsin and Illinois.
Median pay sits around $49,410 annually, which is a bit smaller than the national average, but that number can grow to above $87,900 in the 90th percentile.
Job opportunities in the state can be found at the Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration in Des Moines, Heartland Family Services in Council Bluffs, and UnityPoint Health in various locations.
Popular Online MFT Programs
Liberty University 🗹 Online
Campus-Based COAMFTE Accredited Iowa 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 Iowa. You can view online COAMFTE accredited MFT counseling programs or all Iowa counseling degrees.
- MA in Marriage and Family Therapy
- PhD in MFT
