One institution, the University of Maryland, provides an MFT graduate-level education that has been designated by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).
Students that are able to complete this program in College Park will be fully prepared to obtain a state license after completing a national exam and additional post-graduate practice.
MFT programs accredited by the COAMFTE showcase a curriculum that has met high academic standards and a faculty that is thoroughly educated in this field. There are online alternatives and locations in surrounding states for prospective students looking at other options.
Maryland is next to multiple states that do have institutions that offer accredited options. Pennsylvania has numerous program opportunities for both Master’s degrees and general post-degrees. For example, LaSalle University offers a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy that should meet all of Maryland’s state licensure requirements.
COAMFTE-Accredited Programs in Maryland
While the University of Maryland is exclusive to graduate-level education within marriage and family therapy, there are alternatives that prospective students can turn to and still pursue a COAMFTE-accredited program.
An additional option for maximum flexibility in pursuing higher education is pursuing an online degree. Syracuse University, also in the Northeast region, offers an online Master’s program where students will complete the academic criteria fully online and work clinical practicum sessions locally at a verified venue.
Students should consider the technical requirements and determine if the online program is best for them. Typical needs are a modern computer with a Windows or Mac operating system, and a high-speed internet connection to view and download course lectures and other material.
Consider a Featured Online MFT Program
| School and Program Information | Online Program? Entry Requirements | Course Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Walden University
PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
HLC Accredited
|
✔ Online
|
Advance your impact with a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision. Specialize in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling to strengthen research-based practice for couples and families.
|
Learn More |
|
Northwestern University
Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy
COAMFTE Accredited
|
✔ Online
GRE Not Required
Bachelor's Required |
Complete your COAMFTE-accredited MFT online program in as few as 21 months. No GRE is required, but applicants must hold an undergraduate degree.
|
Learn More |
|
Grand Canyon University
Master's Degree in Counseling
 CACREP Accredited |
✔ Online
|
Includes MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling emphases in Marriage & Family Therapy, Christian Counseling, Childhood & Adolescence Disorders, & Trauma.
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
Mid-America Christian University (MACU)
Master of Science in Counseling - Marital, Couples, and Family Therapy
|
✔ Online
GRE Scores Not Required
|
Transform lives with an online, faith-centered MS in Counseling, focused on Marital, Couples, and Family Therapy—one six-week course at a time.
|
Learn More |
|
Colorado Christian University
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A. - Marriage & Family Therapy
CACREP Accredited |
✔ Online
Bachelor's Degree
|
CCU's online CACREP-accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A. - Marriage & Family Therapy program includes a required 5-day summer residency.
|
Learn More |
|
Lamar University
Master of Education in Counseling & Development - Marriage Couple & Family Counseling
AAQEP Accredited
|
✔ Online
Minimum 3.0 Undergrad GPA
|
Learn how to diagnose mental and emotional disorders and resolve marriage and family conflicts related to divorce, mediation, child rearing, family violence and more.
|
Learn More |
University of Maryland’s Masters in Couple and Family Therapy
The Department of Family Science offers students with an accredited Master of Science in Couple and Family Therapy. Students have the ability to choose a path that includes or does not include a thesis project. Those that are looking to pursue a PhD should consider the thesis project, which requires 51 total credit hours to complete.
The non-thesis path requires three less credit hours to complete. Example courses that students will complete includes Research Methods in Family Science, Normal and Abnormal Individual and Family Development, and Theory and Techniques of Family Meditation. To get into the program, prospective students should have at least an undergraduate degree with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher.
LMFT Licensure in Maryland
Licensing for marriage and family therapists in the state of Maryland are done through the state’s Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists.
Maryland MFT Licensure Requirements
To meet the educational requirement, students will need to complete at least 60 credit hours of coursework when obtaining at least a Master’s degree. Within this education, there should be a minimum of 300 direct client contact hours and 60 hours of supervision. Coursework should consist of psychopathology, human development, ethics, and similar topics.
There are two exams that need to be completed after education – the national exam and a jurisprudence exam, known as the Maryland Professional Counselors and Therapists Law and Regulations test.
For required hours in supervised practice, it depends on whether the applicant chooses to be a licensed graduate or clinical MFT. The latter is the more traditional route, needing over 2,000 hours of post-graduate practice.
The supervisor must either be a licensed CMFT in the state of Maryland or a supervisor that has been approved by the American Association for Marriage and Family Training (AAMFT). For graduate MFT, they need 100 hours of clinical supervision, and they can apply twice for a license extension that also lasts two years at a time.
Maryland State Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists
4201 Patterson Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215-2299
Website
LMFT Licensure:
- Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist
- Licensed Graduate Marriage and Family Therapist
LMFT Careers and Salaries in Maryland
The median salary for marriage and family therapists throughout the state of Maryland is around $49,000 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This is slightly lower than the national average, and is a decrease from the neighboring states of Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Like many states in the Northeastern portion of the country, there is high employment – at least 1,300 workers in the field.
Baltimore is the most popular location for job opportunities, and those looking for a career should consider Thriveworks, Freedom Healthcare Systems, and Innovative Therapeutic Services.
Popular Online MFT Programs
Grand Canyon University 🗹 Online
Liberty University 🗹 Online
Campus-Based COAMFTE Accredited Maryland 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 Maryland. You can view online COAMFTE accredited MFT counseling programs or all Maryland counseling degrees.
- MS in Marriage and Family Therapy
Go to the list of all Maryland counseling programs.
