COAMFTE-Accredited Programs in Missouri
Students unable to participate in a graduate-level program in St. Louis can consider other options to pursue COAMFTE-accredited programs. There is an ability to look at other surrounding states that have designated institutions, like Illinois.
They offer a number of programs to choose from, such as Adler University and Northern Illinois University. Similar to Saint Louis University, Adler University offers both Master's degrees and a PhD. All of these programs require on-campus attendance due to the nature of mandatory clinical practicum sessions and various hands-on experiences.
Consider a Featured Online MFT Program
School and Program Information | Online Program? Entry Requirements | Course Information |
---|---|---|
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 ![]() | ✔ Online GRE Not Required | Choose from Addictions, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Human Behavior. Marriage and Family Therapy, or School Counseling specialties Learn More |
Pepperdine University Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Degrees LPC/MFT emphases available. | ✔ Online No GRE Required. Bachelor's Degree Required. | Choose your path at Pepperdine: pursue licensure as either an LMFT or LPC and serve diverse clients with our online master’s in clinical psychology. GRE scores are not required to apply, and you can earn your degree in as few as 27 months. Take the next step toward creating a positive social impact today. 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 |
Campbellsville University MA in Education in School Counseling (P-12) CAEP Accredited | ✔ Online No GRE Required | Flexible 8 week courses Learn More |
University of West Alabama Online Counseling and Psychology Degrees | ✔ Online Multiple online counseling degree options | Programs in experimental psychology, clinical mental health counseling, family counseling Learn More |
National Louis University M.S. in Counseling ![]() | ✔ 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 |
Saint Louis University's Medical Family Therapy Program
The Medical Family Therapy Program through the School of Medicine offers a Master of Arts in Family Therapy. This is a 60-credit hour program that will include 500 hours of direct clinical contact in practicum sessions.
Students have an option to complete a specialization in Medical Family Therapy with an emphasis on helping family members with biopsychosocial needs. Prospective students looking into the program will need to submit transcripts, GRE scores, updated resume, three letters of recommendation, and hold an interview with the faculty. There is also 18 credit hours worth of social science from an undergraduate education.
Online Marriage and Family Therapist Degrees in Missouri
There are a handful of programs that do offer an online education and still maintain the high COAMFTE standards.
Two of the closest institutions near Missouri are Our Lady of the Lake University based in Rio Grande Valley in Texas, and Capella University based in Minnesota. Students will complete clinical work at a local, approved health care facility.
It is recommended that students review and meet the technical requirements to pursue online programs. Typical recommendations include having a modern computer with a Windows or Mac operating system, high-speed internet access, and a compatible web browser, such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
LMFT Licensure in Missouri
Candidates that are looking for state licensure in Missouri for marriage and family therapy will need to meet a variety of education, practice, and test requirements for consideration.
Missouri MFT Licensure Requirements
First, applicants must finish a Master’s degree or higher with at least 45 credit hours of coursework in the therapy field.
12 of these credit hours must be reserved for clinical practicum. Graduates that have received a degree from a COAMFTE-accredited program will meet the needs of this state for licensure. The national examination is available to those that have finished their education and are entering post-graduate practice.
At least 3,000 total hours of practice must be accrued within a five-year period. There is a limit of at least 15 hours of clinical work in a month, or that period is disqualified from being counted. Half of this requirement is reserved for direct clinical contact with patients, and there should be at least 200 total hours of supervision from an MFT. Those that have a PhD or an additional 30 credit hours beyond the Master’s degree will need less clinical time to complete.
Missouri State Committee of Marital and Family Therapists
3605 Missouri Blvd.
P.O. Box 1335
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1335
Website
LMFT Licensure:
- Licensed Marital and Family Therapist
LMFT Careers and Salaries in Missouri
The median wage for marriage and family therapy is around $50,800 across the state of Missouri, which is on par with the national average according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The range between the lowest and highest percentiles is between $31,350 and $86,650.
The two metropolitan areas of Kansas City and St. Louis see the most employment and highest average pay within the state. These are often the locations that offer numerous job positions in MFT, and some facilities include Preferred Family Healthcare, Compass Counseling Service, and ReDiscover, the latter being a nonprofit mental health center for patients that have struggled with mental issues and substance abuse.
Popular Online MFT Programs
Liberty University 🗹 Online
Campus-Based COAMFTE Accredited Missouri 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 Missouri. You can view online COAMFTE accredited MFT counseling programs or all Missouri counseling degrees.
- MA in Marriage and Family Therapy
- PhD in MFT