There is one institution in the state of Virginia that offers accredited programs from the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, better known as Virginia Tech University, has two locations for graduate-level degrees. The Master’s degree is offered at the Falls Church campus, and the PhD is offered at the Blacksburg campus.
At least a Master’s degree is required for LMFT licensure in the state of Virginia, and the curriculum provided by Virginia Tech will meet their educational requirements.
Marriage and Family Therapist Degrees in Virginia
Programs that are accredited by COAMFTE lets prospective students know that the school put in the resources to create a diverse and strong curriculum with some of the most experienced faculty members.
These programs are strongly critiqued by the organization and is reviewed frequently to ensure that they maintain rigorous standards. While completing a degree that has COAMFTE is not required for state licensure, there will be additional steps that applicants need to take in order to prove that they have taken the required coursework.
Virginia Tech University’s Master of Marriage and Family Therapy
The Master’s program in marriage and family therapy through the Department of Human Development and Family Science provides an exclusive accredited degree in the state and will give students the training needed to deliver the best therapy procedures to patients struggling with relationships to their loved ones.
MFT Courses
They will have awareness in cultural differences when working with diverse populations and ethical and legal knowledge toward procedures. Examples of courses that students will complete include clinical practicum, Perspectives on Human Sexuality, Advanced Research Methods, and Life-Span Human development.
Students can complete the degree in a span of three years, but the school allows for plenty of flexibility to fit any schedule needs.
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.
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Learn More |
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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.
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Learn More |
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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 |
COAMFTE-Accredited Programs in Virginia
It is not always easy to pursue higher education at a specific location, and Virginia has the benefit of being located in a concentrated area with more opportunities in different states. North to the state of Maryland, there is a COAMFTE-accredited program that provides a Master’s degree at the University of Maryland.
An alternative is finding a fully online-based program at a handful of institutions across the country. These COAMFTE-accredited Master’s degrees will still count toward educational requirements for state licensure in Virginia. Students looking to pursue online education should review technical requirements needed. It is often recommended to have a modern computer with a Windows or Mac operating system and access to high-speed internet access for video streaming and downloading.
LMFT Licensure in Virginia
Applicants must meet numerous requirements in order to become licensed within the state of Virginia. A graduate degree must be obtained, and while a discipline within marriage and family therapy is not required, a related field is recommended due to the coursework required.
Examples of what is needed includes human development, treatment, ethics, and research. There are a few ways to receive licensure by endorsement, but requires applicants to have been actively practicing in five of the last six years.
MFT Licensure Requirements
At least 4,000 hours of supervised practice is required in total. Up to 900 hours can be counted for those taking specific accredited programs, like COAMFTE, otherwise 600 hours will be counted. The remaining amount must be done post-graduation, but there are numerous opportunities to clock hours. For example, clinical group sessions can be counted as long as there is supervision, and up to 40 hours of this can be counted from an internship.
Virginia Board of Counseling
9960 Maryland Dr. Suite 300
Henrico, VA 23233-1463
Website
LMFT Licensure:
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
LMFT Careers and Salaries in Virginia
The median salary in Virginia for marriage and family therapy is around $50,000 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, which puts it generally close to the United States average. That amount can go over $62,000 within the 90th percentile for more experienced professionals.
Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Richmond hold the most career opportunities within the state and is part of the cluster that is very densely populated within the Northeast.
Some of the most popular establishments to work as a MFT in Virginia include Thriveworks, Inova Health System, and Strategic Therapy Associates.
Popular Online MFT Programs
Grand Canyon University 🗹 Online
Liberty University 🗹 Online
Campus-Based COAMFTE Accredited Virginia 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 Virginia. You can view online COAMFTE accredited MFT counseling programs or all Virginia counseling degrees.
- PhD in MFT
- MS in Marriage and Family Therapy
Go to the list of all Virginia counseling programs.
