Marital and Family Therapist License Requirements

 

Before applying for licensure, please familiarize yourself with the general licensing policies.

 

An applicant for licensure must meet the following eligibility requirements:

 

Successful completion of a graduate degree program specializing in marital and family therapy from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) or completion of a program meeting the requirements outlined in Section 20-195a-2 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies at a regionally accredited institution of higher education;

 

Successful completion of a supervised practicum or internship with an emphasis in marital and family therapy and supervised by either the program granting the requisite degree, or by an accredited postgraduate clinical training program which is approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, in which the student received a minimum of 500 direct clinical hours that included 100 hours of clinical supervision;

 

Successful completion of 12 months of supervised postgraduate work experience.   The postgraduate work experience must include a minimum of 1,000 hours of direct client contact offering marital and family therapy services and 100 hours of post-graduate clinical supervision provided by a licensed marital and family therapist.   Of the 100 hours of supervision required, at least 50 hours shall be individual supervision and the remaining hours may be group supervision as defined in the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies ;

 

Individuals completing the supervised post graduate work experience in Connecticut are exempt from the licensing requirement while completing the required experience.  Not later than two years after completion of the experience, the exemption to the licensure requirement shall cease if the person did not successfully complete the AAMFT examination.

Please note that applicants who hold a current license in another state may be exempt from documenting a practicum or internship and the 12 months of work experience as outlined above provided the applicant can document at least 3 years of licensed work experience as a marital and family therapist.
   

Successful completion of the Examination in Marital and Family Therapy of the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards.

 

If taking the Examination in Marital and Family Therapy as a Connecticut applicant, an applicant need only submit the online application and fee and arrange for submission, directly from the source, of an official transcript verifying the award of a master's degree in marital and family therapy and verification of the practicum and internship (select this link for the required form). 

 

If the applicant's graduate degree program was approved by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy ( AAMFT ) after 1979, no further educational documentation is required.   If the applicant's graduate degree program was not AAMFT approved at the time of graduation or was approved by the AAMFT prior to 1979, the applicant must arrange to have a Verification of Course of Study form submitted along with a transcript.

 

After the above information has been received, reviewed and an eligibility determination has been made, examination registration information will be emailed to the applicant.  Please select this link for the examination schedule.  Please make sure that the application, transcript and verification of practicum form are submitted to this office promptly.

 

Documentation Requirements:

 

An applicant for licensure must arrange for submission of the following documents directly to this office:

 

Official transcript of marital and family therapy degree program, forwarded directly to this office from the institution at which study was undertaken.   If the applicant's graduate degree program was approved by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy ( AAMFT ) after 1979, no further educational documentation is required.   If your degree program of studies was not AAMFT approved at the time of graduation or was approved by the AAMFT prior to 1979, please request the Verification of Course of Study form to be submitted directly to this office; 

 

Verification of completion of a supervised practicum or internship submitted directly to this office by educational program director.  Please select this link for the required form;

 

Verification of at least 1000 hours of direct client contact in not less than 12 months of postgraduate work experience submitted directly to this office by the individual(s) completing the verification.  Please select this link  for the required form.  If employed by more than one employer, please have each employer submit a separate verification of employment form directly to this office;

 

Verification of 100 hours of postgraduate supervision by a licensed marital and family therapist submitted directly to this office by the supervisor(s) completing the verification.  Please select this link  for the required form.   If supervised by more than one person, please have each supervisor submit a separate verification of supervision form directly to this office;

 

If applicable, verification of 3 years of licensed work experience as a marital and family therapist.  The verification may be submitted by the appropriate authority at the facility where the experience occurred or, if in private practice, a letter from a licensed marital and family therapist or other provider with whom the applicant has a referral relationship;

 

Verification of passing score on the Examination in Marital and Family Therapy; and

 

If applicable, verification of any licenses/certificates ever held in other states.   Most jurisdictions charge a fee for completion of the verification form.  Please contact the jurisdiction for fee information.

 

A completed application with photograph attached.  Applications are only accepted online.  Please select this link to apply online.  The application fee is $315.

 

All supporting documentation should be sent directly from the source to:

 

Connecticut Department of Public Health

Marital and Family Therapist Licensure

410 Capitol Ave., MS # 12 APP

P.O. Box 340308

Hartford, CT 06134

Phone: (860) 509-7603

Fax:  (860) 707-1980

Email:  dph.counselorsteam@ct.gov