Best MFT Programs in Arizona
The Grand Canyon State offers a plethora of opportunities for psychology students looking to specialize and marriage and family therapy. In the sections below, we’ll dissect what marriage and therapy degrees typically cover, what types of MFT degrees are available for students, and the requirements for MFT licensure in Arizona.
2026 Best MFT Programs in Arizona
Prescott College
Prescott, AZ - Private 4-year - prescott.edu
Master's - Master of Science in Counseling
Concentration: Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling - Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
Prescott College's Master of Science in Counseling offers a groundbreaking hybrid program specializing in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling. CACREP-accredited and designed for future mental health professionals, this 60-credit degree emphasizes social justice and interdisciplinary approaches. Students benefit from flexible online learning with minimal 3-day campus residency requirements. The program uniquely integrates human sexuality and somatic counseling perspectives, preparing graduates for professional licensure. With affordable $830 per credit tuition and comprehensive post-graduate certificate options, students develop advanced therapeutic skills to support diverse client populations effectively.
- Online with 3-day campus residency
- 60 total credit program
- $830 per credit cost
- CACREP accredited program
- Spring 2025 priority deadline: Oct 1, 2024
- Multiple counseling concentrations
- Post-graduate certificate options
- Social justice curriculum focus
- Prepares for professional licensure
- Interdisciplinary learning approach
Master's - Master of Science in Counseling
Concentration: Human Sexuality Counseling - Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
Prescott College's Master of Science in Counseling provides an innovative Human Sexuality Counseling concentration within a flexible hybrid format. This CACREP-accredited program empowers students to explore mental wellness through a social justice lens. Designed for aspiring licensed professional counselors, the curriculum develops advanced therapeutic skills for navigating complex emotional landscapes. With minimal residency requirements and online accessibility, students can complete 60 credit hours at $830 per credit. The program's interdisciplinary approach prepares graduates to transform lives across diverse populations while maintaining a commitment to holistic client understanding.
- CACREP-accredited counseling program
- Online with 3-day campus residency
- 60 total credit hours
- $830 per credit
- Spring 2025 application deadline: Nov 15
- Multiple concentration options
- Marriage/Family Counseling emphasis
- Flexible learning pathways
- Social justice curriculum focus
- Forbes-recognized program
Master's - Master of Science in Counseling
Concentration: Social Justice in Counseling - Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
Prescott College's Master of Science in Counseling delivers a transformative Social Justice in Counseling track, blending comprehensive mental health training with critical societal perspectives. This CACREP-accredited hybrid program explores multi-generational and transcultural counseling dynamics, focusing on Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling specializations. Students engage in a 60-credit curriculum that challenges traditional therapeutic frameworks, emphasizing social equity and client empowerment. With minimal on-campus requirements and an affordable $830 per credit rate, the program cultivates licensed professionals committed to holistic wellness and systemic understanding of mental health challenges.
- CACREP-accredited counseling program
- Online with 3-day campus residency
- 60 total credit hours
- $830 per credit cost
- Spring 2025 app deadline: Nov 15
- Multiple counseling concentrations
- Social justice learning approach
- Minimal in-person requirements
- Internship and practicum included
- Forbes-recognized program
Doctorate - Master of Science in Counseling
Concentration: Human Sexuality Counseling - Online Learning - Visit Website
Prescott College's Master of Science in Counseling offers a robust online Human Sexuality Counseling concentration within a comprehensive Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling framework. The CACREP-accredited program provides transformative learning experiences through a flexible 60-credit curriculum with minimal residency requirements. Students develop advanced therapeutic skills while exploring complex counseling approaches through a social justice lens. Priced competitively at $830 per credit, the program prepares mental health professionals to address nuanced client needs, offering post-graduate certificate options and a commitment to innovative, inclusive practice.
- CACREP-accredited counseling program
- Online with 3-day campus residency
- 60 total credit hours
- $830 per credit
- Marriage, Couple, Family Counseling emphasis
- Spring 2025 Priority Deadline: Oct 1, 2024
- Additional concentration options available
- Social justice learning approach
- Minimal in-person requirements
- Post-graduate certificate options
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ - Public 4-Year - asu.edu
Master's - Marriage and Family Therapy, MAS
Campus Based - Visit Website
Arizona State University's Marriage and Family Therapy master's program delivers an intensive, accelerated educational experience tailored for aspiring mental health professionals. Strategically designed to meet Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners standards, the 16-18 month program equips students with robust clinical training through comprehensive coursework and practical internship opportunities. Students accumulate 300 client-contact hours, gaining hands-on experience in systemic therapeutic approaches. The curriculum emphasizes professional licensure preparation, requiring a minimum 3.00 GPA and leveraging Tempe's dynamic learning environment. With three recommendation letters and a valid Arizona driver's license, students can transform their counseling career trajectory through this comprehensive program.
- 16-18 month accelerated program
- 39 credit hours required
- 300 client-contact hours internship
- Fall application deadline 02/01
- 3.00 minimum GPA required
- Located in Tempe, Arizona
- Requires valid Arizona driver's license
- Three recommendation letters needed
- Professional licensure preparation
Arizona Christian University
Glendale, AZ - Private 4-year - arizonachristian.edu
Master's - Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy
Campus Based - Visit Website
Arizona Christian University's Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy offers a transformative educational experience integrating clinical expertise with spiritual perspective. The 57-credit residential program provides comprehensive training for aspiring therapists, emphasizing systemic therapeutic approaches and professional licensure preparation. Students benefit from a cohort-based model, exploring relationship healing through a biblical worldview. The program uniquely positions graduates for diverse career opportunities in private practice, community organizations, and healthcare settings. Admission requires a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA, professional references, and a faculty interview, ensuring a rigorous and intentional selection process for committed mental health professionals.
- Residential cohort-based program
- 57 credit hours required
- Biblical worldview approach
- Licensure preparation track
- Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA
- Optional Families and Disability concentration
- Academic or professional references required
- Interview with faculty member
- Career settings include hospitals, agencies
- Supports professional licensure
Master's - Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy
Concentration: Families with Disabilities - Campus Based - Visit Website
Arizona Christian University's Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy with a Families with Disabilities concentration provides specialized training for professionals seeking advanced understanding of therapeutic interventions. This program uniquely prepares students to support families navigating complex disability challenges through a biblically-grounded, holistic approach. The curriculum emphasizes comprehensive clinical skills, licensure readiness, and compassionate care for diverse populations. With a residential cohort model and 57 credit hours, students develop advanced therapeutic techniques tailored to families experiencing disability-related challenges. The program's integrative approach supports graduates in pursuing impactful careers in specialized treatment programs, healthcare, and faith-based organizations.
- Master's in Marriage & Family Therapy
- 57 Credit Hours Required
- Biblical Worldview Approach
- Residential Cohort Program
- Licensure Path in Arizona
- 3.0 Minimum Undergraduate GPA
- Optional Families/Disability Concentration
- Professional Career Settings
- Interview Required for Admission
Arizona State University Online
Scottsdale, AZ - Public 4-Year - asu.edu
Master's - Marriage and Family Therapy, MAS
Campus Based - Visit Website
Arizona State University's Digital Immersion Marriage and Family Therapy program offers an intensive, accelerated pathway for aspiring therapists seeking rapid professional development. Spanning 16-18 months, the program strategically prepares students for comprehensive clinical practice through a robust curriculum emphasizing systemic therapeutic approaches. Students complete 39 credit hours and engage in 300 client-contact internship hours, ensuring substantial hands-on experience. The licensure-focused curriculum demands a minimum 3.00 GPA and requires three recommendation letters. Located in Tempe, this military-friendly program targets professionals with bachelor's degrees in related fields, prioritizing practical skills and Arizona licensure readiness. The fall application deadline of February 1st provides structured entry for motivated candidates seeking advanced mental health training.
- Accelerated 16-18 month program
- 39 credit hours required
- 300 client-contact internship hours
- Minimum 3.00 GPA required
- Licensure-focused curriculum
- Located in Tempe, Arizona
- Fall application deadline 02/01
- Three recommendation letters needed
- Internship valid Arizona driver's license
- Bachelor's in related field preferred
What is an MFT Degree?
An MFT degree is a psychology degree that focuses on therapeutic methods used to help couples and families. An MFT degree prepares counselors, psychologists, and therapists to work with these individuals as a group or individually to work through the common issues that families and couples typically face such as:
- Addiction counseling
- Psychological disorders
- Special needs counseling
- Parenting skills
- Listening and sharing techniques between couples
Why is COAMFTE MFT Accreditation Important?
Without graduating from an accredited MFT graduate degree program, you won’t be able to get licensed as a marriage and family therapist. Accrediting bodies like the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, or COAMFTE for short (and CACREP for counseling degree programs) ensure that your program meets the requirements set forth by state and federal regulation.
Can I Get an MFT Degree Online in Arizona?
Yes! Online MFT programs and online education in general, have become super popular. While you won’t be able to find online MFT programs based in Arizona, you can find online programs based in neighboring states.
If you decide to do this, it’s important to consider licensure requirements. Online students who complete the degree program in Arizona will likely still have to travel to the state where their program is based in order to fulfill licensure requirements. However, once they become licensed, they may be able to practice in their home state, depending on their state’s regulations. Here are a few online MFT programs that may appeal to Arizonans:
Pepperdine University: This online program offers a master’s in clinical psychology with a focus on marriage and family therapy. Pepperdine University is located in California and students who graduate from their program will be eligible to become licensed in this state.
Alliant International University: This program (also located in California) offers a Master’s Degree of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy. Alliant International University’s program is fully accredited and provides all the required knowledge needed to succeed as a marriage and family therapist.
MFT Degree Levels
There are many types of MFT degrees at a variety of levels, but the most common by far are graduate degrees. This is because you must graduate from an MFT graduate degree program in order to become licensed as a marriage and family counselor. Below are some common degrees marriage and family therapists obtain and some examples that are available in Arizona.
Do I Need a GRE for an MFT Program?
Some MFT degree programs require that you take a Graduate Record Examination, or GRE for short. This exam measures your skills in various areas to determine if you need to take any prerequisites. However, this requirement is not mandatory across educational establishments. Check your school’s admissions page to see if they require prospective students to take the GRE.
Master's Degree in MFT
A vast majority of MFT degree programs available in Arizona are master’s degree programs. A master’s degree in MFT is the minimum educational requirement that marriage and family therapists must have in order to become licensed.
On average, you can expect to pay an average of $23,835 for your entire MFT master’s degree tuition. Typically, full-time students finish their program within two years, or even sooner if enrolled in a self-paced program. You’ll need to complete 50-60 credits on average with a number of clinical hours to graduate. Here are a couple of examples of MFT master’s degree programs available in Arizona:
Arizona State University: Students looking to get their master’s in MFT a little quicker are in luck with Arizona State University’s accelerated master’s degree program. While most MFT master’s degree programs require at least two years, students enrolled at ASU can graduate in as little as 16 months.
Arizona Christian University: Students looking for a more biblical approach to marriage and family counseling can enroll in Arizona Christian University’s Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy. If you’re looking to specialize within the MFT specialization, ACU offers a Concentration in Families with Disabilities for an additional 9 credits.
Graduate Certificate in MFT
Marriage and family therapy graduate certificates are a great option for students who may already have a graduate degree in psychology but want to focus their practice on families and couples. MFT graduate certificates technically aren’t degrees, but they typically equip students with the education they need to become licensed as an LMFT in a year or less, once they have fulfilled basic clinical requirements. They also provide an affordable way to specialize as most graduate certificates rarely exceed $2,000 in tuition costs.
Grand Canyon University: Currently the only MFT graduate certificate available in Arizona, Grand Canyon University offers a fantastic and affordable program completely online. The program only requires the completion of 15 self-paced credits to receive your certificate.
MFT Doctorate Degrees (Ph.D. or PsyD)
Lastly, doctorate degrees are the highest level degree a marriage and family therapist can obtain. Doctorate degrees in marriage and family therapy come in two different varieties — a PhD which focuses on research and theory and PsyDs which focus on clinical work.
On average, MFT Doctorate degrees can run about $30,000 to $200,000 and can take as long as eight years to complete. Currently there are no on-campus doctorate degrees available in Arizona, but there are plenty to choose from in neighboring states or online.
Loma Linda University: Just over the border in California, Arizonans can take advantage of Loma Linda University’s Systems, Families, and Couples PhD. This program can be completed in four years or in as little as three and is the only MFT Doctorate degree fully accredited by COAMFTE.
Becoming an LMFT in Arizona
To become a marriage and family therapist, you’ll need to follow the following pathway to become licensed:
- Education: Obtain a master’s or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy or a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution.
- Supervised Experience: Complete the required supervised clinical experience. In Arizona, this involves accumulating 3,200 hours of supervised experience, with at least 1,600 hours of direct client contact. This experience must be gained over a period of at least two years.
- Licensure Examination: Pass the national licensure examination. In Arizona, LMFTs typically take the Examination in Marital and Family Therapy administered by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB).
- Jurisprudence Exam: Some states (including Arizona) require that licensure applicants pass a jurisprudence exam which ensures that the applicant understands the state laws surrounding marriage and family therapy.
- Application: Submit an application for licensure to the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (AZBBHE). This application typically includes documentation of your education, supervised experience, examination scores, and any other required information.
- Background Check: Undergo a criminal background check as part of the application process.
- Continuing Education: After obtaining licensure, you’ll need to fulfill continuing education requirements to maintain your license. In Arizona, LMFTs need to complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years including a minimum of 6 hours in ethics training and 6 hours in diversity training.
List of MFT Degree Programs in Arizona
Glendale, AZ
Arizona Christian University
- Master's - Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy
Campus Based - Website
- Residential cohort-based program
- 57 credit hours required
- Biblical worldview approach
- Licensure preparation track
- Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA
- Optional Families and Disability concentration
- Academic or professional references required
- Interview with faculty member
- Master's - Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy
Concentration: Families with Disabilities - Campus Based - Website
- Master's in Marriage & Family Therapy
- 57 Credit Hours Required
- Biblical Worldview Approach
- Residential Cohort Program
- Licensure Path in Arizona
- 3.0 Minimum Undergraduate GPA
- Optional Families/Disability Concentration
- Professional Career Settings
Prescott, AZ
Prescott College
- Master's - Master of Science in Counseling
Concentration: Human Sexuality Counseling - Online & Campus Based - Website
- CACREP-accredited counseling program
- Online with 3-day campus residency
- 60 total credit hours
- $830 per credit
- Spring 2025 application deadline: Nov 15
- Multiple concentration options
- Marriage/Family Counseling emphasis
- Flexible learning pathways
- Master's - Master of Science in Counseling
Concentration: Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling - Online & Campus Based - Website
- Online with 3-day campus residency
- 60 total credit program
- $830 per credit cost
- CACREP accredited program
- Spring 2025 priority deadline: Oct 1, 2024
- Multiple counseling concentrations
- Post-graduate certificate options
- Social justice curriculum focus
- Master's - Master of Science in Counseling
Concentration: Social Justice in Counseling - Online & Campus Based - Website
- CACREP-accredited counseling program
- Online with 3-day campus residency
- 60 total credit hours
- $830 per credit cost
- Spring 2025 app deadline: Nov 15
- Multiple counseling concentrations
- Social justice learning approach
- Minimal in-person requirements
- Doctorate - Master of Science in Counseling
Concentration: Human Sexuality Counseling - Online Learning - Website
- CACREP-accredited counseling program
- Online with 3-day campus residency
- 60 total credit hours
- $830 per credit
- Marriage, Couple, Family Counseling emphasis
- Spring 2025 Priority Deadline: Oct 1, 2024
- Additional concentration options available
- Social justice learning approach
Scottsdale, AZ
Arizona State University Online
- Master's - Marriage and Family Therapy, MAS
Campus Based - Website
- Accelerated 16-18 month program
- 39 credit hours required
- 300 client-contact internship hours
- Minimum 3.00 GPA required
- Licensure-focused curriculum
- Located in Tempe, Arizona
- Fall application deadline 02/01
- Three recommendation letters needed
Tempe, AZ
Arizona State University
- Master's - Marriage and Family Therapy, MAS
Campus Based - Website
- 16-18 month accelerated program
- 39 credit hours required
- 300 client-contact hours internship
- Fall application deadline 02/01
- 3.00 minimum GPA required
- Located in Tempe, Arizona
- Requires valid Arizona driver's license
- Three recommendation letters needed