Best MFT Programs in Texas Online

Texas is the second most populous state in the country and one of the most diverse demographic-wise. Students interested in becoming marriage and family therapists (MFTs) will find plenty of demand in Texas upon licensure and plenty of opportunities to serve both rural and urban populations across this great state. But before you can start getting licensed, you’ll need to graduate from an MFT degree program. There are many to choose from in Texas — here’s what you need to know to start applying.

What is an MFT Degree?

A Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) degree program is a requirement for all individuals planning on working with families and couples in a clinical mental health setting. These highly intensive programs require several years of study and several hundred clinical hours working firsthand with clients in a supervised setting. Coursework will delve into issues that affect couples and families, such as marital or parenting issues and lack of communication, and work to remedy those challenges.

Why is COAMFTE MFT Accreditation Important?

Regardless of what type of MFT program you choose, always make sure that your program is accredited before applying. This ensures that the state board has approved the curriculum and that you will be eligible for licensure upon graduation. The main accrediting bodies for MFT degree programs are the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) and CACREP.

Can I Get an MFT Degree Online in Texas?

Online MFT degrees are becoming increasingly common, and these programs are readily available in Texas. Be aware, however, that you will likely need to be located close to your university’s campus to fulfill in-person clinical hours as required by the program’s curriculum.

Abilene Christian University: If you’re looking for faith-based MFT programs, consider Abilene Christian University’s Master of Marriage and Family Therapy program located in Abilene, TX. This program combines 60 credit hours with over 100 supervision hours to create a full-scope MFT master’s degree program.

Houston Christian University: Another online faith-based MFT degree program in Texas is offered by Houston Christian University. This Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy allows you to complete your 60 credits hours online, and the only in-person requirement is a 16-week intensive that takes place on-campus. All clinical requirements will be completed in this timespan, so you can rely on flexibility for the remainder of the program’s duration.

Short Length MFT Programs in Texas

Some MFT programs take longer than others. Longer programs (such as MFT doctorate degrees) can take as long as 8 years, while shorter programs (such as MFT master’s degree programs) enable students to graduate as early as two years from enrollment and become licensed shortly after. If your plan is to become a marriage and family therapist as soon as possible, this is the route to take. Below are a few examples of the shortest MFT master’s degree programs in the State of Texas.

Affordable MFT Programs in Texas

If you’re trying to save a little money on your MFT education, you’re in luck — Texas is one of the most affordable states in the country to get your MFT graduate degree with a wide variety of programs to choose from. MFT master’s degrees tend to be the most affordable option with the average cost of tuition costing around $26,353. Still, there are many MFT master’s degree programs that cost less than this in Texas. Here are a few affordable options in the state:

MFT Degree Levels

There are several different types of MFT degrees available, but the most common by far are graduate degrees. If you are unlicensed, you will need to graduate from one of these types of programs. Conversely, if you do not plan on getting licensed or you are already licensed in a different clinical mental health degree, you may want to settle for a graduate certificate instead.

Do I Need a GRE for an MFT Program?

It depends on the program. Some schools prefer going with the traditional GRE (Graduate Record Examination) route to measure an applicant’s academic success, while others (such as Texas Tech) have moved to more alternative routes. To find out if you will need to submit a GRE with your application, check out your program’s admissions requirements.

Master's Degree in MFT

There are many MFT master’s degree programs to choose from in Texas. These programs last approximately two years and require the completion of 60 credit hours along with a number of in-person clinical hours. On average, you can expect to pay an average of $26,353. Here are a few examples:

Texas A&M: Students located in Central Texas can take advantage of Texas A&M’s well-respected and challenging 60-credit Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy. This program offers an in-depth look at the problems that couples and families face today and gives students the resources to develop therapeutic strategies to remedy these problems in their communities. The clinical portion of this program is conducted at the university’s on-site Community Counseling and Family Therapy Center, where students will be given structured, supervised learning opportunities to work firsthand with clients in Central Texas.

Texas State University: Students looking to become licensed and certified in a variety of mental health areas should take a look at Texas State University’s Master’s Degree in Counseling, Marriage and Family concentration. This unique program allows students to receive dual licensure as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and as a Licensed Professional Counselor. It also allows students to work towards their registration as a Registered Play Therapist. All of these will assert your value as a mental health clinician upon graduation.

Graduate Certificate in MFT

MFT graduate certificates, while not degrees, may be a more appropriate option for certain students. These programs last about a year and usually cost between $1,000 and $1,500, providing a quick and affordable option for students who are already licensed in a clinical mental health field or have professional goals outside of licensure. There is currently one option for MFT graduate certificates based in Texas:

Sam Houston State University: If you’re already trained as a counselor but would like to designate a focus on marriage and family systems, you may be interested in Sam Houston State University’s Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling Graduate Certificate program. The curriculum offered by SHSU is also catered towards any graduate student who is on track to graduate from or is interested in any mental health practice degree.

MFT Doctorate Degrees (Ph.D. or PsyD)

The final option for MFT degree programs is the MFT doctoral degree. There are two different types: a Ph.D., which prepares students for careers in education or research, and a PsyD, which focuses primarily on clinical aspects of the field. MFT doctoral degrees cost an average of $187,092 in Texas and last between four and eight years. Here are a few options to choose from in Texas:

Texas Tech University: The Couple, Marriage, and Family Therapy Ph.D. offered by Texas Tech University is a fully accredited program located in Lubbock, TX, that offers an affordable and expansive doctoral experience for MFT-focused students. Texas Tech’s program speaks for itself – students who graduated from their MFT doctoral program have had a 100% success rate on the licensure exam for the last seven years.

Texas Woman’s University: The Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy offered by Texas Woman’s University offers a comprehensive and fast-paced track to earning your MFT doctorate degree and entering the field as a researcher or clinician. The program only requires 54-semester credits and a minimum of three years of study and has no additional clinical hours beyond what is required in the master’s degree program.

Becoming an LMFT in Texas

Earning your licensure is the final requirement to becoming a marriage and family therapist in Texas. This is a multi-step process set forth by the state’s board:

• Education: Obtain a master’s or doctoral degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) or a regionally accredited institution.
• Supervised Experience: Complete the required supervised clinical experience. In Texas, this usually involves accumulating 3,000 hours of post-graduate supervised clinical experience, with at least 1,500 hours in direct client contact. This experience must be supervised by a licensed mental health professional.
• Examination: Pass the National Examination in Marital and Family Therapy, administered by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB). This exam assesses your knowledge and competency in marriage and family therapy.
• Jurisprudence Exam: Complete a jurisprudence exam, which assesses your knowledge of the laws and regulations governing marriage and family therapy practice in Texas.
• Apply for Licensure: Submit an application for licensure to the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists. This application typically includes providing documentation of your education, supervised experience, examination scores, and any other required materials.
• Background Check: Undergo a criminal background check.
• Continuing Education: After obtaining licensure, you’ll need to maintain it by fulfilling 30 continuing education requirements every two years.

List of MFT Degree Programs in Texas