Best MFT Programs in Virginia

Looking for a rewarding career in the mental health field that works primarily with couples, families, children, and adolescents? Marriage and family therapy (MFT) is a century-old field, but it’s gone through many changes in the last few decades. Marriage and family therapists are needed now more than ever, and the career outlook is expected to grow exponentially in the years to come. The first step to becoming a marriage and family therapist is graduating from an MFT degree program. To learn about your options for MFT programs in Virginia, take a look at the sections below.

2026 Best MFT Programs in Virginia

At Counseling Psychology, we've carefully evaluated the top Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) programs across Virginia to help aspiring therapists make informed educational choices. Our comprehensive rankings consider factors like academic reputation, faculty expertise, clinical training opportunities, and student success rates. Virginia offers several outstanding MFT programs that prepare students for meaningful careers in mental health counseling and family therapy. These programs provide rigorous academic training, hands-on clinical experience, and pathways to professional licensure. Whether you're looking to work in private practice, community mental health centers, or specialized therapeutic settings, our rankings highlight the most promising educational pathways for future marriage and family therapists in the Commonwealth. Learn more about our ranking methodology.

#1

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA - Public 4-Year - vt.edu

Master's - Master of Marriage and Family Therapy

Campus Based - Visit Website

Virginia Tech's Master of Marriage and Family Therapy program stands as the nation's longest continuously accredited MFT program, offering a robust educational experience that prepares students to address complex mental health challenges. The curriculum emphasizes diverse methodological approaches, including emerging areas like LGBTQ+ family dynamics, telemental health, and trauma intervention. Students benefit from extensive mentorship, hands-on clinical practice, and opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research. The program's military-friendly status and low-cost therapy center provide additional practical training environments for aspiring marriage and family therapists.

• Oldest continuously accredited MFT program
• Doctoral level program available
• Diverse research methodologies
• Clinical and research training
• Focuses on complex family dynamics
• Research across multiple domains
• Low-cost therapy center for practice

Doctorate - PhD in Human Development with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy

Concentration: Marriage and Family Therapy - Campus Based - Visit Website

Virginia Tech's PhD in Human Development with a Marriage and Family Therapy concentration provides an advanced pathway for clinical professionals seeking comprehensive doctoral training. Designed for students with a clinical master's degree, the program offers fully funded assistantships and individualized faculty mentorship. Participants explore sophisticated developmental theories, advanced research methodologies, and systemic analysis, preparing them for diverse career paths in academia, healthcare, and social services. With a minimum 3.0 GPA requirement and a December 1st application deadline, this program emphasizes multidisciplinary research and provides extensive opportunities for professional growth and academic development.

• PhD with MFT Concentration
• Requires clinical master's degree
• Full assistantship funding available
• On-campus, in-person program
• December 1st application deadline
• 3.0 minimum GPA required
• Research and teaching opportunities
• Multidisciplinary research centers
• Individual faculty mentorship
• Comprehensive theoretical training

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*Citation: National Center for Education Statistics. (2023). IPEDS Data Center. https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

What is an MFT Degree?

MFT degree programs are designed to educate individuals on the common challenges that couples and families face throughout their lives and how to help these demographics navigate them through the power of therapy. Typically speaking, most individuals who enroll in MFT degree programs aim to become clinicians and work firsthand with their communities’ members, but plenty go on to become researchers, educators, administrators, or social workers as well. Most MFT degree programs combine in-class coursework and lectures with real, firsthand supervised training so that future marriage and family therapists receive a well-rounded and comprehensive education.

Why is COAMFTE MFT Accreditation Important?

Arguably, the most important consideration when looking at MFT degree programs is accreditation. Most MFT degree programs are accredited, but not all. If a program is not accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) or CACREP in cases where the program is considered a counseling degree, it has not been approved by the state board, and thus, does not lead to licensure.

Can I Get an MFT Degree Online in Virginia?

If you’re working full-time or raising a family, it can be difficult to balance your education on top of it. Fortunately, online MFT programs have become a common alternative to classroom study. Because of the clinical nature of MFT programs, most online MFT programs require that you spend at least some face-to-face time to fulfill your supervised clinical hour requirements, so as you begin your search, be sure to double-check whether or not you will need to commute to campus for these or if you will be allowed to complete them in your own community. Check out an example of an online MFT program below:

Alliant University: Alliant University offers a COAMFTE-accredited Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy that can be completed entirely online. The 60-credit program emphasizes cultural competency and hands-on training with 300 hours of direct client contact, and includes an optional chemical dependency specialization track that is embedded within the curriculum without requiring additional coursework. Students benefit from flexible enrollment options with both semester-long and eight-week term formats available throughout the year.

MFT Degree Levels

There is more than one type of MFT degree. The most common type is a master’s degree. These are the lowest-level MFT degrees that still allow students to become licensed upon graduation. There are also doctorate degrees for students who are seeking more advanced roles. Finally, graduate certificates, though not degrees, are a great choice for students who have already gotten licensed in another clinical mental health field, but are lacking background in marriage and family therapy.

Do I Need a GRE for an MFT Program?

Depending on the program, you may need to submit a GRE (Graduate Record Examination) along with your application to show your placement amongst other undergraduates. Not all institutions, however, require this. Your admissions department will have guidelines as to whether or not you will be required to submit a GRE or some other type of accompanying document to show your academic merit.

Master's Degree in MFT

A master's degree in MFT is the minimum requirement for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist in most jurisdictions. This degree program covers advanced topics such as marriage counseling techniques, family therapy modalities, and ethical considerations in clinical practice. Graduates of master’s programs often work in private practice, clinics, hospitals, or community mental health centers, providing therapy to individuals, couples, and families. Most MFT master's degrees take about two years to complete with approximately 60 credits.

The typical tuition cost for a master's degree in MFT varies considerably depending on the program, but on average, you can expect to pay about $46,953 for your tuition in Virginia. Here are a few MFT master’s degree programs available in Virginia:

Virginia Commonwealth University: If you’re looking to devote your career to educating future marriage and family counselors, Virginia Commonwealth University offers an M.Ed in Counseling with a focus on Marriage and Family Counseling. This unique program offers students the opportunity to become dual licensed as a licensed marriage and family therapist as well as a licensed professional counselor, offering entryway into both clinical positions and educational roles.

College of William and Mary: The College of William and Mary is the nation’s oldest institution of higher learning after Harvard, and thus, their M.Ed. in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health – Relationship, Marriage and Family is well respected in the clinical mental health education field. Like Virginia Common Wealth University, this program allows students to pursue careers as both clinicians and educators and become dual-licensed marriage and family therapists and professional counselors.

Graduate Certificate in MFT

If licensure is not the goal or you already have obtained licensure through a clinical mental health practice, there are opportunities to expand your training in marriage and family therapy through MFT graduate certificates. These 1-year non-degree programs allow students to access a quick and affordable MFT education, typically only costing between $1,000 and $1,500. Virginia currently offers one MFT graduate certificate program in the state:

Regent University: Once you’ve completed a clinical mental health graduate degree, you may want to consider Regent University’s Graduate Certificate in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling. While this program won’t offer licensure on its own, it will build on your existing educational background to provide you with a comprehensive outlook of the field. This program is also flexible, with both an online and on-campus delivery option, perfect for students with little leeway in their schedules.

MFT Doctorate Degrees (Ph.D. or PsyD)

By the end of your master’s degree program, you can sit for the licensure exam or continue your education further. If you decide on the second option, there are plenty of MFT doctorate degree programs to choose from nationwide with one option available locally. MFT doctorate degrees typically last between four and eight years and cost between $30,000 to well over $150,000, depending on the program. They come in two varieties — a Ph.D., which focuses heavily on research and education, and a PsyD, which is more designed for clinicians. Here is one option available in Virginia:

Virginia Tech: The Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy offered by Virginia Tech is the oldest continuously accredited MFT doctorate degree program in the country and has numerous opportunities for experimental and observational research in laboratories and in clinical settings within the community. Students can complete this program in as little as three years, offering a quick and thorough entryway into a variety of marriage and family therapeutic careers.

Becoming an LMFT in Virginia

The final step to working as a marriage and family therapist is achieving licensure. Virginia has one of the most rigorous processes for becoming licensed as a marriage and family therapist — here’s what you need to know:

• Education: Obtain a master’s or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy or a related field from a regionally accredited institution. Ensure that your program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) or an equivalent accrediting body.
• Supervised Experience: Complete a certain number of supervised clinical hours, typically around 3,400 hours, with at least half of those hours directly related to marriage and family therapy. The exact requirements may vary, so it’s essential to check with the Virginia Board of Counseling for the most up-to-date information.
• Examination: Pass the National MFT Exam administered by the Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB). This exam assesses your knowledge and understanding of marriage and family therapy principles and practices.
• Application Process: Submit an application for licensure to the Virginia Board of Counseling. This may include providing transcripts, verification of supervised experience hours, exam scores, and other documentation.
• Background Check: Undergo a criminal background check as part of the application process.
• Fees: Pay any required application and licensure fees.
• Continuing Education: After obtaining licensure, you’ll need to fulfill continuing education requirements to maintain your license. This requires completing 20 continuing education hours every year.

List of MFT Degree Programs in Virginia