Applying for the Texas LMFT License: FAQ
Adapted from material prepared by the
State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists
For additional instructions & application forms for Texas MFT Licensure:
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/mft/
For information about the MFT National Exam, go to:
http://www.amftrb.org/
Does the M.S. in Counseling MFT Track satisfy the academic requirements for becoming a LMFT?
YES! The MFT track meets the requirements for a planned course of study in marriage and family therapy, and a 9 – 12 month “practicum” requirement (the Board considers all supervised clinical work you do to be “practicum” even if the course titles say “practicum” and “internship.” SMU Counseling grads must complete & submit FORM I (Course Equivalency Form) with their LMFTA application.
Do my clinical hours from my master’s program count toward the MFT license?
Yes and No. Your Practicum and Internship hours must be completed before you can take the LMFT-Associate’s license (LMFT-A), so in that way, they “count.” Clinical hours to be applied toward full licensure (LFMT) must start after you’ve graduated and passed the national exam.
Is there a licensing exam for the LMFT? When should I take it?
Yes, you will need to take the national licensing exam. You apply for the national exam by applying with your state examiners’ board for licensure as a LMFT-Associate. For Texas, the web site is: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/mft/ . You will be able to download the “new license” application form (Form A), and you will see where to indicate that you are applying for the LMFT-A. Before you send in your application, you will need to take the online MFT Jurisprudence Exam (see State Board web page http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/mft/ ). This is a simple exam covering ethics and legal issues affecting MFTs. You need to take this exam within 6 months of the date you intend to apply for licensure, and include a print-out of your results with your application. You will need to supply an official transcript with your application.
There will be an application fee (currently $47). You will also need to complete the MFT Examination Security Information Acknowledgement Form on the state web site.
When the Board has approved your application, they will send you a packet of materials about the exam. The Board will also upload your information to Professional Examination Services (PES). You will then get an email or regular mail notice with an online link so you can apply to PES to schedule your exam. You will also pay a testing-site fee (currently $75).
More information on the examination is available at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/mft/ (on the left, click “apply for a new license,” then from the drop-down menu, click “examination”), or on the Association of Marital and Family Regulatory Boards' website at: http://www.amftrb.org/ .
When can I take the exam? You can take the national exam in the last semester of your master’s study or upon the completion of your degree. If you plan to take the exam in your last semester, you will need to submit a letter from the university showing that you are currently enrolled, when you are expected to complete the course of study, and the coursework you will need to complete in order to graduate as planned. The exam is usually offered several times each year during three 28-day “windows” (Jan-Feb; May-June; Sept-Oct) in different locations across the state. It’s important to apply for the exam you wish to take by the deadline. If you do not, you will have to wait to take the next scheduled exam. The table below shows the annual “windows” that stay consistent year-to-year and their corresponding application deadlines. Specific test date windows can be found at http://www.amftrb.org/.
ANNUAL WINDOWS FOR EXAMS / APPLICATION DEADLINESJanuary - February / October 1
May - June / March 1
September - November / July 1
When will I be a LMFT-A?
After you graduate and pass the national exam, you will be eligible for an Associates license. The testing site will send your exam scores to your state board, and you will receive your LMFT-A license.
What can I do with my LMFT-A license?
As a LMFT-A, you are authorized in Texas to use the title “Marriage and Family Therapist” and engage in the practice of Marriage and Family Therapy. In any listing of your credentials, you should write “LMFT-A” or “Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate.” In any advertising or promotions, you should list the same credential and include the state in which your license was issued and your license number. This assures employers and clients that you are a qualified practitioner.
How do I get from LMFT-A to full LMFT Licensure?
You will need to complete 3000 client contact hours over a period of not less than 2 years of full-time work. Of those 3000 hours, at least 1500 must be direct contact; the remaining 1500 may be related clinical activities such as consultation with other professionals, phone calls, record-keeping, and preparation. While you are accumulating your 3000 hours, you must be supervised by a State or National Approved Supervisor. You and your supervisor also must complete a Supervisory Agreement Form (Form III) with the Texas Board before you start working with any supervisor toward your full LMFT licensure, so fill that out as soon as you get your LMFT-A! You will also need to get at least 200 hours of supervision, with at least 100 hours of individual supervision. Good news – up to 100 hours of your supervision in your Practicum & Internship can be counted toward the LMFT. You still have to meet with your supervisor for at least one hour every 2 weeks until you are fully licensed.
How do I keep track of clinical hours between LMFT-A and LMFT?
There are no “official” forms for this – you have to keep your own records. Here’s a strong suggestion: make an Excel file with columns for EVERY type of clinical activity you can think of (see example below). Keeping track of each type of activity (not just those listed on the license application forms) will help you if the definitions of “direct” and “indirect” change, or if you move to another state that counts hours differently. You can set up a formula in the Excel spreadsheet to total your hours automatically. BACK THIS FILE UP in more than one place! Here’s an example:
Week of: ______
Direct-Individual / Direct- Couple / Direct-Family / Direct- Group Ind / Direct-Group Rel / Indirect* / Sup-grp / Sup-indiv
3/19/10 / 2 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1
3/20/10 / 4 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0
Total / 6 / 4 / 3 / 1 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 1
*(phone, consultation, record-keeping, preparation, etc.)
What qualifications are needed in an Approved Supervisor?
The supervisor you work with to complete your clinical & supervision hours for full licensure must be a LMFT and approved by the state (Texas: LMFT-S) and/or by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT Approved Supervisor). You may also work with a supervisor who is fulfilling the hours toward AAMFT-Approved Supervisor status but who has not yet completed all the requirements. Such a person is called an AAMFT Supervisor Candidate, and must have documentation from AAMFT indicating this status (ask for a copy of it). The rules regarding the Texas Approved Supervisor (LMFT-S) designation are changing, so check with the Board web page or talk to your advisor to see if the changes will affect you.
What if it takes me more than 2 years to get my 3000 hours for full licensure?
Your initial LMFT-A license is issued for a period of 24 months. After that, the LMFT-A license may be renewed twice, each time for a two-year period. So, if you renew your LMFT-A twice, you will have it for a total of 6 years. If you forget to renew your LMFT-A and it expires, you can renew it for up to one year by paying a renewal fee and applicable late fees. A license that has expired for more than one year is no longer renewable!
When will I be an LMFT?
After successfully completing the required supervised marriage and family therapy experience and supervision, a LMFT-A will then be eligible for a full license as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). Go back to the Texas Board web page and download the same application form you filled out for the LMFT-A. This time, check that you are doing an “upgrade” from LMFT-A to LMFT. You’ll have to pay a $90 upgrade fee with your application. Once approved, your license will be mailed to you. Your LMFT is renewable every 2 years. If you don’t renew your license by the date shown on it, it will expire. An expired license may be renewed for up to one year past the expiration date by paying the renewal fee and applicable late fees. A license that has expired for more than one year is no longer renewable.
As a LMFT, you are authorized to use the title “Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist,” and engage in the practice of Marriage and Family Therapy without supervision.
What about Continuing Education (CE) credits?
In order to renew your license every 2 years (both LMFT-A and LMFT), you will need to complete a certain number of CE credits (check the Texas Board web site – the credit requirements differ for LMFT-A and LMFT). Mainly, you can get CE credits by attending or conducting workshops, classes, or presentations at conferences. You should always check before you enroll in such activities to see if CE credits are offered, how much it costs to get them, and whether they are approved by AAMFT (go to aamft.org). In the 2-year period between license renewals, you will need to get at least 6 hours of Ethics training – regardless of whether you have the Associate’s license or full licensure. Keep documentation of all your CE activities (often, you’ll receive a certificate showing how many CE credits you obtained for attendance/participation in an event). About a month before your license expires, download and submit the LMFT Renewal Form (on the State Board web page). Right now (2010), MFTs aren’t required to submit their supporting documentation with the renewal form, but the renewal applications are randomly audited, meaning the Board can ask to see your documentation (you’d better have it)!
How do I stay connected with other MFTs?
A sense of professional community is important in staying up-to-date on practice issues, new developments, and new opportunities. MFTs are still a minority in the larger mental health professions, so it is especially helpful to network with other like-minded practitioners and researchers. It’s also a lot of fun to see major speakers at conferences – people you’ve read about and could have the chance to meet personally. The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT) is the national professional organization for MFTs. AAMFT holds a national conference every year, and multiple trainings throughout the year (in some great locations). It also publishes the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy (JMFT), the premier scholarly journal of the field. A subscription to JMFT is included with AAMFT membership. To join or find out more, go to aamft.org. There are difference levels of membership with lower costs for students and associates (junior professionals).
In addition, AAMFT has divisions in every state – the Texas division (TAMFT) is one of the largest. Each state division has its own conference every year. Go to tamft.org to find out more. TAMFT also has local (city/area) divisions, including the Dallas Association for Marriage and Family Therapists (DAMFT), which hold regular networking meetings, workshops, and publishes a monthly online newsletter.
Other professional organizations include the American Association for Marriage and Family Counselors, the American Family Therapy Association, and the International Family Therapy Association. Some approaches to family therapy have their own organizations and training institutes, including Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Experiential (Satir) Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Couple Therapy, and so on. Many of these organizations hold conferences and workshops as well.
IN A NUTSHELL:
STEPS TOWARD LICENSURE AS A
MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPIST
(Adapted from chart created by Sandra L. DeSobe, MA, LPC, lMFT - Not an official document of the Texas Statem Board of Examineers of Marriage and Family Therapists
· Enroll in MFT graduate degree program
· Complete course work
· Enrolled in internship & complete internship requirements
· Take Jurisprudence Exam (Must be within 6 months of submitting application for LMFTA)
· Receive graduate degree (note: licensure exam may be taken in the last semester or upon completion of master’s degree)
· Prepare and submit application for LMFT-A licensure & the national MFT exam - Be sure to submit your application under the name of your official identification. Your name must match exactly.
· Approved to sit for exam
· Familiarize with process for testing cost, testing windows, preparation courses, etc.
· Take National MFT Exam – Pass Exam
· Become LMFTA - Even though you may receive your score on the test, the Board cannot license you until TSBEMFT has received the score from the testing center. Be sure to submit your application under the name of your official identification with all appropriate fees. Your name must match exactly.
· Accumulate 3000 hours of supervised post-graduate experience – 1500 face-to-face (750 with couples/families)