What are the "Must-Have's" for an MFT Program?

[Skvader]

I am currently a third-year psychology major, looking to apply to PsyD and MFT programs in the fall. I am ordering the "Insider's Guide" for Clinical/Counseling PsyD/PhD programs, and have done a great deal of research for various PsyD programs that I'm interested in; however, I don't know where to start with MFT programs.

I have seen lists upon lists of schools that offer MA degrees in Clinical Psychology. They're accredited, they have interesting faculty members... but what else do I need to know? I mean, what should a "good" MFT program offer to its students? So far, I've been told to ask the following:

1. What are the internship placement rates (while attending the program)?
2. What are the internship placement rates (once graduating from the program)?
3. Will the program find an internship for you (while attending the program), or do you have to find your own internship?
4. How many of the 3000 hours of supervised work experience can/will be earned, while in the program?

It would also be great to hear your input regarding professional schools (ex. Alliant, Argosy), public/state schools (ex. CSU's), and private schools. In general, would an employer take more interest in a student who has graduated from a private school, vs. a public/state school, vs. a professional school? Or does it depend on the program and what you do while part of that program?

P.S. - I'm currently a resident in the state of California, but I have no idea where I will be living in a few years. I know that not all states accept the MFT... so I'm kind of confused about what I can do, if I end up becoming licensed in California and then move to another state. Does that mean I can't get licensed in that other state? Or do I just have to take another test and fulfill some other requirements in that state, before I can apply for another license to practice "marriage and family therapy"? Would I have to go back to school and earn another master's degree, just to practice in that state? 😕

I'm sorry that this thread is so messy... like I said, I honestly don't know where to start, when it comes to MFT programs. My university's career services center has been absolutely USELESS, and all of the professors I've talked to can't really tell me anything about MFT programs, since they all have PhD degrees. I haven't had a chance to contact any professionals with an MFT degree, but I plan to go all-out over the summer break.
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[progter]

A masters in clinical psych is NOT an MFT program, nor will it allow you to sit for the MFT exam.

You need to become very familiar w/ the CAMFT organization (its the MFT organization for California). Just read over the requirements for licensure for the state and make sure the program you are applying to meets them all (not all do, for instance: many programs dont provide sexuality, substance abuse, consulting classes since they don't require as much time as other courses and the budget would be better used somewhere else. In cases such as this the school requires the students to go to national conferences on their own time/money and take those classes for credit).

My opinion on professional schools for an MFT is: don't. Way too much debt for such a degree. Alliant has a phd in MFT I believe, that might not be too bad but I really don't see why someone would get a phd in MFT, it wont open any other doors for you.

Public/state schools is really not a concern as long as it meets all the requirements. In Fresno there are two schools offering a masters in MFT: Fresno State and University of the Pacific (i think thats the name). Ones private and ones public, the private one has a terrible local rep and its only hands on practice is w/ other masters students. You really need to look at each program individually. Employers very rarely care where you went to school as long as it meets the requirements. My fiance has never had an issue coming from a state school, but that might be due to the fact that its one of the top mft programs in california.

Transferring between states is a tough one to answer. If the state recognizes the MFT licensure and you completed your 3000 hours already then it will be no problem, you just have to sit for their exam. But be warned, you must be able to prove your 3000 hours and be able to provide contact info of those who supervised you. If you had your hours 5 years ago and can no longer contact your supervisor, those hours are lost and you will have to repeat them. You won't have to go back to school, but you might have to do more hours. Just be on top of keeping contact w/ former supervisors.

 

[azultear]

http://www.aamft.org
you could start looking this web. It's American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.
click on the Graduate schools and it will show all the grad and Ph.D that is National Accredited.

You need to look for each school website to get the information.
Each state has different hours for licensure, so ask the faculty^^

I heard that if you hold Cali State license it is not going to be hard to get another state license because Cali State is the hardest one (coz MFT is more spread out in Cali compared to other states).

About Alliant... They have Psy.D not Ph.D ^^

When I was looking schools to apply I asked each school if they have a counseling center at school, bcoz if they have you don't need to find a site while in college. SDSU has, Chapman has..
Alliant, Univ. of SD don't..

try first for the states schools and then private ^^
(tuition differences are pretty BIG!)

 

[progter]

http://www.aamft.org
you could start looking this web. It's American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.
click on the Graduate schools and it will show all the grad and Ph.D that is National Accredited.

You need to look for each school website to get the information.
Each state has different hours for licensure, so ask the faculty^^

I heard that if you hold Cali State license it is not going to be hard to get another state license because Cali State is the hardest one (coz MFT is more spread out in Cali compared to other states).

About Alliant... They have Psy.D not Ph.D ^^

When I was looking schools to apply I asked each school if they have a counseling center at school, bcoz if they have you don't need to find a site while in college. SDSU has, Chapman has..
Alliant, Univ. of SD don't..

try first for the states schools and then private ^^
(tuition differences are pretty BIG!)

your post is full of a lot of bad info

not every state recognizes AAMFT even tho they deem themselves the national board. MFTs were around in states such as Cali way before AAMFT was and therefore have different standards. States such as New York, Cali and many others do not recognize the national accreditation as being sufficient to practice. That is why there is only 1 public program in CA that cares enough to get it and that is UC San Diego.

Cali is NOT the hardest state to get licensed in fact it is the easiest and many states will not recognize all of californias intern hours. In states such as NY you are required to have a certain amount of group/couple/1on1/child hours and in California you can have any amount of any of them as long as it equals 3000. If you do 3000 hours in california and its all couple therapy and you apply to get licensed in NY where they only require 1500 total hours but require a min of 300 group/1on1 then you will not qualify.

Transferring from California to another state is extremely hard and tedious. our requirements in CA are unique. It can be done if you plan carefully ahead of time, but if you don't, you will run into red tape.

 

[Ritabita]

I am in the start of my Bachelor's in Psychology and I am also searching for schools in NYS that offer a Masters in Marriage, Family and Relationship Therapy and I am also looking at PhD programs or would those be Psy. D programs?

I am also looking for programs that include or have a separate program for Sexual Therapy and/or addiction. From reading your extensive responses, you seem like a person in the know. I noticed that you said a few things about a degree in MFT. My passion is marriage, family, relationships for sure. But over the last year, I have had a growing interest in sexual therapy and addiction.

Can you give any advice as to where I should look? There is such a wealth of information and I want to make sure upon completing my bachelor's degree that I make the most educated choice to persue my masters and my doctorate. Thanks!

A masters in clinical psych is NOT an MFT program, nor will it allow you to sit for the MFT exam.

You need to become very familiar w/ the CAMFT organization (its the MFT organization for California). Just read over the requirements for licensure for the state and make sure the program you are applying to meets them all (not all do, for instance: many programs dont provide sexuality, substance abuse, consulting classes since they don't require as much time as other courses and the budget would be better used somewhere else. In cases such as this the school requires the students to go to national conferences on their own time/money and take those classes for credit).

My opinion on professional schools for an MFT is: don't. Way too much debt for such a degree. Alliant has a phd in MFT I believe, that might not be too bad but I really don't see why someone would get a phd in MFT, it wont open any other doors for you.

Public/state schools is really not a concern as long as it meets all the requirements. In Fresno there are two schools offering a masters in MFT: Fresno State and University of the Pacific (i think thats the name). Ones private and ones public, the private one has a terrible local rep and its only hands on practice is w/ other masters students. You really need to look at each program individually. Employers very rarely care where you went to school as long as it meets the requirements. My fiance has never had an issue coming from a state school, but that might be due to the fact that its one of the top mft programs in california.

Transferring between states is a tough one to answer. If the state recognizes the MFT licensure and you completed your 3000 hours already then it will be no problem, you just have to sit for their exam. But be warned, you must be able to prove your 3000 hours and be able to provide contact info of those who supervised you. If you had your hours 5 years ago and can no longer contact your supervisor, those hours are lost and you will have to repeat them. You won't have to go back to school, but you might have to do more hours. Just be on top of keeping contact w/ former supervisors.