Best MFT Programs in Alaska Online

Marriage and family therapy is one of the more essential fields within the psychological field and is expressly needed in Alaska. Due to its isolation and rural landscape, Alaskans have a unique need for marriage and family therapy as resources are often spread thin in the state. To learn how you can access marriage and family therapy degree programs in Alaska, take a look at the sections below.

What is an MFT Degree?

Marriage and Family Therapy, or MFT for short, is a specialized area of therapeutic study that focuses on the resolution of issues that arise between family members or couples. These issues could relate to dysfunctional relationships within the family unit or couples who need help reconnecting after years of marriage. MFT degree programs are designed for students who want to study this type of therapy and become therapists, counselors, or psychologists who utilize its methods.

Why is COAMFTE MFT Accreditation Important?

An important thing to remember as you begin to apply to MFT degree programs is to look for is accreditation. If a school is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), it means that the program meets the licensure requirements of the state. In some situations, your MFT degree program may be provided by the school’s counseling department. In these cases, it will likely be accredited by CACREP, the accrediting body for counseling degrees.

Can I Get an MFT Degree Online in Alaska?

Alaska does not host any on-campus or online MFT programs. However, students can find MFT programs available nationwide through online learning. Some of the more popular online MFT programs include:

Falk College: This master's degree program offered by Falk College is perfect for students who cannot relocate to a different state or make daily trips to campus. As with most MFT programs, there is a 500-clinical hour requirement, however, students enrolled in this program can complete their required hours in their own communities. There are 60 credits, all of which can be completed online.

National University: Students looking to fortify their existing graduate degree can enroll in National University's online Post-Graduate Certificate in MFT. The program is self-paced and can be completed in the student’s own free time.

Drexel University: Drexel University offers a doctoral program in Couples and Family Therapy with a focus on clinical issues such as addiction and trauma. The program is 100% available online and internships/clinical hours can be completed at home.

Keep in mind that not all online MFT degree programs will lead to licensure in Alaska — some programs will require that you seek licensure in the state where the program is based before transferring your licensure back to Alaska. You’ll also want to consider clinical hour requirements. Some programs will require that you are physically present at campus or in the state where the program is based to complete these, while others will allow you to complete your clinicals from your home base.

MFT Degree Levels

There are many different types and levels of MFT degree programs, but if their goal is to become licensed marriage and family therapists, students will need to complete a graduate degree. Doing so ensures that they will meet the licensure requirements when they graduate.

If you're looking for an on-campus MFT degree program in Alaska, you're unfortunately out of luck. There are currently no MFT programs based in this incredibly rural state. However, there are many options for students who are looking to get their MFT degree online or relocate to a nearby state. Below are the types of degrees you will find in your search.

Do I Need a GRE for an MFT Program?

You may. Many MFT degree programs require that applicants complete an assessment known as a GRE (Graduate Record Examination) to gauge your pre-graduate education. However, this style of assessment is becoming less and less common. Your prospective program will have information on whether or not you will be required to complete a GRE to apply on their admissions page.

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 70 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 anywhere between $450 and $850 per credit. While no MFT master's degrees exist in Alaska, you can find many available in Washington State or online. Here are a few great examples:

Seattle University: The Master of Arts in Couples and Family Therapy offered at Seattle University is perfect for students located in Alaska who are open to relocating to Seattle to become licensed as a marriage and family counselor or therapist. Seattle University prides itself on its graduate success rate – 99% of students who graduate from SU's program become LMFTs.

Seattle Pacific University: SPU offers a 70-credit Master of Science in MFT that is primarily focused on Christian context. This program is perfect for individuals looking to become biblical counselors specializing in helping couples with their marriage or family issues.

Graduate Certificate in MFT

Graduate certificates are technically not degrees, but they often offer a specialized focus in a particular area. If you already have a master's degree or doctorate degree in psychology or counseling, getting a graduate certificate in MFT can help you specialize as a marriage and family counselor or therapist in a year or less, with each program costing an average of $1,000 to $1,500. While Alaska does not offer on-campus MFT programs at any level, you can find many offered in nearby states such as:

Seattle Pacific University: The Medical Family Therapy Certificate offered by Seattle Pacific University helps LMFTs transition to the medical side of marriage and family therapy. This program is one of the only MFT graduate certificates offered in Washington State and is a great option for nurses, doctors, psychologists, or counselors looking to expand their horizons.

MFT Doctorate Degrees (Ph.D. or PsyD)

Those who want to become practicing doctors of marriage and family therapy will need to dedicate between four and six years to their education in addition to fulfilling a number of clinical hours depending on their state, and $35,000 to $200,000 depending on the program.

There are two options for doctorate degrees – PhDs which focus on psychological theory and PsyDs which focus on clinical treatment. Neither of these options are available to students in Alaska (unless enrolling online) but you can find MFT doctoral programs in nearby states:

Hope International University: While Alaskans relocating to California for Hope International University's MFT doctorate program may be in for a bit of a culture shock, they can rest assured that their program will equip them with everything they need to become doctors of marriage and family therapy. While this is the closest doctoral MFT program to Alaska, students who are not interested in a Christian-based program may want to look elsewhere.

Becoming an LMFT in Alaska

As with all states, Alaska has very strict guidelines that you'll need to follow in order to become licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist. Here is the typical pathway too becoming licensed as an LMFT in Alaska:

• Education: You need to have a master’s or doctoral degree in Marriage and Family Therapy or a related field from a regionally accredited institution. The program should be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) or an equivalent accrediting body.
• Supervised Experience: You must complete 3,000 supervised clinical hours — 1,000 of which must be dedicated to providing direct service therapy with families and couples, and 100 must be used in face to face interaction with patients.
• Examination: You will need to pass a national licensing examination. In most states, this is the Examination in Marital and Family Therapy (EMFT) administered by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB).
• Background Check: You may need to undergo a criminal background check as part of the licensing process.
• Supervision and Documentation: During your supervised experience, you’ll need to keep detailed documentation of your clinical hours and supervision.
• Application Process: Once you’ve met all the requirements, you can submit an application for licensure to the Alaska Board of Marital and Family Therapy. This typically involves providing transcripts, documentation of supervised experience, examination scores, and any other required materials. You may also need to pay an application fee.
• Continuing Education: After becoming licensed, you’ll need to complete 40 continuing education requirements every 2 years to maintain your license. Twenty of these hours must be face to face direct service hours.