Best MFT Programs in New Hampshire Online

Are you seeking an exciting career as a mental health practitioner, researcher, or educator? Want to work primarily with couples, families, and children? Marriage and family therapy (MFT) is a rewarding field within the mental health realm. Marriage and family therapy career opportunities in New Hampshire are only expected to grow, and individuals who want to take advantage of this growth will need to secure MFT degrees and begin the licensure process. If you’re ready to get started, take a look at the sections below.

What is an MFT Degree?

An MFT degree is a degree that covers the broad area of study known as marriage and family therapy. Graduating from an MFT degree program typically allows you to seek marriage and family therapist licensure. The curriculum covers various topics including relationships, trauma, communication, and recovery. Usually, the program includes a certain number of classroom hours and clinical practicum hours to complete before graduation.

Why is COAMFTE MFT Accreditation Important?

As you begin your search for the right program, you’ll see indicators on the program’s website that communicate whether or not a program is accredited. Accreditation is essential for securing licensure. If your program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) or by CACREP (if the program is a counseling degree program), that means that it meets the state board’s minimum requirements and that you will be able to pursue licensure upon graduation.

Can I Get an MFT Degree Online in New Hampshire?

We live in an increasingly digital world, and education is no exception. Students who want to receive their MFT degree program online are free to do so with some stipulations. As with a traditional MFT degree program, you’ll likely still be required to fulfill your supervised clinical hours, and thus, you’ll probably need to be close to your program’s campus, even if a majority of your program is offered online. Some online MFT degree programs allow their students to complete their supervised hours in the community they live, though this option is not currently available to students in NH. As of now, the only MFT degree program available is the Ph.D. in Couples and Family Therapy offered by Antioch University (mentioned in the last section of this guide),

MFT Degree Levels

There are several degree levels available to those pursuing a career in marriage and family therapy, but generally speaking, the vast majority of these are master’s degree programs. This is because these are the quickest and most efficient degrees to obtain if licensure is the ultimate goal. If you’re looking to commit more time to your studies, you can pursue a graduate certificate or a doctorate degree. You may also come across MFT graduate certificate programs in your search, but these types of programs are geared toward students who already have a graduate degree and are already licensed.

Do I Need a GRE for an MFT Program?

It depends on the program. There are several MFT degree programs that require a GRE, but this trend is starting to die down, and instead, some MFT degree programs are using other methods to measure student success at the graduate level. Your prospective MFT degree program will have all of the admissions requirements (including whether or not a GRE is required to apply) listed on the program’s page.

Master's Degree in MFT

As mentioned, MFT master’s degrees are the most common MFT degree programs and take the least amount of time — typically only two years after your bachelor’s degree. These programs usually require the completion of 60 credit hours and cost an average of $29,676 in New Hampshire. Here are a few options available in New Hampshire:

University of New Hampshire: The University of New Hampshire offers a Master’s Degree in Human Development and Family Studies with an optional focus on Marriage and Family Therapy. This challenging program requires the completion of 72 credit hours and 500 hours of supervised clinical practice at on-campus clinical facilities. The University of New Hampshire also prides itself on its student success rates—97% of students enrolled in its marriage and family therapy program have passed, and 100% have gone on to pass the national exam.

Plymouth State University: Another great MFT master’s degree program offered in New Hampshire is the Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy offered by Plymouth State University. This 60-credit-hour program offers all of the necessary education to create a pathway for students to become licensed marriage and family therapists and seek an American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Clinical Fellow.

Graduate Certificate in MFT

If you already have your MFT licensure (or related clinical licensure) or your licensure isn’t a priority, MFT graduate certificates are a great option. These one-year non-degrees are typically geared toward individuals who are pursuing a non-MFT career but still want to receive some training in marriage and family therapy. MFT graduate certificates usually cost between $1,000 and $1,500, depending on the program. There is currently one option available for students pursuing an MFT graduate certificate program in New Hampshire:

Antioch University: The Couples and Family Therapy Post-Master’s Certificate offered by Antioch University is a great option for students who are looking for a challenging graduate certificate program offering a comprehensive insight into the interpersonal dynamics between family members, couples, and individuals. While most graduate certificate programs usually last about a year (or less), this program requires at least three semesters of dedication with the addition of 30 credit hours.

MFT Doctorate Degrees (Ph.D. or PsyD)

The final degree type offered in marriage and family therapy is an MFT doctorate degree. There are two different types. The first type is a PsyD, which trains students for clinical practice. The other, a Ph.D., is more geared towards research careers (though there will still be a large number of clinical hours required to graduate).

MFT doctorate degrees usually last between 4 years and 8 years, depending on the program and the amount of credit hours you’re allowed to transfer. You can expect to pay anywhere from $30,000 to several hundred thousand dollars in tuition. There is currently one MFT doctorate degree program available in New Hampshire:

Antioch University: Antioch University, which has multiple campuses across the country, offers a Ph.D. in Couples and Family Therapy at its Keane, NH location. This program offers a pathway to students looking to succeed as researchers, administrators, or educators in the marriage and family therapy field. While residency is an important part of an MFT doctoral program, students who want to get their doctorate degree faster may be attracted to Antioch University’s low-residency program, which only requires 15 days of in-person residency for the entire program, which can be completed on campus. The remainder of the curriculum can be completed online.

Becoming an LMFT in New Hampshire

Once you’ve completed your educational requirements, it’s time to complete your licensure requirements. New Hampshire has strict guidelines on MFT licensure that you’ll need to follow if you want to work in a clinical setting. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

• Education: Obtain a master’s or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy or a related field from a regionally accredited institution. Ensure your program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) or a similar accrediting body.
• Supervised Experience: Complete the required supervised clinical experience. In New Hampshire, this typically involves accruing 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience, including 1,000 hours of direct client contact. The supervision must be provided by a licensed mental health professional, preferably an LMFT.
• Examination: Pass the National Marital and Family Therapy Examination (NMFT Exam) administered by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB).
• Application: Submit an application for licensure to the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice. This usually includes providing transcripts, documentation of supervised experience, exam scores, and any other required documents.
• Background Check: Undergo a criminal background check.
• Fees: Pay the required application and licensure fees.
• Continuing Education: After obtaining licensure, fulfill 40 continuing education requirements every 2 years to maintain your license.

List of MFT Degree Programs in New Hampshire

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