Best MFT Programs in North Carolina Online

Marriage and family therapists (MFTs) are an important mental health resource to families, couples, and even individuals who are facing challenges in their relationships. Marriage and family therapists help these demographics through common situations that they face, such as familial trauma, abuse, and violence. North Carolina, like many other states, needs family therapists, especially in rural areas where mental health access is limited or unavailable. If you’re interested in becoming a marriage and family therapist, the first step is enrolling in an MFT degree program and getting licensed.

What is an MFT Degree?

Marriage and family therapy, or MFT for short, is a specialized focus area in the field of counseling/psychology. Students who enroll in MFT degree programs learn valuable skills that prepare them for careers as marriage and family therapists who help couples and families work through complicated challenges. This could include helping first-time parents work through anxieties that come along with having a child or helping an individual work through abuse or violence they may have faced in a relationship.

Why is COAMFTE MFT Accreditation Important?

If a program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) or by CACREP, it means that when a student graduates from it, they will be eligible for licensure. When applying to MFT degree programs (regardless of the level), they will need to be sure that their program is CACREP or COAMFTE-certified, or else it may not be approved by the state board.

Can I Get an MFT Degree Online in North Carolina?

Online MFT programs are becoming more popular as marriage and family therapy practitioners become more in demand. These programs allow students to balance their busy home or work schedules with their educational aspirations. Though none are currently offered in the State of North Carolina, you can still enroll in other states as long as you keep a few things in mind.

Because of the clinical practicum requirements associated with MFT licensure, it’s important to note that enrolling in an out-of-state online MFT program may limit your ability to practice in North Carolina or transfer licensure. You may also need to travel to the state where the program is based in order to fulfill these requirements. That being said, here are a few programs available in states that are close to North Carolina so that commuting or relocation will be easier to accomplish:

Liberty University: The Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy offered by Liberty University (located in Lynchburg, VA) has a focus on biblical counseling and can be completed 100% online. In-person requirements can be completed in the student’s hometown. If you have a particular interest in human sexuality or substance abuse therapy, Liberty University offers elective courses for each topic.

Campbellsville University: If you’re interested in learning the various fundamentals of marriage and family therapy, including the religion, spirituality, philosophy, classical and contemporary theory, social situation, media, biology, and knowledge that surround this unique field, Campbellsville University (located in Campbellsville, KY) offers a fantastic Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy based in Christian values. The program is accredited by COAMFTE and offers a path to licensure. The 60-credit-hour program has a delivery that includes approximately 50% of the academic coursework online with the remainder conducted in person.

Short Length MFT Programs in North Carolina

MFT degree programs range in length with doctorate degrees taking the longest and master’s degrees taking the shortest. If you’re looking to save time and money on your education and transition into the workforce as soon as possible, a master’s degree is a solid choice. These entry-level graduate degrees usually take around three years or less but you can find a few that are even shorter in North Carolina such as UNC Greensboro’s Master’s Degree in Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy Concentration, which only takes 2 years to complete.

Affordable MFT Programs in North Carolina

As discussed, MFT master’s degree programs save money, often because they’re much shorter in length compared to doctorate degrees, and thus, require less money. On average, you can expect to pay an average of $28,955 in tuition for a master’s degree in North Carolina. Some programs, however, offer a much lower than average tuition. Here are a few such examples:

MFT Degree Levels

Before you begin your search for the perfect MFT degree program, it’s important to get familiar with the various levels of degrees of MFT degrees. While undergraduate degrees such as bachelor’s degrees and associate’s degrees do exist for marriage and family therapy, the most common by far are MFT master’s degrees and doctorate degrees. The reason for this is that licensure is only available at these levels.

Do I Need a GRE for an MFT Program?

It depends on the program. While GRE test scores are helpful for gauging a student’s pre-graduate academic placement, many schools are deciding to utilize alternative measurements. The best way to find out if your prospective school requires a GRE is to look at the admissions page on their website.

Master's Degree in MFT

As mentioned, MFT master’s degrees are not hard to come by. They require two years and around 60 credits to complete the program. On average, North Carolina MFT master’s degree programs cost around $28,955 in tuition. These programs provide the basis for marriage and family therapy training and eventually lead to licensure. North Carolina, as a state, has many MFT master’s degree programs to choose from. Here are a few to consider:

East Carolina University: Located in Greensville, the Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy program offered by East Carolina University provides valuable insight into family dynamics and provides ample opportunity for clinical practice through their on-campus Family Therapy Clinic. As a student at East Carolina University, you will actively develop and utilize therapeutic methods as they relate to couples, families, and individuals in the Greenville community and the field of marriage and family counseling at large.

Appalachian State University: For students in the western part of the state, the Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy offered by Appalachian State University in Boone provides numerous opportunities to not only understand complex therapeutic methods within the marriage and family therapy sphere, but also take advantage of engaging hands-on experiences both in North Carolina and even abroad. This program offers the unique opportunity to travel to Berlin to study the historical treatment of LGBTQ+ people in Germany.

Graduate Certificate in MFT

For students who aren’t interested in becoming licensed or who have already achieved licensure, MFT graduate certificate programs offer a quick and affordable way to get a comprehensive look at the latest therapeutic techniques utilized in the world of marriage and family therapy. These programs usually take up to a year to complete and cost between $1,000 and $1,500. There is currently one marriage and family therapy graduate certificate program located in North Carolina:

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University: If you’re looking to get a general context into the therapeutic methods employed to help families and couples succeed in their relationships, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University offers a Marriage and Family Counseling Certificate program for students who are currently enrolled in a counselor education graduate degree program. This program requires the completion of 15 credit hours in-person at the university’s Greensboro campus.

MFT Doctorate Degrees (Ph.D. or PsyD)

MFT doctorate degree programs come in two different types. The first type is a PsyD, which is usually geared towards students who want to pursue clinical practice. The other type is a Ph.D., which generally focuses on theory and research (though there will be some level of clinical practice required to graduate). These programs take between four and eight years to complete and cost between $30,000 and $150,000+. There is currently one option offered in North Carolina for MFT doctorate degree programs:

East Carolina University: The Ph.D. in Medical Family Therapy offered at East Carolina University is a unique MFT Ph.D. program that is specifically developed to train students to become educators and policymakers in the field of marriage and family therapy. The program applies a special focus to the relationship between healthcare and marriage and family therapy.

Becoming an LMFT in North Carolina

Upon graduation, there are several more steps you’ll need to take in order to become licensed and practice as a marriage and family therapist in North Carolina. Each state has its own requirements for licensure, but in North Carolina you must:

• 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 meets the coursework requirements set by the North Carolina Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Board.
• Supervised Experience: Complete the required supervised clinical experience. In North Carolina, you need 1,500 hours of supervised clinical experience, including 1,000 hours of direct client contact. This must be completed over a period of at least two years.
• Exam: Pass the national examination administered by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB). This exam is commonly known as the National Examination in Marital and Family Therapy.
• Application: Submit an application for licensure to the North Carolina Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Board. This includes providing proof of education, supervised experience, examination results, and any other required documentation.
• Background Check: Undergo a criminal background check as part of the application process.
• Supervision: Ensure that your supervision during your postgraduate clinical experience meets the requirements outlined by the North Carolina Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Board.
• Ethics and Jurisprudence Exam: North Carolina requires candidates to pass an ethics and jurisprudence exam specific to the laws and regulations governing marriage and family therapy in the state.
• Continuing Education: After obtaining licensure, you’ll need to fulfill 20 continuing education hours to maintain your license.

List of MFT Degree Programs in North Carolina

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