Best MFT Programs in North Dakota Online
Mental health practitioners are in high demand across the country, and North Dakota is no exception. The state’s expansive rural landscapes and tiny communities with little access to mental health resources make it the perfect state for students looking to begin a career as a marriage and family therapist (MFT) – a mental health practitioner who specializes in helping families, couples, and individuals who need help navigating their relationships and various life challenges. To become a marriage and family therapist, you’ll need to graduate from an MFT degree program.
What is an MFT Degree?
MFT degrees (short for marriage and family therapy degrees) are awarded to students who have graduated from a master’s or doctorate degree program, which has trained them to become licensed practitioners in the marriage and family therapy sphere. These programs help students understand the complex problems that affect couples and families, such as substance abuse, violence, parenting issues, communication failure, or boundaries, and develop therapeutic solutions to navigate them.
Why is COAMFTE MFT Accreditation Important?
As you begin to weigh your educational options, remember that double-checking accreditation is as almost as important as receiving the degree itself. If your program is not accredited, you will not be eligible for licensure, and potential employers may not recognize your degree. The main accrediting bodies for marriage and family therapy degree programs are the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) and CACREP. Approval from one of these two accrediting bodies ensures that your program meets the minimum requirements set forth by the state board.
Can I Get an MFT Degree Online in North Dakota?
Because no MFT degree programs are currently based in North Dakota, online MFT degrees are one of the best options for those who want to enroll in one. However, you will likely still need to relocate to the area where your program is based if you aren’t licensed yet and want to work in a clinical setting. The primary reason for this is that MFT graduate certificate programs require that you fulfill a certain number of clinical practice hours to graduate. These almost always need to be completed in person and in the state where you are enrolled. Once you graduate, you’ll also need to transfer your licensure back to North Dakota if you want to practice there. Here are the closest online MFT degree programs to North Dakota:
Colorado Christian University: If you’re looking for a biblical approach to marriage and family therapy, you may be interested in Colorado Christian University’s online Master’s in Counseling focusing on Marriage and Families. Students can complete this program entirely online apart from three in-person clinical sessions located in Lakewood, CO.
Mount Mercy University: Located in Cedar Rapids, IA, this MFT master’s degree program has a strong focus on neuroscience, which sets it apart from many other similar MFT programs. Mount Mercy University also has its very own on-site therapeutic clinic dedicated to treating couples, families, and individuals in the Cedar Rapids community, where students can take part in their required clinical arrangements. Apart from these in-person requirements, the bulk of Mount Mercy’s program is accessible through its online format.
MFT Degree Levels
Though there are several different types of MFT degree programs available nationwide, as of now, there are none available in North Dakota. However, this doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to practice as a marriage and family therapist in North Dakota – it just means you’ll have to do a little more work to get licensed in North Dakota.
The first step is to apply to MFT degree programs in another state. The most common of these is a master’s degree, which is the minimum requirement for licensure, followed by doctorate degrees. Graduate certificates are also available to students who aren’t planning on getting licensed or have already become licensed as mental health practitioners. These are technically not degrees, but they provide valuable insight for students with specific career goals.
Do I Need a GRE for an MFT Program?
A GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is a tool used by some graduate programs to measure a student’s placement at various academic levels. A GRE is required by many MFT graduate degree programs though not all. The programs that you apply to will have information on GRE requirements in the admissions section of their website.
Master's Degree in MFT
If you’re looking for the quickest and most affordable track to licensure, you’ll likely want to go with an MFT master’s degree program. These programs take around two years and 60 credits to complete, with each credit costing between $400 and $800. The curriculum will give you all of the necessary training you’ll need in order to become licensed and practice as a marriage and family therapist. As mentioned, MFT degrees at all levels are absent from North Dakota, but you can find them either online or in neighboring states. If you’re looking for the easiest options for relocation, here are a few of the closest MFT master’s degree programs to North Dakota:
South Dakota State University: Located in Brookings, SD, South Dakota State University offers a Master of Science in Counseling and Human Resource Development specializing in Marriage and Family Counseling. This program is perfect for students who not only want to study therapeutic methods as they relate to families and couples but also actively work to create and develop new strategies and methods to incorporate in their own clinical practice.
St. Cloud State University: St. Cloud University (located in St. Cloud, MN) offers a challenging and extensive Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy program that prides itself on an intimate 5:1 student-teacher ratio and a rigorous curriculum. While most MFT master’s degree programs require clinicals in the second year, one of the defining aspects of this program is opportunities for clinical work during both years. During their first year, students have a supervised practicum experience at their on-campus training clinic, and in their second year, students engage in a supervised, year-long community internship.
Graduate Certificate in MFT
MFT graduate certificates are not technically degrees, but depending on your educational and career goals, they might be preferable to you over an MFT degree. These programs typically run for about a year (or less) and cost between $1,000 and $1,500. Though they won’t lead to licensure if you already have licensure in another mental health practice and want to be more well-rounded in your education, MFT certificates provide extra context on issues relating to families and couples.
As mentioned, these programs don’t exist in North Dakota, but you can find them online or in nearby states. Because they don’t usually lead to licensure, you may not even have to relocate to complete them online. If you are open to relocating, here are a few programs located nearby:
Family Therapy Training Institute: Aurora Healthcare’s Family Therapy Training Institute (located in Milwaukee) offers a post-graduate certificate in family therapy. Unlike typical graduate certificates, this program lasts two years and is only available to students who have graduated from a clinical mental health master’s degree program. Additionally, the program leads to licensure through over 500 hours of clinical supervision (you will need an additional 500 to be eligible for MFT licensure in Wisconsin).
St. Cloud University: Students interested in gaining a strong background in marriage and family therapy outside of licensure can enroll in St. Cloud University’s Marriage and Family Therapy Graduate Certificate. This program offers instruction by doctorate-level faculty members and a strong focus on diversity and multiculturalism.
MFT Doctorate Degrees (Ph.D. or PsyD)
If you’re going to relocate to another state for your MFT education, you may want to consider investing some extra time and completing your doctorate degree instead of settling on a master’s degree. These programs take between four and eight years to finish but you’ll be getting the highest possible level of education that a marriage and family therapist can achieve. This translates to higher pay and a wider client base.
MFT doctorate degrees come in two different types — a Ph.D., which is focused on research and education, and PsyDs, which are more geared toward students who want to exclusively practice in a clinical setting. Both programs cost anywhere from $30,000 to several hundred thousand in total tuition. Here are a few programs located close to South Dakota:
University of Iowa: This Ph.D. in Couple and Family Therapy offered by the University of Iowa is perfect for students looking to enter into both research and clinical roles in the marriage and family specialization. The program is focused on applying a responsive therapeutic approach to systemic deficits found in the mental health field.
University of Minnesota: The University of Minnesota currently offers the only Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy in the State of Minnesota. The program is primarily focused on research and education, but there is a significant clinical portion throughout the duration of the study. Applicants must have master’s level clinicals completed.
Becoming an LMFT in North Dakota
Once you have your educational goals lined up, it’s important to also be aware of licensure requirements in North Dakota if you plan on practicing here. There are a number of steps you’ll need to take:
- Education: Obtain a master’s or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.
- Supervised Experience: Accumulate a certain number of supervised clinical hours. In North Dakota, you need at least 3,000 hours of post-graduate supervised experience, with 1,500 hours of direct client contact. This must be completed within a period of at least two years.
- Examination: Pass the national licensing exam for marriage and family therapists. In North Dakota, this is the Examination in Marital and Family Therapy (EMFT) administered by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB).
- Jurisprudence Exam: North Dakota requires a jurisprudence exam to ensure you understand the laws and regulations governing the practice of marriage and family therapy in North Dakota.
- Application: Submit an application for licensure to the North Dakota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy. This may include providing transcripts, verification of supervised experience, examination scores, and any other required documentation.
- Background Check: Undergo a criminal background check.
- Fees: Pay the required application and licensing fees.
- License Maintenance: In order to maintain your license, you’ll need to renew it every two years. To do this, you’ll also need to complete 40 hours of continuing education hours before renewing.