Best MFT Programs in Oklahoma Online

Psychology and counseling students can enter into many types of specializations to narrow their focus on a particular type of therapy or demographic. One type of specialization is marriage and family therapy (MFT). This area of focus specializes in working with families and couples to overcome common challenges that affect their lives. If you’re ready to start your next career move, you’ll first need to graduate from an MFT graduate degree program.

What is an MFT Degree?

An MFT degree, otherwise known as a marriage and family therapy degree, is a psychology or counseling degree that specializes in marriage and family therapy. The degree covers strategies to help families and couples work through common issues such as a death in the family, parenting skills, or a loss of passion in a relationship.

Why is COAMFTE MFT Accreditation Important?

In order to become licensed as a marriage and family therapist, the program you graduate from must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) or CACREP (in cases where the degree is considered a counseling degree). This ensures that the program meets the state board’s requirements for licensure.

Can I Get an MFT Degree Online in Oklahoma?

Online programs have become increasingly popular among the next generation of marriage and family therapists. Online MFT programs usually provide most or some of their curriculum online and allow students to take classes and complete coursework in their spare time. However, if licensure is your goal, you’ll need to consider what effect online MFT programs will have on your licensure eligibility.

As Oklahoma does not currently host their own online MFT degree options, you will need to travel out of state or relocate to the state where your program is based to complete your licensure requirements. This means you will also need to transfer your licensure back to Oklahoma upon graduation. To make this transition easier, here are a few online MFT degree options based in states near Oklahoma:

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 with a focus on Marriage and Families. Students can complete this program entirely online apart from three in-person clinical sessions located in Lakewood, CO.

University of Louisiana: The University of Louisiana offers a rigorous Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy, which combines philosophy and theory, clinical practice, and qualitative and quantitative research to present a comprehensive approach to training future marriage and family therapy educators, researchers, and clinicians in this exciting field. This program is available fully online if you are pursuing a non-clinical Ph.D. (versus their clinical Systems Focus MFT Ph.D.).

MFT Degree Levels

There are several different levels of degrees that focus on marriage and family therapy. While MFT undergraduate degrees are offered to students, you must graduate from either a master’s or doctorate degree program to become licensed as a marriage and family therapist. Some schools also offer a graduate certificate in marriage and family therapy, but these are typically reserved for students who already have a graduate degree in a clinical mental health area.

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 their pre-graduate education. However, this style of assessment is becoming less and less common. Schools like Oklahoma State University do not require students to submit a GRE, and instead, focus on a holistic review of applicants’ qualifications and experiences. 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

If you’re looking to get licensed as a marriage and family therapist in the quickest amount of time, you’ll probably want to go with an MFT master’s degree program. These types of programs only last around two years with around 60 credits to graduate. In terms of cost, you’ll be paying an average of $19,380 for your master’s degree program in Oklahoma. Oklahoma has many options for MFT master’s degrees available in the state. Here are a few to consider:

Oklahoma State University: Located in Stillwater, Oklahoma State University offers an expansive Master’s of Human Development and Family Sciences with a focus on Marriage and Family Therapy. This program trains students on everything they need to know to become licensed as marriage and family therapists and become successful in the field. The program requires 60 credit hours along with 400 in-person clinical hours to be completed at their on-campus clinic. Part-time students will not be admitted.

University of Central Oklahoma: The University of Central Oklahoma offers a Master’s Degree in Family and Child Studies with a focus on Marriage and Family Therapy. This program is designated to guide students to MFT licensure, but it also gives them a wide range of context in the study of interpersonal relationships and family dynamics.

Graduate Certificate in MFT

For some, MFT graduate certificates are a viable option for their specific career or educational goals. These non-degree programs are usually geared toward those who already have a master’s or doctorate degree and who are already licensed in a clinical mental health practice, as they don’t offer licensure on their own. One of the many benefits of MFT graduate certificate programs is that they only take a year to complete and cost between $1,000 and 1,500. There is currently one option available in Oklahoma:

Oklahoma Baptist University: If you’re interested in exploring the unique relationship between medical practice and therapeutic family practice, Oklahoma Baptist University offers a Medical Family Therapy Certificate. The program is open to any student currently enrolled in a marriage and family therapy graduate degree program or a master’s-level clinician.

MFT Doctorate Degrees (Ph.D. or PsyD)

If you want to go beyond the initial training that comes with becoming a marriage and family therapist, consider enrolling in an MFT doctorate degree program. These degrees usually last between 4 and 8 years and come in two different types — a PsyD, which focuses on clinical practice, and a Ph.D., which is more geared towards researchers and educators. On average, you can expect to pay between $30,000 and $300,000 for your MFT doctorate education.

As of now, there are no MFT doctorate degree programs based in Oklahoma; however, you can find these programs available online or in nearby states. Here are a few MFT doctorate programs in close proximity to Oklahoma:

Texas Tech University: The Couple, Marriage, and Family Therapy PhD offered by Texas Tech University is a fully accredited program located in Lubbock, TX, that offers an affordable and expansive doctoral experience for MFT-focused students. Texas Tech’s program speaks for itself: Students who graduated from its MFT doctoral program have had a 100% success rate on the licensure exam for the last seven years.

Kansas State University: Kansas State University offers a Couples and Family Therapy Ph.D. program, which builds on the education students received in their MFT master’s degree program to expand on the most current and effective couples and family therapeutic methods. This degree program is perfect for students who want to go on to become clinicians, educators, and community leaders in this important psychological field.

Becoming an LMFT in Oklahoma

Following the completion of your MFT degree program, you’ll also need to seek licensure if your plan is to practice in a clinical setting. Here’s what you’ll need to know about licensure in Oklahoma:

• Education: Obtain a master’s or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy or a closely related field from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) or a regionally accredited institution.
• Supervised Experience: Complete the required supervised clinical experience. In Oklahoma, this typically involves accumulating 1,000 hours of postgraduate supervised clinical experience, with at least 200 hours of direct client contact.
• Examination: Pass the National Examination in Marriage and Family Therapy administered by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB). You will also need to pass the jurisprudence exam which tests your knowledge of state regulations.
• Application: Submit an application for licensure to the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health (OSBBH). This may include providing documentation of your education, supervised experience, examination scores, and any other required materials.
• Background Check: Undergo a criminal background check.
• Fees: Pay the required application and licensure fees.
• Continuing Education: After obtaining licensure, you’ll need to keep up to date with the latest MFT methods to maintain your licensure. This will require taking at least 20 hours of continuing education hours every year.

List of MFT Degree Programs in Oklahoma

Are we missing your school's program or need to update information listed? Please contact us so we can make the necessary changes.