Marriage & Family Therapy Licensure in Oregon
How to Become a Marriage and Family Therapist in Oregon
The basic requirements for licensing as a Marriage and Family Therapist are:
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Review of academic education
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Post-master's supervised clinical experience
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Passage of a national competency exam
Graduates with a master's degree in marriage, couple, and family counseling are eligible for dual licensure as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) in the State of Oregon. Graduates apply to become professional counselor associates and/or marriage and family therapist associates with the . The OBLPCT is the authority for licensing requirements.
Review the OBLPCT website for detailed information about the required academic education, post-graduation supervised clinical experience and national competency exam. Requirements for accrual of supervised hours, criminal records background check/fingerprinting and national exam toward the professional counselor license (LPC) and marriage & family therapy license (LMFT) can be found on .
Licensure Process
for MCFC (Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling) Graduates
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After graduation, become a Registered Associates with the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists (OBLPCT). You must provide the board with transcripts verifying your graduation. You will pay a fee, complete a background check, and provide fingerprints.
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Identify your supervisor and have your supervisor approved by OBLPCT. Frequently, for graduates who begin work in an agency or clinic after graduation, a work supervisor or colleague serves as their supervisor for post-graduation clinical experience.
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Complete a total of 1,900 hours of graduate and postgraduate supervised clinical experience ("direct client contact hours") with individual clients, couples and families over a period of at least three years. At least 750 of those 1,900 hours must be working with couples and families.
Up to 400 of those 1,900 hours may be counted from pre-graduation internship hours. These hours completed during the clinical portion of the degree program start the clock on the three-year period, and graduates typically complete this requirement within two to three years after graduation.
Note that all hours must be supervised by a supervisor trained in the systemic approach and meeting the OBLPCT requirements.
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Take and pass a board-approved competency exam.
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After passing a board-approved competency exam, take and pass the Oregon law and rules exam.
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Apply for your LMFT license.
Washington
Graduates with a master's degree in marriage, couple, and family counseling are also eligible for dual licensure in the state of Washington. To apply to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (LMFTA) in Washington, see the application packet on .
Other States
Each state has its own requirements for education and clinical experience in order to become licensed. This Licensure by State Guide for LMFT licensure can help you get the licensure process started in any of the 50 states in the United States of America. Students are advised to keep copies of all course syllabi for course verification with out-of-state licensing boards.
Questions?
Kelly Peterson
Admissions Counselor, Graduate Counseling Programs