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Marriage and family therapists are state licensed mental health professionals who provide evidence-based, solution-focused therapies for individuals, couples, and families. The work of marriage and family therapists is done within the context of the family. It addresses relationship dynamics and is designed with clear goals in mind that can usually be achieved in a relatively short period of time.
Minnesota’s licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) work in a variety of mental health settings, including major health systems like the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, governmental agencies like Central Minnesota Mental Health Center in Saint Cloud, and private mental health centers like the Minnesota Center for Psychology in Saint Paul.
If you want to learn how to become a marriage and family therapist in Minnesota, you’ll want to start with looking into education and state licensing requirements:
To become an LMFT in Minnesota, you’ll need to earn a master’s or doctorate degree offered through a school that holds basic institutional accreditation. Though state law doesn’t require the program itself to hold specialty accreditation, it’s never a bad idea to consider programs that hold this sort of national recognition for quality curriculum. Two agencies specialize in accrediting these types of programs: Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
| MFT Educational Track | Education Requirements | Education Length | Available Programs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Work | Earn a Bachelor's Degree in Counseling | 4 Years | Online or Campus |
| Graduate Work | Earn a Master's Degree in Counseling | 5-6 Years | Online or Campus |
| PHD or Doctoral Work | Earn a Doctorate in Counseling | 7-8 Years | Online or Campus |
Your degree will also include a practicum of at least 300 hours, 150 of which must be working directly with individuals.
An increasing number of accredited MFT graduate programs are now offered in a hybrid/blended or online format, thereby providing busy, working professionals with a convenient and flexible route to becoming an LMFT.
If you currently hold a master’s degree or higher in a related field like psychology, social work, psychiatric nursing, or ministry, you may also meet the educational requirements for licensure through a non-standard process by completing a post-graduate training program in marriage and family therapy.
FIND SCHOOLS Sponsored ContentOnce you graduate from an accredited program in marriage and family therapy, you’ll need to complete 4,000 hours of post graduate supervised experience, 1,000 hours of which must include face-to-face clinical contact that includes the assessment diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness and cognitive, emotional, and behavioral disorders and at least 500 hours must include work with couples, families, or other relational groups.
Once you’ve completed this required course of experience, you’ll apply for licensure with the Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy and pay an application fee of $143.25. You must apply for initial licensure within six months of completing your post-graduate supervised experience.
Once the Board approves your application, you’ll be able to schedule and take the national exam developed by the Association of Marital & Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB).
Upon passing the AMFTRB exam, you’ll earn a Minnesota state license to practice as a family and marriage therapist.
Between 2020 and 2030, the number of jobs among marriage and family therapists in Minnesota is projected to increase by 15% - that’s slightly higher than the national projected growth rate of 14% among marriage and family therapists during this time (2019-2029). During this ten-year period leading to 2030, the state expects to see about 170 annual job openings in the profession due to a combination of new job growth, retirements, and natural job turnover.
As of May 2022, Minnesota marriage and family therapists earned a median salary of $65,960, which is much higher than the national median of $56,570 for this profession. The highest earners in Minnesota (75 th – 90 th percentile) earned about $83,500 - $98,160 during this time.
As you explore the career of a marriage and family therapist, you may also be interested in learning more about similar professions and their earning potential in Minnesota:
