Accelerated online marriage and family therapy (MFT) programs can help you prepare for marriage and family therapy roles in less time than many traditional programs. These degrees often use shorter course terms, year-round enrollment, transfer credits, or flexible online formats to support faster completion.
You may study family systems, couples counseling, human development, ethics, diagnosis, treatment planning, and cultural issues while completing supervised clinical hours in an approved setting. An accelerated format can be useful if you want a direct path toward licensure preparation.
Accelerated Online MFT Programs
Listed below are some of the popular schools that offer accelerated online MFT programs:
- Liberty University
- Regent University
- Grand Canyon University
- University of Massachusetts Global
- National University
- Touro University Worldwide
- The Chicago School
Liberty University
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
Liberty University’s 60-credit online Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy is designed to meet rules for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licensure. Students usually finish the program in 2 to 3 years.
Liberty University offers a generous transfer credit policy. You may transfer up to 50% of the required credits, which equals 30 credits for this program. If you began a graduate degree in marriage and family therapy at another school, you may be able to use those credits toward this degree and complete your studies sooner.
This marriage and family therapy program teaches key matters linked to practice as a licensed therapist. Your coursework includes legal issues, professional ethics, and basic counseling methods. You will also take courses in multicultural counseling, group counseling, and assessment methods.
Liberty University also requires a career development course to help prepare you for graduation and entry into the workforce. This course helps you review different ways to use your degree and define your professional goals.
Other coursework includes the following:
- Human Growth and Development
- Theories of Counseling
- Use of Spirituality in Counseling
- Program Evaluation
- Theories of Family Systems
You will also build knowledge in psychopathology, related research areas, and the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders within couples and family counseling. In addition, you will learn how to work with children and adolescents from a systems-based view.
You will practice the skills learned in class through a 100-hour practicum. This experience introduces you to professional counseling work. The curriculum places you in a clinical setting with a supervisor who helps you move from counseling student to counseling practitioner. This practicum may be completed in an approved setting in your own community, so you do not need to travel to campus for this requirement.
The 2-semester internship may also be completed in your community. The internship requires at least 600 hours. Of these hours, at least 240 must involve direct client contact in individual, couples, and family counseling.
The program also requires 2 on-campus intensive learning experiences. These sessions are usually held over a weekend or a full week. During these sessions, you can meet classmates and professors, receive guidance on improving your counseling methods, and practice counseling skills in a supervised setting. These intensive experiences take place before the practicum and internship.
Another required part of the program is the final program exam. This exam takes place near the end of the program and reviews your ability in several areas of marriage and family therapy. These areas include professional and ethical issues, counseling theories, and counseling methods.
Admission Requirements
You may apply to Liberty University at any time. Admission requirements for this program include the following:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.7 or higher for admission in good standing.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you have attended.
- Provide contact information for 2 references.
- Submit a personal statement.
- Agree to the program’s mission statement and diversity statement.
- Provide proof of English proficiency if English is not your first language.
Regent University
Master of Arts in Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling
Regent University’s Master of Arts in Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling is a 60-credit program offered on campus in Virginia Beach. It is also offered online with a required on-campus residency. In either format, you can complete the education needed for LMFT licensure.
As is common in graduate programs in this field, you will complete many required courses that cover key topics in marriage and family therapy. One example is the Orientation to the Counseling Profession course, which introduces you to important parts of working as a counselor. This includes:
- The history and philosophy of counseling.
- Your roles as a professional.
- Self-care matters.
- Building working relationships with other professionals.
- Information about credentials and professional groups.
This course also reviews therapy practice in different settings and with clients from many backgrounds.
Another basic course is Counseling Skills and Techniques. As the course title shows, this class helps you use counseling theories and methods in a practice-based clinical setting. Each week, you meet with a group of other counseling students to present and review video-recorded counseling sessions. In these sessions, each student works on basic counseling skills.
As you move through the program, you will take advanced courses. These courses include:
- Psychopathology and Diagnosis
- Assessment Techniques in Counseling
- Human Growth and Development
- Multicultural Counseling
- Career and Lifestyle Development
You must also complete fieldwork that gives you the professional experience required for graduation. This fieldwork begins with a practicum. During the practicum, you observe working marriage and family therapists in their work settings. You also have chances to work directly with clients while being supervised by your field placement mentor. In most cases, practicum work requires 100 or more hours, with about 40 hours in direct client contact.
The internship builds on the practicum and gives you more experience as a pre-service clinician. Like the practicum, the internship is supervised. You will have an onsite supervisor at your internship site. This supervisor reviews your performance, mentors you, and gives important feedback that helps you learn and grow as a therapist. You will also take part in regular supervision and consultation meetings with classmates and professors.
In this field, internships usually require at least 600 hours of training. To complete the internship, you must have at least 240 hours of direct client contact within those 600 hours.
If you are an online student, you may complete the required field experiences at approved sites in your local area. However, you must attend 2 week-long residencies on campus in Virginia Beach. The first residency focuses on networking and mentoring opportunities. The second residency provides detailed instruction in specific marriage, couple, and family counseling methods.
To apply, you must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you have attended.
- Complete an admissions questionnaire that asks about your professional goals and interests.
- Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
- Provide a copy of your government-issued ID.
The final part of the admission process is a faculty interview.
Grand Canyon University
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Marriage and Family Therapy
Grand Canyon University offers an online Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Marriage and Family Therapy. This program uses a different approach because it does not prepare you specifically for licensure as a marriage and family therapist. However, this clinical mental health counseling program meets the requirements for the Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) credential and the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential.
The program is structured into 8-week courses and typically takes about 24 to 36 months to complete, depending on your enrollment pace, transfer credits, and required practicum or internship hours.
The program focuses on common issues that couples and families may face in therapy. These issues include infidelity, juvenile delinquency, trust concerns, and communication problems. This training prepares you to help families and couples with many daily and mental health challenges through a family-centered method.
Through this program, you will build skills in assessing, diagnosing, and treating couples and families through a systems-based approach. This approach is often used in marriage and family therapy.
Your coursework includes several topics, such as:
- Introduction to Graduate Studies in Counseling
- Counseling Skills
- Principles of Psychopharmacology
- Diversity in Family Systems
- Couples and Family Dynamics
The program also includes basic courses that help you understand main therapy principles. These areas include human development, professional ethics, and aging-related issues. You will also take a course in Clinical Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment. This course prepares you to work well with couples and families facing different challenges.
You will have flexibility while completing this degree. Many required courses are offered online, and evening classes are also available on campus.
The program includes practical fieldwork through 2 hands-on experiences: a practicum and a 2-semester internship. The practicum helps you build clinical skills for working with couples, families, and individuals. It requires 100 hours of counseling work, including 40 hours of direct client contact.
The 2-semester internship includes 300 hours of counseling activities. Of these hours, 120 must involve direct client contact. This internship gives you more chances to use your clinical skills as you prepare for your career.
To apply, you need to meet these requirements:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- Have an undergraduate GPA of 2.8 or higher.
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended.
Additional materials may include letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and/or a resume or curriculum vitae.
University of Massachusetts Global
Online Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
The Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from UMass Global prepares you for work in this field in a way that is similar to the on-campus program described earlier. The main difference is that this program is offered online. Because of this format, you have more flexibility while completing degree requirements. This can make the program a strong option if work, family, or other duties keep you from attending an on-campus program.
This program follows a scholar-practitioner training model. Through one part of the program, you study counseling theories and methods that help build your knowledge and skills. Through another part, you learn how to use that knowledge and those skills through strong field-based training.
As a result of your studies, you will be prepared to:
- Use proven counseling methods to help clients with many types of challenges.
- Build skill in using clinical interventions.
- Understand how to work in an ethical manner.
- Show a clear commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Learn how to complete useful research that can help you improve as a practitioner.
This program requires 60 credits. Full-time students can finish it in 2 years. However, you have up to 7 years to complete all graduation requirements. This gives you flexibility to finish the program according to your own schedule.
No matter how long you take, your studies begin with a sequence of basic courses. These courses are meant to give you a clear understanding of what it means to work as a counselor.
One required course is History and Foundations of Therapeutic Practices. This class gives you background on how marriage and family therapy has changed over time. You will study major counseling theories, learn about common counseling practices, and review the possible future direction of this field.
You must also take Ethical and Professional Issues. This course is not limited to learning what counselors may or may not do. Instead, you study many professional issues, including your duty to report clients who may be a danger to themselves or others, basic continuing education requirements, and the process used to become licensed to practice.
Other topics studied during the foundational course stage include the following:
- Psychopathology and Diagnosis
- Family Therapy Theories and Techniques: A Modern Emphasis
- Couples Therapy
- Assessment and Treatment of Substance Abuse
- Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
The final foundational course is Advanced Individual Therapy I. Although this is a marriage and family therapy program, it is still important to understand how to hold one-on-one therapy sessions. In many cases, you may work with couples and families as a unit and then meet with each member individually, which makes this course important.
The next part of the program focuses on marriage and family therapy. You will still take broad-based courses, such as History and Foundations of Therapeutic Practices. You will also complete more focused coursework, including Couples Therapy, Clinical Assessment, and Psychopharmacology.
Many courses in this part of the program focus on both theory and practice. These include Family Therapy Theories and Techniques, Advanced Individual Therapy, and Theory and Practice of Group Therapy. Some courses also focus on specific methods, such as the course in Postmodern Family Therapy.
Like other programs that prepare students for licensure, this program requires major field training. You must complete at least 400 clinical training hours during the 12-month practicum experience. Of these hours, 300 must involve direct client contact, and 100 must involve clinical supervision. Of the 300 direct client contact hours, 100 must involve work with couples, families, or other relational dynamics.
You may apply to UMass Global at any time. Admission requirements include the following:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you have attended.
- Submit an autobiographical essay.
- Submit a signed ethical and responsibility statement form.
- Confirm that you have received the program handbook and the licensure limitation policy.
National University
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
The Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from National University is an online choice for students who cannot attend classes on campus in Arizona. This program was the first distance-based program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).
Online coursework is supported by fieldwork and supervised activities that can prepare you to seek licensure as a marriage and family therapist. The program is also accredited by the International Accreditation Commission for Systemic Therapy Education (IACSTE).
One major benefit of this program is that it can be adjusted to meet licensing rules in most states. The basic program requires 45 credits. However, if the state where you plan to work requires a 60-credit degree, you may take added courses to meet that rule.
The basic curriculum includes standard marriage and family therapy courses, which are delivered online. The early courses include Foundations for Graduate Study in Marriage and Family Therapy, Treatment Planning and Traditional Family Therapy, and Recovery-Oriented Care and Postmodern Family Therapy. These courses help you build a strong base in marriage and family therapy ideas before you move into later program work.
The next set of classes is called fundamental courses. In these courses, you study a wider set of topics with more detail. These topics include the following:
- Cultural Diversity, Gender, and Family Development
- Couple and Sex Therapy
- Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice
- Human Development and Family Dynamics Across the Lifespan
- Legal, Ethical and Professional Development in Marriage and Family Therapy
You also add coursework in Psychopathology, Diagnosis, and Systemic Treatment. In addition, you must complete at least 2 specialization courses. These courses help you build skills for working with particular marriage and family therapy groups. You may choose from the following:
- Child and Adolescent Therapy
- Couple Therapy
- General Family Therapy
- Medical Family Therapy
- Military Family Therapy
- Systemic Sex Therapy
- Systemic Treatment of Addictions
- Trauma-Informed Systemic Therapy
After completing your coursework, you move into the fieldwork part of the program. You complete a 2-part practicum, a 2-part internship, and a final internship and capstone course. All fieldwork hours may be completed at an approved site in your own community.
The practicum and internship have different purposes. During the practicum, you focus on building the basic skills needed for clinical therapy work. You also study ethical issues, telehealth, and ways to improve your understanding of systemic thought and its use in clinical cases.
You may also begin earning direct client contact hours during the practicum. By the end of the program, you must complete 300 direct client contact hours. At least 150 of those hours must be completed in a relational setting with families or couples.
The internship focuses more on helping you form your own personal theory of therapy and improve your therapy skills. During this stage, you work more often with couples, families, and individuals. You will likely complete your internship at the same site as your practicum, but you may also choose another approved site to complete these hours.
You must also complete a capstone presentation. In this presentation, you reflect on your learning and include feedback received through supervision.
Applications are accepted and reviewed throughout the year. Classes begin each month, so you may be able to start the program as soon as the month after your application is accepted. To apply, you must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree.
- Submit a resume.
- Submit a detailed licensure plan.
- Take part in a one-on-one interview with a marriage and family therapy faculty member.
- Complete a background check before starting your first course.
Touro University Worldwide
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
Another online option available is the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Touro University Worldwide. This COAMFTE-accredited program provides 100% online coursework and does not require campus visits. Each class lasts only 8 weeks, which allows you to complete courses at a faster pace while taking fewer classes at one time.
The Marriage and Family Clinical Track is the option that best prepares you for future work as a therapist in this field. This track requires 72 credits, and students usually complete it in about 3 years of full-time study. Like other programs in this area, Touro’s program requires several courses and multiple field training experiences.
Your studies begin with Contemporary Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy. This course focuses on the systems approach to therapy and is taught from a therapeutic point of view. The class material is closely connected to real therapy work. As you move through the course, you use case studies, role-playing, vignettes, and other teaching tools that make the learning more practical.
Another required early course is Foundations of Psychopathology. This class is important because it gives background on common psychological problems that affect systems-based relationships. For example, you study childhood conditions such as ADHD, along with common mental health conditions such as personality disorders and mood disorders.
Other courses in the first semesters include:
- Couples Counseling
- Child-Focused Family Therapy
- Development Within the Family Life Cycle
- Psychopharmacology
- Society, Culture, and Gender: A Multicultural Approach
The program also includes research study. The Research Methodology course reviews main research methods and statistics, giving you a general view of how research is completed in the social sciences. You learn how to plan and complete research, as well as how to judge whether the research process is effective. You also learn why reading and using research carefully can support your professional practice.
Many required courses address age-related or systems-related concerns. For example, Substance Abuse and Recovery teaches you how to assess, diagnose, and treat clients with substance use disorders. You also learn how to support spouses, children, and other family members of a person who uses drugs.
Another example is Aging, Illness, and Long-Term Care Solutions. This course prepares you to help families manage end-of-life concerns involving older loved ones. You receive planned training on age-related issues and study both chronic and acute health problems that may disturb family relationships.
Additional coursework required for the program includes:
- Treatment of Trauma in Families
- Ethics and Law for Marriage and Family Therapy
- Adolescent-Focused Family Therapy
- Studies in Communication
- Human Sexuality
The final major part of the program is the clinical practicum, which includes 6 courses. You must complete at least 300 client contact hours during the practicum. These hours are completed under direct supervision from an experienced marriage and family therapist. Since this is an online program, Touro University works with you to find a suitable practicum site near your hometown.
To apply, you must create a Touro University account and complete the graduate admission application. You must also meet these requirements:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or higher.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you have attended.
How Long Does It Take to Complete an Online MFT Degree?
An MFT degree usually requires 2 to 3 years of full-time study for completion. Most programs consist of 60 credit hours. These programs often also include required internship hours. MFT graduate programs typically require a minimum of approximately 60 credit hours.
Do I Need a GRE For an MFT Program?
Some MFT programs may ask you to complete the GRE as part of the admissions process to show your academic standing from undergraduate study. However, this is not always required. Depending on the program, a school may ask for other materials instead of GRE scores, such as an essay, GPA, or special projects.
What is the Best Degree for Becoming an LMFT?
The best degree for becoming an LMFT is a Master of Arts or Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therap. This specialized degree is specifically designed to meet your state’s educational and clinical training requirements for LMFT licensure.
How Much Does an LMFT Make?
As of May 2026, the average salary for an LMFT is $96,575 per year. More experienced LMFTs make well over $130,000 per year.
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