Associate Marriage and Family Therapist Licensure Requirements Snapshot

Pennsylvania Licensure Requirements

A Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT) is an individual who is gaining the supervised clinical experience required to become a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT). Practice as a LAMFT involves applying therapeutic techniques to assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders under the supervision of an approved licensed supervisor. It includes evaluating disorders within significant relationships and providing therapy to individuals, couples, families, and groups.

Degree Requirement:

Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree

Applicants must hold a Master's or Doctoral degree in Marriage and Family Therapy or a closely related field from an accredited educational institution. See 49 Pa. Code § 48.1 (Definitions - Field closely related to the practice of marriage and family therapy).

Closely related fields are: 

Examination Requirement: 

There is no examination requirement for licensure as a LAMFT.

However, once your application is determined to be complete, you will receive an email from the Board with instructions on how to register for the Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards. Successfully passing this exam is required to become a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

Supervision Requirement:

Applicants for the LAMFT license must submit a supervision plan, including the credentials of their supervisor(s).

Supervision Plan Checklist

 You must submit a supervision plan that includes:

•   The name of each employer and location where client contact and supervision will occur.
•   A detailed job description for your duties at each location.

Find the full listing of conditions for acceptable supervised clinical experience.

Qualifications for Supervisors

To qualify for and obtain licensure as a LAMFT, you must submit for board review, the curriculum vitae/resume for each qualified supervisor, detailing their employment or unemployment history from graduation to the present, in chronological order, including the name, city, and state of each employer, dates of employment or education, and a description of their practice activity.

At least half of the required supervision hours shall be overseen by a licensed MFT who is certified as an approved supervisor or supervisor-in-training by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).

The remaining hours may be supervised by either an MFT with AAMFT certification or a licensed professional with a master’s degree in a related field and at least 5 years of experience within the last 10 years.

Supervisors must meet the qualifications and standards outlined in the Board regulations:

• 49 Pa. Code § 48.1  (Definitions)
• 49 Pa. Code § 48.3  (Qualifications for supervisors)
• 49 Pa. Code § 48.13 (Licensed MFT)
• 49 Pa. Code § 48.14 (Standards for supervisors)

For more detailed information, please refer to the specific sections of the regulations.

Note: The Board will not review an individual's LAMFT application until all required materials are received, including the supervision plan and the supervisor’s credentials.

Continuing Education:

3 Hours

Applicants must complete 3 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting for initial licensure.

After completing the required course, the provider will send notice of completion to the Board. Find a list of approved child abuse education providers.

Initial Licensing Fee: 

$75.00 - Application fee

Licensure Renewal Fee:

$95.00 - Biennial renewal of license

Age Requirement:

Applicants for licensure must be at least 21 years of age.