Marriage and Family Therapist

This site identifies California's State licensure requirement.  These hours of experience must be gained prior to sitting for the licensure exam.

These requirements were applicable at the time of the latest update.
Check frequently for BBS updates.

At least 3000 hours of experience

No more than 750 hours can be gained as a Trainee (unless enrolled before 1995)

A minimum of 1700 hours gained subsequent to your degree

No more than 40 Hours can be gained per week

Licensure requires no less than 500 hours with families, children or couples.  These are often called relationship hours.

No more than 250 hours testing, writing reports or case notes can count in your 3000 total..

No more than 250 hours of telephone counseling can count.

No more than 500 hours providing group therapy

At least one hour of Individual supervision is required for 52 weeks

One hour of individual supervision or at least 2 hours of Group supervision for each week counted

No more than 5 hours of total supervision per week

For each setting Trainees need 1 hour of face to face supervision for every 5 hours of client contact

For each setting Interns need 1 hour of face to face supervision for every 10 hours of client contact

No more than 1000 hours may be gained in supervision and enrichment activities (seminars, received counseling, etc.)

All hours except 500 practicum hours must be received within 6 years of application date

Received psychotherapy must be by a California licensed provider.  The provider of received psychotherapy does not need to be licensed 2 years.  Received psychotherapy can total up to 100 hours but counts triple (300 experience hours)