Arkansas Marriage and Family Therapist Licensure

Learn how to earn your MFT licensure in AR

Below are basic guidelines for those wishing to earn their marriage and family therapist licensure in Arkansas. These procedures rarely change; however, it is wise to contact the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy at (870) 901-7055 to make sure you are on the right track.

Follow these steps to earn your Arkansas MFT License:

Step One:

Arkansas requires a masters degree in marriage and family therapy from an approved school in order to become an Arkansas Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) or Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT).

Or request information from additional schools offering Marriage and Family Therapy programs in Arkansas. If you have not completed a bachelor's degree program yet, Click Here.

Step Two:

The next requirement toward earning an Arkansas MFT license is to complete 3 years of supervised, full-time experience in marriage and family counseling. Thirty graduate semester hours past the masters degree can count towards one year of experience with a maximum of two years completed in this way.

A Licensed Associate MFT does not need to complete these hours for licensure and therefore can only practice under supervision once licensed. More info can be found under the instructions for completing the application link on the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy website.

Step Three:

The next step is to download and complete the general application. The application can be found on the following Arkansas Board of Examiner in Marriage and Family Therapy webpage.

In addition to the general application you will need to turn in a statement about the nature of work you will be focusing on, 3 letters of recommendation, and documentation of supervised professional experience. It is also helpful to download the Licensure Application Checklist that can also be found through the link located in the previous paragraph.

Step Four:

Finally, you will need to successfully pass the Arkansas LMFT examination offered through the Professional Exam Services (PES). The written exam will need to be passed before you can take the oral exam.

You will find more information regarding testing locations, times and examination content on the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Board's (AMFTRB) website.

Step Five:

Renewal: Once you receive your license you will need to renew it every other year.

You can now renew your Arkansas Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) license online. More information can be found here.

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