How to Get Your AMFT License in California
Want to become an AMFT therapist in California? You’re beginning a rewarding professional experience that needs dedication, education, and well-laid-out clinical experience.
You must meet specific requirements to practice as an AMFT therapist associate. What is an AMFT? An Associate Marriage and Family Therapist works in clinical settings like hospitals and private practices. They help patients with behavioral and mental disorders of all types. The path to becoming an AMFT therapist starts with a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy. You’ll also need to complete up to 3,000 supervised clinical hours in California. Some programs help you achieve 225 of these hours during your graduate studies.
The licensing process can feel overwhelming at times. Each step needs careful planning – from selecting an accredited program to finding quality supervision. This guide walks you through the steps to get your AMFT license in California. You’ll find expert tips to help you succeed in your therapeutic career.
What is an AMFT Therapist?
The path to becoming a licensed therapist starts with learning about the role of an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) in California. Let’s get into what this position involves, how it is different from full licensure, and where these professionals work.
Definition and role of an AMFT
An AMFT is a mental health counseling professional who has completed their master’s degree in counseling or a related field. They work to get supervised clinical experience needed for full licensure. This stage helps recent graduates practice while they build experience to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).
As an AMFT, your main focus has:
- Improving relationships between family members
- Creating and implementing unique therapy plans for individual patients
- Addressing various mental health issues in a clinical setting
AMFTs provide therapy services to individuals, couples, and families under the supervision of licensed professionals. This setup helps them develop skills in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning while using therapeutic techniques in real-life settings.
How AMFTs differ from LMFTs
AMFTs and LMFTs have key differences in their licensure status and professional freedom. Both provide similar therapeutic services, but LMFTs are fully licensed professionals who have met all requirements and passed their exams.
AMFTs must work under supervision until they get their LMFT license. This requirement exists because AMFTs still need to complete their supervised clinical experience – usually 3,000 hours in California, with 1,500 hours of direct client contact.
LMFTs have more professional freedom and responsibility. They can diagnose and treat patients independently for various relational issues and mental health concerns. AMFTs can’t diagnose or treat clients on their own – they must provide therapy under licensed professionals’ direction and approval.
Where AMFTs typically work
AMFTs work in structured environments where licensed supervisors are easy to find. The data shows AMFTs often work in:
- Individual and family services agencies (approximately 27% of AMFTs)
- Offices of other health practitioners (around 28%)
- Clinics and hospitals
- Private practices (under supervision)
- Mental health centers
- Community health settings
AMFTs can’t start their own private practice until they become licensed LMFTs. These structured environments give them the setup they need to get supervised experience. During this time, they work with clients of all backgrounds who have various behavioral and mental disorders.
The AMFT role is a vital step in your therapeutic career. You can use your academic knowledge while getting hands-on experience from experienced professionals – this prepares you for independent practice as an LMFT.
Step 1: Complete the Required Education
Starting your career as an AMFT therapist requires solid educational preparation. This significant step needs careful planning to select academic programs that line up with California’s licensure requirements.
Bachelor’s degree prerequisites
Your trip to becoming an AMFT therapist starts with a bachelor’s degree. Marriage and family therapy graduate programs favor applicants who studied psychology, sociology, or human development. All the same, your undergraduate major doesn’t need to match these fields exactly if you show interest and experience in helping professions.
A strong graduate school application should include:
- Work experience in healthcare, education, or community outreach
- Time spent volunteering with mental health service organizations
- Internships in related fields
A bachelor’s degree is needed to provide counseling services. Some students start with an associate’s degree in psychology or related fields as a first step.
Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy
The next vital step after your bachelor’s degree is earning a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy or a related field. California requires these specific criteria for graduate programs:
- At least 60 semester units or 90 quarter units
- Detailed coursework in psychotherapeutic orientations related to marriage and family therapy (minimum 12 semester or 18 quarter units)
- Practicum experience with direct client contact (minimum 6 semester or 9 quarter units)
- 150 hours of face-to-face counseling experience with individuals, couples, families, or groups
- 75 additional hours of client-centered advocacy or face-to-face counseling experience
The curriculum must blend marriage and family therapy principles with mental health recovery-oriented care methods and understanding of various cultures and socioeconomic positions. Students learn about diagnosis, assessment, prognosis, and treatment of mental disorders.
Choosing a California-accredited program
California programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) will give a quality education that meets established standards. Several factors should shape your program choice:
- Geographic location (pick a program in the state where you plan to get licensed)
- Accreditation status (COAMFTE-accredited programs make the licensure process easier)
- Clinical hours offered (Programs in California range from 225 to 1,300 hours toward licensure)
- Program philosophy (should match your personal views)
- Cost (including scholarships and loan reimbursement options)
California has many institutions that offer qualifying MFT programs. Alliant International University, California Institute of Integral Studies, USC, and several California State University campuses provide these programs. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences lists approved programs, but this list might not be current. You need to check that your chosen program meets all California licensure requirements.
Step 2: Register as an AMFT in California
Your next significant step after getting your master’s degree is registering as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) with California’s Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS). This registration lets you start accumulating supervised experience hours toward licensure.
How to apply for AMFT registration
Getting your AMFT registration needs a completed application submitted to the BBS office in Sacramento. Here’s what the application process has:
- Complete the “Application for Registration as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist” form
- Submit your application by mail to the BBS office or online through the BBS portal
- Add all required supporting documentation (detailed in the next section)
- Use delivery confirmation to track your application status when mailing
The “90-day rule” plays a vital role for recent graduates. You can count supervised experience hours earned right after graduation if you submit your AMFT application within 90 days of your degree conferral date. Missing this window means waiting for your AMFT registration number before counting any hours toward licensure.
New applicants should know they can’t work in a private practice or professional corporation until they receive their official AMFT registration number.
Documents and fees required
Your complete AMFT application package needs:
- Completed and signed application form (use your legal name shown on birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.)
- $150.00 application fee via check or money order payable to the “Behavioral Sciences Fund”
- Official transcripts with degree title and conferral date (sealed envelope from your school or electronically sent directly from your school to the BBS)
- Sealed Degree Program Certification from your graduate school
- LiveScan fingerprinting results (DOJ and FBI background checks)
- If fingerprinted within California: Submit the Request for Live Scan Service form
- If fingerprinted outside California: Submit two completed fingerprint cards with an additional $49.00 processing fee
Fingerprinting timing matters significantly. Submit your fingerprints no more than 60 days before your application. The BBS only keeps fingerprint results without an application for 6 months.
Applications submitted after July 1, 2023, must show proof of completing 3 hours of continuing education on providing mental healthcare via telehealth.
Timeline for approval
The BBS usually processes AMFT registration applications within 60 days after receiving them. Several factors affect processing times:
- Current application volume
- Staffing levels
- Application completeness
The Board processed Psychological Associate applications received on August 11, 2025, as of September 2025. They processed supporting documents from August 10, 2025. This shows what timeframes you can expect.
The BBS will email you if your application needs more information. They process additional documents within two weeks after the first review.
Your approved AMFT registration stays valid for one year. Annual renewal requires:
- $150.00 renewal fee
- At least one attempt at the California Law and Ethics Exam during each renewal cycle
- 3 hours of continuing education in California Law and Ethics
You can renew your AMFT registration five times. This gives you six years to complete your supervised experience requirements. You’ll need to apply for another registration to keep accruing hours if you need more time.
Step 3: Gain Supervised Clinical Experience
Getting the required supervised clinical experience takes the most time in your AMFT experience. This significant phase helps build your clinical competence through structured supervision and client interactions of all types.
Understanding the 3,000-hour requirement
California law mandates 3,000 hours of supervised professional experience over a minimum of 104 supervised weeks (two calendar years) to get LMFT licensure. These hours must follow specific distribution requirements:
- Direct clinical counseling: Minimum 1,750 hours overall, with at least 500 hours specifically diagnosing and treating couples, families, and children
- Non-clinical experience: Maximum 1,250 hours, which may include direct supervisor contact, psychological testing, writing clinical reports, client-centered advocacy, and professional development activities
The “supervised weeks” component requires you to meet with a supervisor for either one hour of individual/triadic supervision or two hours of group supervision each week that you claim experience. You cannot claim more than five hours of supervision per week.
You might want to accumulate hours quickly, but note that the “Six-Year Rule” states all work experience must be gained within six years before your licensure application submission date.
Types of qualifying clinical settings
AMFT therapist associates can gain experience in a variety of settings that legally provide mental health counseling or psychotherapy. Approved environments include:
- Clinics and hospitals
- Mental health centers
- Community health organizations
- Non-profit agencies
New AMFTs must wait to work in private practice settings until they receive their official AMFT registration. Whatever setting you choose, you must be hired as a W-2 employee or volunteer, not as an independent contractor.
Tips for finding a supervisor
A qualified supervisor plays a vital role in your development. Your supervisor must be a California-licensed mental health professional who has:
- Been licensed for at least two years within the past five years
- Managed to keep a current and active license not under suspension or probation
- Practiced psychotherapy or provided direct supervision during at least two years of the last five
Supervisors must also complete required training and continuing professional development.
These resources can help you find potential supervisors:
- CAMFT’s directory of certified supervisors
- AAMFT’s supervisor search tool
- University career services and alumni networks
- Professional networking events
Many experienced supervisors see their role as “mentoring the next generation of marriage and family therapists”. This relationship becomes the foundation of your professional development.
Step 4: Pass the California Licensing Exams
The last step to becoming an AMFT therapist requires passing two vital California licensing exams. These assessments prove your understanding of ethical practice and clinical competency.
California Law and Ethics Exam
The California Law and Ethics Exam is your first testing requirement. You need to take this 75-question multiple-choice exam during each renewal cycle until you pass to keep your AMFT registration. A failed attempt won’t stop your renewal, but passing becomes mandatory for your next registration.
Key exam details include:
- 90-minute time limit
- Administered by Pearson Vue testing centers
- $150.00 application fee
- 90-day waiting period between attempts
The exam tests your knowledge of confidentiality regulations, mandated reporting, professional ethics, therapeutic relationships, and business practices.
California Clinical Exam
After completing your supervised hours and passing the Law and Ethics Exam, you can take the California Clinical Exam. This complete assessment has 170 multiple-choice questions with a four-hour time limit.
These timelines are essential:
- You must take this exam within one year after passing the Law and Ethics Exam
- Failed attempts require a retake within one year to keep your application valid
- Passing the exam gets you an application for initial LMFT licensure
Study resources and expert tips
Good preparation improves your success chances by a lot. Here are some quick ways to prepare:
Start with a well-laid-out study plan that covers 2-4 months, dedicating 10-15 hours weekly. Practice with real-life scenarios since many exam questions use clinical cases that need applied knowledge instead of memorization.
Exam prep programs are a great way to get practice tests, study materials, and test-taking strategies. These resources teach you how to tackle questions step by step—spot the client and symptoms before choosing the right interventions.
Your exam day performance matters too. Show up well-rested, properly fed, and 30 minutes early to reduce test anxiety and do your best.
Become an AMFT in California
Becoming an AMFT therapist in California takes dedication and careful planning. Your experience starts with educational foundations and moves through clinical experience to final examinations. Each step builds on the previous one and creates a clear path toward your therapeutic career.
The process ensures you develop skills and competencies to help individuals, couples, and families direct their challenges effectively. A combination of academic knowledge and supervised practice really prepares you for the responsibilities ahead.
Patience plays a key role in this experience. Supervised experience of 3,000 hours takes about two years minimum, and many candidates need the full six years allowed. Exam preparation needs substantial time and focus. Steady progress and self-care remain vital to your success.
The rewards of becoming an AMFT therapist outweigh these challenges. You get the privilege to help people through difficult times, see their growth, and facilitate healing. Your professional autonomy grows as you move from associate to fully licensed status.
Professional organizations like CAMFT are a great way to get resources, networking opportunities, and continued education throughout your career development. These connections help you guide licensure requirements and establish yourself in the field.
Complete your education, register as an AMFT, accumulate supervised hours, and pass required exams. By doing this and being organized, you’ll be ready to launch an exceptional career as a Marriage and Family Therapist in California. Your dedication to this process means better care for the clients you’ll serve.