Loading
Ohio licenses Marriage and Family Therapists through the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board (CSWMFT). Licensure generally requires a master’s or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy (or a closely related field with MFT coursework), a period of post-degree supervised clinical experience, and a passing score on the National Marriage and Family Therapy Examination. Verify current licensing, MFT Licensure Compact, supervised-experience, renewal, and continuing-education requirements directly with the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board (CSWMFT).
Master's or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy; COAMFTE-accredited programs are automatically approved, and non-accredited programs reportedly must be clearly identified as MFT degrees with approximately 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of qualifying coursework. Ohio uses a two-tier system (LMFT, then Independent IMFT). Verify exact education requirements with the Board.
National Marriage and Family Therapy Examination administered by the AMFTRB (and any Ohio jurisprudence/ethics requirement) is reportedly required. Verify the required examination(s) with the Board.
Approximately two years of post-degree supervised experience, reportedly including about 1,000 hours of documented MFT client contact and approximately 200 hours of supervision, toward the independent (IMFT) credential. Verify exact hour requirements with the Board.
The state has not enacted the Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Compact. Marriage and family therapists must hold a license issued by this state to practice here, and any compact privilege held elsewhere does not authorize practice in this state.
Ohio has not enacted the MFT Licensure Compact; no enacted MFT compact currently exists nationally, and AAMFT's portability work uses an endorsement ("Access MFTs") model rather than a compact. Verify current compact status with the Board and mftcompact.org.
License portability may be available by endorsement and, where the state participates, through the MFT Licensure Compact. Verify endorsement eligibility and compact participation with the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board (CSWMFT).
Telehealth marriage and family therapy practice is governed by state law and board rules. Verify current telehealth requirements with the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board (CSWMFT).
This guide is for general informational purposes only and should not be treated as legal, licensing, or employment advice. Marriage and family therapist licensing laws, board rules, education and examination requirements, MFT Licensure Compact participation, supervised-experience rules, and renewal/continuing-education requirements vary by state and may change. Always verify current requirements directly with the official state licensing board.