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South Carolina licenses Marriage and Family Therapists through the South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists (SC LLR). 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 South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists (SC LLR).
Master's or doctoral degree from a COAMFTE-accredited program or another accredited program meeting similar standards (reportedly a minimum of about 60 graduate semester hours). South Carolina uses a two-tier system (intern LMFT/I, then full LMFT). Verify exact education requirements with the Board.
Applicants reportedly must pass the national AMFTRB Marital and Family Therapy Examination (and any state-required jurisprudence component). Verify the required examination(s) with the Board.
Reportedly a minimum of 1,500 hours of supervised clinical experience over at least two years, including approximately 1,380 hours of direct client contact and about 120 hours of supervision, plus internship clinical contact requirements. 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.
South Carolina has not enacted the MFT Licensure Compact; no enacted MFT compact currently exists nationally. 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 South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists (SC LLR).
Telehealth marriage and family therapy practice is governed by state law and board rules. Verify current telehealth requirements with the South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists (SC LLR).
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.