MFT Licensure

Pursuing the MFT license

The MS Clinical Psychology program at SJSU offers students the opportunity to pursue the MFT license.

To become a licensed therapist in California, you will need to complete the courses and formal education requirements set by the Board of Behavioral Sciences licensing board, complete 3,000 hours of acceptable supervised experience, and pass the examinations administered by BBS. The entire process from entry into graduate school to licensure takes a minimum of three and one-half years if one proceeds with graduate training and internship on a full-time basis. 

SJSU's MS Clinical Psychology program consistently has among the highest pass rates for the MFT licensing exam. 

MFT students are required to obtain 150 face-to-face therapy hours and 75 client centered advocacy hours (these can be face-to-face therapy hours as well). These count toward the 3000 hours required for licensing. 

At SJSU, we typically most often can meet the MFT pre-degree clinical hours requirements. 150 face-to-face therapy hours in two semesters is very achievable as agencies have infrastructures built to accomplish this. 

You are encouraged to research the BBS website for details on MFT requirements.