Will you ever leave California?
If maybe, begin with COAMFTE. It is not a quality ranking; it is the clearest portability signal.
See the accreditation comparison ↓82 California programs · every one the Board recognizes
MFT programs in California, compared on what changes the path.
What each one publishes about itself — degree, units, length, format, accreditation and cost — next to what students and graduates actually say about it in public. No rankings. No estimated tuition.
In short
Which California MFT program should I apply to?
Every program the Board lists plus one out-of-state COAMFTE degree, on published facts only, with real forum discussion
78 institutions, 12 COAMFTE accredited78institutions compared — 77 on the Board’s list of degrees qualifying toward California LMFT licensure, and one out-of-state COAMFTE degree
COAMFTE accredited12
Publish their tuition35
With real forum discussion26
The Board keeps a list of institutions whose degrees may qualify — its own word — and the statute reserves the Board the final say regardless of any accreditation. So treat this as a starting point for your own checking, not as an approval. What the degree has to contain is on the licensure page →
One filter matters more than the rest. COAMFTE accreditation is what decides whether your degree travels: inside California a BBS-approved, regionally-accredited program is fine, and outside it a non-COAMFTE degree can mean remedial coursework or no license at all. 12 of the 78 hold it.
All 78, at a glance
Every figure below is computed from the same records as the cards further down this page, so the two cannot disagree. Nothing here is a ranking and nothing is scored — bars are sorted by size only because an unsorted bar chart cannot be read.
Accreditation
How many degrees travel
11 of the 77 institutions on the Board’s list hold COAMFTE accreditation. It is the accreditation that decides whether the degree travels out of California; inside California it is not required, and the other 66 license graduates every year.
Cost
What the degree costs, where a figure exists
Solid bars are a total the institution publishes itself. Hatched bars are its own published per-unit rate multiplied by its own published unit count — arithmetic on its figures, not an estimate of mine. 43 of the 78 publish neither, so they are not on this chart at all; that is a fair thing to ask admissions directly. None of these figures include campus fees, books, or the years of living costs that dwarf them.
Time
How long it takes
Time to the degree only. The 3,000 associate hours that follow it take most people a further two to three years, and part-time study stretches both ends.
Format
How you would study
Delivery format is the field most loosely worded in program marketing, and these are my reading of each program’s own words. Whatever it says, the clinical placement happens in a room with real clients near where you live — no format changes that.
Size
Why unit counts do not compare
60semester units, median of the 62 programs on a semester calendar
90quarter units, median of the 9 on a quarter calendar — about 60 semester units
Unit totals are not comparable across calendars. Three quarter units are roughly two semester units, so a 90-unit quarter program and a 60-unit semester one are the same size. Comparing the raw numbers makes quarter-system schools look half again as long as they are.
Start with the decision, not the school
The California MFT decision map
Most comparisons begin with a list of universities. That is backwards. First decide which risks you can live with; then use the directory to find the programs that fit.
Who finds the practicum?
An online timetable can be flexible while the clinical placement is not. Compare guaranteed, placed, assisted and student-sourced models before comparing course delivery.
Use the five admissions questions ↓What is the real financial exposure?
Published tuition runs from $37,800 to $152,340 here, before fees and living costs. Compare a fifth term and the income you give up as well as the advertised price.
Model the return on the degree →How much optionality do you want?
A dual LMFT/LPCC route can preserve another licensing path. Confirm that the exact degree and format you choose qualifies for both.
Filter for the LPCC route ↓Degree to license
The program is only the first half of the path.
For a new California applicant, the usual sequence is a qualifying master’s or doctorate, AMFT registration, 3,000 supervised hours over at least 104 weeks, the California Law and Ethics Exam, and the LMFT Clinical Exam. A program can change the cost, portability and how many pre-degree hours you bank; it cannot remove the post-degree licensing steps.
- Qualifying degree60 semester or 90 quarter units is the common statutory floor.
- AMFT registrationPost-degree California hours generally require an active registration.
- 3,000 supervised hoursAcross at least 104 weeks, with category and supervision rules.
- Two examsCalifornia Law and Ethics, then the LMFT Clinical Exam.
Official requirements change. Verify your route with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Read the full California LMFT licensing guide →
Explore by question
Go deeper without starting over.
MFT programs in the Bay Area15 local options across San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, the Peninsula and San Jose.
Online MFT programs in CaliforniaLive attendance, residencies, local practicum responsibility and clinical hours.
Los Angeles MFT programsCompare campus, commute, schedule, practicum and published tuition.
San Diego MFT programsFour regional options with full decision profiles.
Northern California MFT programsBay Area, Sacramento and far-northern routes in one regional guide.
CSU and public MFT programsPublic options, admissions evidence and practicum structure.
COAMFTE-accredited programsExact status language and the portability question it changes.
Cheapest programs with published tuitionOnly school-published figures, with missing prices left missing.
No-GRE MFT programsVerified test status alongside GPA, interview and practicum facts.
California LMFT license requirementsEducation, AMFT registration, supervised hours, exams and application steps.
LMFT and therapist pay in CaliforniaCounty-level public salary evidence for the career on the other side of the degree.
Five questions to put to admissions — and why each one changes the answer
- Who finds my practicum placement, and what happens if I cannot find one? This is the single most likely reason a two-year degree takes three. Some programs place you; some hand you a list. Ask which, and ask what the last cohort’s experience was.
- What is the total cost including campus fees, and what does a fifth term cost? The tuition figures on this page are the ones schools publish, and almost none of them include fees. Ask for the number a student actually paid last year.
- How many direct client hours will I finish the degree with? They count toward the 3,000 you need afterward. A program that gets you to 300 rather than 150 has taken months off your licensure date.
- Is the degree COAMFTE accredited, and when does that accreditation expire? Accreditation is granted for a term and can be renewed with stipulations or not at all. “Accredited” on a web page is not the same as accredited through your graduation.
- Does this specific degree open the LPCC route, or only another degree here? The Board lists institutions, not programs. A school listed for both may open the LPCC route through a different master’s than the one you are applying to.
These are questions, not criteria. This page does not tell you which program is better, and a list of things to look for would be that verdict wearing a different hat.
Alliant International University (CSPP)
San Diego, Irvine, Los Angeles/Alhambra, Sacramento, OnlineDegreeM.A. in Marital and Family Therapy · PsyD in Marital and Family Therapy · PhD in Marital and Family Therapy
UnitsMA: 60 credits. PsyD/PhD: page cites '69-unit and 114-unit' options — not cleanly attributable, left unverified.
LengthMA: minimum 2 years (6 semesters or 13 terms)
FormatOn-campus and fully online (synchronous + asynchronous)
PracticumYou find your own300 direct client contact hours (minimum 150 relational hours)
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.0
One of the 12 COAMFTE-accredited programs here — the accreditation that decides whether the degree travels out of California.
300 direct client contact hours, 100 supervision hours; largest COAMFTE footprint in CA
What people say about it 4
r/ClinicalPsychology · 2024Hearing a ton of Alliant criticism…63 comments. Long argument between people calling it a degree mill and people defending it.criticalr/psychologystudents · 2023MFT Program at Alliant International University (Online)Specifically the online MFT: COAMFTE status and whether online training is adequate.mixedr/psychologystudents · 2025Alliant MFT Program. Everyones thoughts?Recent. LA applicant weighing Alliant against Pepperdine and USC; replies focus on practicum placement support.mixedr/ClinicalPsychology · 2025Alliant or Pepperdine for online MA MFTFrames it as roughly $60k against $120k. Most replies say do neither and get an MSW.critical
America Evangelical University / Kairos Pacific University
TustinDegreeM.A. in Counseling Psychology, emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy
Units66 units
LengthAbout 2.5 years
FormatIn person, with evening and part-time options
Practicum400 hours of clinical training, including 300 direct client hours, of which 100 must be relational hourswho secures the seat: not published
Admissions testnot published
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
The Board lists this under a double-barrelled name, “America Evangelical University, Kairos Pacific University” — AEU runs the Kairos Pacific campus on Walnut Avenue in Tustin. It is not the same institution as Kairos University in Sioux Falls, which is separately COAMFTE-accredited. The school’s own page says the program meets the educational standards set by the Board.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Antioch University Los Angeles
Culver City / Los AngelesDegreeM.A. in Clinical Psychology (MAP)
Units90 quarter credits
Lengthnot published
Formatnot published
Practicumnot published
Admissions testnot published
Not published by the school: time to complete and format. Worth asking admissions directly.
BBS-listed separately for LMFT/LPCC; program specifics not verified in this pass
What people say about it 1
Antioch University Santa Barbara
Santa BarbaraDegreeM.A. in Clinical Psychology (MACP)
Units90 quarter units minimum
Length8 quarters (24 months) minimum full-time, one-day-per-week schedule
FormatOn-campus, some weekend and online courses
Practicum225 hours of face-to-face counseling experience with individuals, couples, families, and/or groups are requiredwho secures the seat: not published
Admissions testNot required
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
Concentrations: Latinx Mental Health; Somatic Psychotherapy; or a dual concentration
What people say about it 2
r/psychologystudents · 2025I highly recommend NOT going to Antioch LMFT program (any of them!)A student's detailed complaint about tuition increases and administration; several classmates corroborate.criticalr/askatherapist · 2023MA Clinical Psychology - Antioch LA vs. Pacifica?Applicant wants IFS and somatic training; replies favor Antioch over Pacifica.mixed
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, Inland Empire, Orange County, San DiegoDegreeM.A. in Clinical Psychology: Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT)
Units63–90 units
Length2–4 years (3 years is the recommended pace)
FormatEvening and daytime cohorts
PracticumYou apply, with helpStudents are required to obtain 300 hours of direct client experience for the MFT license, and 300 hours of direct client experience for the LPCC license.
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.0
Gottman Couples Therapy Level 1 Certificate is a core requirement; 300+ hours of clinical training
What people say about it 1
Biola University (Talbot School of Theology)
La MiradaDegreeM.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy
Units67 credits
Length4 years
FormatOn-campus
PracticumA minimum of 300 clinical training hours (225 of which are direct client contact hours) is required.who secures the seat: not published
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA 3.0
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
BBS lists Biola/Talbot for LMFT only — no LPCC.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Cal Poly Humboldt
ArcataDegreeM.A. in Psychology: Counseling (Counseling Psychology, M.A.)
Units60 units (16 of them fieldwork)
Lengthnot published
Formatnot published
PracticumProgram places youA minimum of 150 hours of direct (face-to-face) counseling experience with clients and 75 hours of advocacy and support must be earned prior to graduation.
Admissions testnot published
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition, time to complete and format. Worth asking admissions directly.
One of only 4 options on the Board’s list sited in far northern California.
BBS-listed for LCSW, LMFT, LEP (not LPCC)
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Cal Poly Pomona
PomonaDegreeM.S. in Psychology (60 units)
Units60 units
Lengthnot published
Formatnot published
PracticumYou apply, with help
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA 3.0
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition, time to complete and format. Worth asking admissions directly.
BBS-listed for LMFT only. Catalog page did not render for direct verification of subplan naming.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
San Luis ObispoDegreeM.S. in Psychology
Units69 semester units (73 with thesis)
Lengthnot published
Formatnot published
PracticumProgram places youPracticum: 40 hours of clinical service (15 individual, 15 couple/family, 10 group) plus 40 hours observation. Traineeship: 150 hours per term on site, at least 60 of which must be face-to-face counseling.
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA 3.0 in the last 60 semester (90 quarter) units attempted (we will review applications with a 2.5 GPA and higher)
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition, time to complete and format. Worth asking admissions directly.
The program finds your clinical site rather than leaving it to you — 9 of the 78 do.
BBS-listed for LMFT; program page not verified in this pass
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →California Baptist University
RiversideDegreeM.S. in Counseling Psychology (MSCP)
Units63–87 units
Length2 years
FormatFall, Spring and Summer entry points; on-campus and online variants exist
Practicumnot published
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 2.75
California Institute of Integral Studies
San FranciscoDegreeM.A. in Counseling Psychology — Integral Counseling Psychology (M.A.-C.P.)
Units60 units (LMFT track); 70 units (LPCC track)
Length3 years (7 semesters)
FormatOn-campus weekday; on-campus weekend (5 weekends/semester); hybrid online
PracticumYou apply, with help
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.0
LPCC: Yes, but format-dependent — weekday and weekend on-campus formats qualify for both LMFT and LPCC; the hybrid format qualifies for LPCC only
Integral/holistic, spiritual and multicultural orientation. CIIS also runs other counseling MAs (e.g. Somatic, Expressive Arts, Community Mental Health) not individually verified here.
What people say about it 2
California Lutheran University
Thousand OaksDegreeM.S. in Counseling Psychology (MFT)
Units60 credits
Length3 years (2-year accelerated option)
FormatOn-campus, Thousand Oaks; day and evening cohorts
PracticumSeat guaranteed
Admissions testnot published
One of only 3 schools that state every student in good standing gets a clinical placement.
BBS lists Cal Lutheran for LMFT only — no LPCC.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →California Southern University
Online (Chandler, AZ; incorporated in California in 1978)DegreeM.A. in Psychology, emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy
Units60 credits
Lengthnot published
FormatFully online
Practicum285 direct client contact hours minimum across the three practicum courses — MFT 6704 Practicum I: "a minimum of 85 hours of direct client contact"; MFT 6705 Practicum II and MFT 6706 Practicum III: "a minimum of 100 hours of direct client contact" eachwho secures the seat: not published
Admissions testnot published
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition and time to complete. Worth asking admissions directly.
An out-of-state institution running a California-specific degree — 13 of the 78 are.
One thing to settle before applying: CalSouthern’s own catalog says the Board considers it an out-of-state institution, and the Board’s table lists it for both LMFT and LPCC anyway. Those two statements are hard to reconcile from outside, and this is a question for the Board rather than for either page.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →California State University, Bakersfield
BakersfieldDegreeM.S. in Counseling Psychology
Units66 semester units
Length3 years, full-time cohort
FormatIn-person full-time cohort, classes 1pm-10pm Mon-Thu, fall entry only
PracticumA minimum of 150 hours of face-to-face experience counseling individuals, couples, families, or groups must be acquired during traineeship (3rd year of the CPSY program). Additionally, during the 2nd and 3rd years of the program, the student must acquire 75 hours of client-centered advocacy or face-to-face experience counseling individuals, couples, families, or groups.who secures the seat: not published
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.2 in the most recent 60 semester units
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →California State University, Chico
ChicoDegreeM.S. in Psychology (marketed as MFT)
Units60 units
Length3 years, full-time cohort
FormatFully on-campus, Mon-Fri 8am-6pm; on campus 3-4 days a week for the first two years
PracticumYou apply, with helpStudents must obtain a minimum of 225 face-to-face clinical hours in order to graduate.
Admissions testNot required
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
One of only 4 options on the Board’s list sited in far northern California.
Counseling Training Clinic; graduates typically accrue 400–500 clinical hours
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →California State University, Dominguez Hills
CarsonDegreeM.S. in Marital and Family Therapy
Units64 credits
Length3 years
Formatnot published
PracticumYou apply, with helpmust complete 300 client contact hours, 100 of which are relational, client contact with couples or families
Admissions testRequired, waivableminimum GPA 3.0 in the most recent 60 semester units of upper division course work
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition and format. Worth asking admissions directly.
Curriculum aligned with COAMFTE standards (not accredited); 300 client-contact-hour practicum
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →California State University, East Bay
HaywardDegreeM.S. in Counseling Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy Concentration
Unitsnot published
Length2 years (~5 semesters)
FormatFull-time cohort, Hayward campus only; day, evening, some weekends
Practicumnot published
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition and units. Worth asking admissions directly.
Additional units may be needed for LPCC
What people say about it 2
r/CSUEB · 2026MFT program info sessions experienceApplicants report department staff not appearing at their own advertised info sessions two years running. Also real numbers: about 400 applications for cohorts of 20–25.criticalr/CSUEB · 20262026 MFT grad programCurrent admissions cycle.informational
California State University, Fresno (Fresno State)
FresnoDegreeM.S. in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling
Units60 units
Length5 semesters
FormatOn-campus + clinic
PracticumYou find your ownThe student must complete 300 hours of approved fieldwork hours per semester for a total of 600 hours. ... 300 of the 600 hours must include providing direct face-to-face counseling services and is required to complete a minimum of 10 hours of experience leading groups.
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.0 in the last 60 semester units
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
Fresno Family Counseling Center; Kremen School of Education
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →California State University, Fullerton (University Extension)
FullertonDegreeM.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling & Marriage and Family Therapy
Units63 units (21 courses)
Length3 years + 1 term
FormatOn-campus, part-time, evening
PracticumYou apply, with helptheir total required hours of 280 DCC/700 non-DCC, per CACREP requirements
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA 3.0 (Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with a minimum 3.0 GPA)
Ánimo: Latinx Counseling concentration exists in the catalog but the extension page states it is not currently offered. Extension part-time program closed through Spring 2028; main HHD Counseling program admits for Fall 2026.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →California State University, Long Beach
Long BeachDegreeM.S. in Counseling Psychology (formerly Marriage and Family Therapy)
Units65 units min
Length2-year or 2.5-year tracks
FormatHybrid — in-person + synchronous online; not fully online. Late afternoon/evening M–Th, some weekend sessions
Practicum150 hours of a combined off-site and on-site Practicum (COUN 609) experiences in addition to 350 off-site Fieldwork hours (COUN 643D & 644D)who secures the seat: not published
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA 2.85 overall grade point average in last degree (not credential or certificate) earned from an accredited institution of higher education
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
What people say about it 2
California State University, Los Angeles
Los AngelesDegreeM.S. in Counseling: Option in School-Based Family Counseling
Units73–77 units
Length2.5–3 years, full-time only
FormatIn-person, late-afternoon/evening, 2–4 days/week; explicitly no online option
Practicumnot published
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA A 2.75 grade point average in the last 60 semester units attempted.
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
Also yields school-counseling credentials; requires LA-area residence
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →California State University, Northridge
NorthridgeDegreeM.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy
Units72 semester units
Length2.5–3 years, cohort, mandatory summers
FormatPrimarily in-person, some hybrid courses
PracticumYou apply, with help600 Hours Fieldwork Requirement = Minimum of 500 Clinical Hours and 100 Supervision Hours ... 100+ Relational Hours (100 minimum) ... 100 Alternative Hours (100 maximum) ... Must include 50 hours of live supervision
Admissions testRequiredminimum GPA Applicants must have an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher to be eligible for consideration.
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
One of the 12 COAMFTE-accredited programs here — the accreditation that decides whether the degree travels out of California.
Eisner College of Education, Dept. of Educational Psychology & Counseling; day and evening classes
What people say about it 2
r/csun · 2025Rejected in 2024; I've been accepted to CSUN's MFT 2025 program!38 comments. A reapplicant explains what they changed; others share outcomes.positiver/csun · 2024Got rejected. What did I do wrong?44 comments on selectivity and application quality, from a 3.45 GPA applicant with clinical experience.informational
California State University, Sacramento
SacramentoDegreeM.S. in Counseling (Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling)
Units60 units
Lengthnot published
Formatnot published
PracticumYou apply, with help100-hour clinical practicum, and 600 hours of fieldwork experience
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.0 in the last 60 semester units
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition, time to complete and format. Worth asking admissions directly.
Explicitly states dual LMFT + LPCC educational eligibility
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →California State University, San Bernardino
San BernardinoDegreeM.S. in Clinical/Counseling Psychology
Units60–68 semester units (varies by culminating option)
Length2 years, full-time day cohort
FormatOn-campus full-time lockstep cohort
Practicumnot published
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →California State University, Stanislaus
TurlockDegreeM.S. in Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy Concentration (Counseling Track; also a Behavior Analysis Track)
Units60 units min (36 core + 24 track)
Length2.5 years (5 semesters)
Formatnot published
Practicumnot published
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA A minimum 3.0 overall grade point average.
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition and format. Worth asking admissions directly.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Campbellsville University — Los Angeles Education Center (formerly Phillips Graduate University/Institute)
Los AngelesDegreeMaster of Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT)
Units60 units
Length2 years / 5 consecutive terms incl. summers; part-time 6–7 terms
FormatOne full day per week (Saturday or weekday, 8am–5pm PT) plus case conferences and practicum
PracticumYou apply, with helpCompletion of 375 hours of supervised clinical placement concurrent with practicum registration
Admissions testnot published
375 required practicum hours; 15+ hrs/week at a clinical placement by Year 2. Approved by CA BBS and BPPE.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Chapman University
OrangeDegreeM.A. in Marriage & Family Therapy
Unitsnot published
Length2 years incl. one-year clinical practicum
FormatOn-campus
PracticumSeat guaranteed
Admissions testRequired, waivableminimum GPA 3.3
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition and units. Worth asking admissions directly.
One of only 3 schools that state every student in good standing gets a clinical placement.
Frances Smith Center for Individual and Family Therapy (on-site community clinic); Delta Kappa Honor Society chapter — one of only two MFT programs in CA with this
What people say about it 2
Concordia University Irvine (Townsend Institute)
Irvine / onlineDegreeM.A. in Counseling: Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
Units66 units
Length~3–4 years
FormatOnline coursework + a required 4-day on-campus residency
Practicumminimum of 40 direct client contact hours (practicum) plus a minimum of 120 direct client contact hours in each of two 300-hour internshipswho secures the seat: not published
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.00
Published tuition$695 a unit
An out-of-state institution running a California-specific degree — 13 of the 78 are.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Daybreak University
Anaheim / onlineDegreeM.A. in Counseling (MAC), with MFT licensure track
Units90 units
Length~2–3 years
FormatOnline via Zoom; face-to-face and hybrid also available; 10-week terms, twice weekly 3-hour classes
Practicumnot published
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.0
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
One of the 12 COAMFTE-accredited programs here — the accreditation that decides whether the degree travels out of California.
Specializations: Counseling (MAC), MFT, Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT), Human Sexuality and Sex Therapy (HST). Likely the lowest-cost COAMFTE-accredited option in CA.
What people say about it 1
Dominican University of California
San RafaelDegreeM.S. in Counseling Psychology with MFT and/or PCC concentration
Units43 units base MS; 60 units with MFT and/or PCC concentration
Length30–36 months
FormatIn-person; part-time, full-time, evening and weekend options
PracticumProgram places youA minimum of 500 hours of practicum is required of which 280 must be direct counseling for the MFT Concentration and PCC Concentration.
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.0 for the last 60 units
The program finds your clinical site rather than leaving it to you — 9 of the 78 do.
Max 20 students per class; 50+ community agency practicum partners; all faculty are practicing clinicians
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Fresno Pacific University
FresnoDegreeM.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy
Units65 units minimum
LengthThree-year or four-year pathway
FormatOn-campus (Fresno main campus), some online courses
PracticumYou apply, with helpa minimum of 10 direct client contact hours per week (five direct client contact hours at each site if dual-site placement)
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.0
Published tuition$610 a unit
Seminary-based; integrates Christian theology with clinical training. Also offers an MFT + PPS School Counseling Credential partnership and an MDiv/MFT dual degree.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Fuller Theological Seminary
Pasadena (also an Arizona campus)DegreeM.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy (MSMFT)
Units98 quarter units standard track; 100 quarter units LPCC track (Pasadena only)
LengthTwo-year full-time track (14–16 units per quarter) or three-year track; both offered at Pasadena and Phoenix
Formatnot published
Practicumnot published
Admissions testnot published
Not published by the school: format. Worth asking admissions directly.
LPCC: Yes, Pasadena campus only
Medical Family Therapy specialization available
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Golden Gate University
San Francisco / onlineDegreeM.A. in Counseling Psychology
Units60 credits
LengthAs few as 2.5 years full-time; part-time available
FormatOnline or hybrid
PracticumStudents are required to complete a total of 300 clinical hours during the program consisting of face-to-face counseling with individuals (adults, children, adolescents, couples, families or groups).who secures the seat: not published
Admissions testNot required
Published tuition$1,090 a unit
An out-of-state institution running a California-specific degree — 13 of the 78 are.
Requires 300 face-to-face clinical hours plus a 50-hour personal psychotherapy requirement
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →HIS University
BreaDegreeM.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy
Units67 units
Lengthnot published
Formatnot published
PracticumYou find your own250 hours of supervised, direct, in-person contact Clinical Experience
Admissions testnot published
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition, time to complete and format. Worth asking admissions directly.
A small Korean-American Christian institution on East Lambert Road in Brea. There is no page for the program on its own — the link goes to the whole program list. Its page states the 67-unit degree qualifies graduates for California LMFT licensure. Accreditation is not stated on the site, which is the first thing to ask.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Hope International University
FullertonDegreeM.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy · Doctor of Marriage & Family Therapy (DMFT)
UnitsMA: 60 units
LengthMA: 2–3 years
FormatOn-ground; morning, afternoon and evening courses in 8–16 week sessions
PracticumYou apply, with helpAt least 300 direct client hours (sessions of individual, group, couples, or family therapy) of which at least 100 must be relational hours.
Admissions testnot published
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
One of the 12 COAMFTE-accredited programs here — the accreditation that decides whether the degree travels out of California.
DMFT students also earn the M.A. en route, so they can work clinically while completing the doctorate
What people say about it 1
Jessup University
RocklinDegreeM.A. in Counseling Psychology (MACP)
Units63 units
Length26 months
FormatIn person at Rocklin and San Jose, with a fully remote option for California residents
Practicum280 direct client contact hours during Practicumwho secures the seat: not published
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.0
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
Formerly William Jessup University. The program requires 280 direct client-contact hours and 20 hours of personal psychotherapy, and its page states it is designed to meet the Board’s qualifying-degree requirements for both LMFT and LPCC.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences
Richmond (also San Mateo and Lathrop)DegreeM.S. in Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy
Units90 quarter credits
Length24 months, eight quarters, full time
FormatHybrid — two afternoons or evenings a week, one in person and one online; clinical hours in business hours
PracticumProgram places you600 supervised hours, of which 225 direct patient care
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA 3.0
The program finds your clinical site rather than leaving it to you — 9 of the 78 do.
Run by an integrated health system rather than a university, which shapes almost everything about it. Clinical placements are assigned by the program’s own coordinator inside Kaiser’s Northern California Mental Health Training Program — you are not competing for a site — but Kaiser says its training locations are “currently limited geographically” and warns that students “may be required to travel long distances”. A place in the program is not a job offer either: the post-degree Kaiser fellowship is explicitly not guaranteed. The financing is the other thing to settle early — the school accepts no federal aid at all, no Title IV and no FAFSA, so a $40,000 degree is funded by private loan, an employer, or the Mental Health Scholars Academy scholarship of up to $19,485, which is itself contingent on completing practicum at a Kaiser site.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →La Sierra University
RiversideDegreeM.A. in Counseling with Marriage & Family Therapy specialization
Units96 quarter units (~64 semester)
Lengthnot published
Formatnot published
PracticumAll MFT/LPCC students are required to provide a minimum of 280 hours of face-to-face counseling and receive 20 hours of personal psychotherapy.who secures the seat: not published
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.00
Not published by the school: time to complete and format. Worth asking admissions directly.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Life Pacific University
San DimasDegreeM.A. in Counseling (MAC)
Units63 units
Length21 courses plus a 12-month practicum
FormatOnline, synchronous and asynchronous, in 8-week terms
Practicumnot published
Admissions testnot published
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
Life Pacific announced Board approval for both LMFT and LPCC on 26 September 2025, and the Board’s table lists both. The program page itself still mentions only LPCC — the announcement and the table are the newer sources.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Loma Linda University
Loma LindaDegreeM.S. in Marital and Family Therapy (on-campus) · M.S. in Marital and Family Therapy (online) · DMFT (online) · PhD in Systems, Families, and Couples
UnitsQuarter system; totals not published on the pages checked
LengthMS: 2 years. DMFT: 3 years.
FormatMS: campus-based or online. DMFT: online, blended synchronous + asynchronous.
PracticumYou apply, with help300 direct face-to-face client contact hours required. 100 of the 300 hours must include relational/systemic hours.
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA 3.0
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
One of the 12 COAMFTE-accredited programs here — the accreditation that decides whether the degree travels out of California.
DMFT is post-master's — requires an existing licensure-qualifying MFT/CFT or clinical counseling master's. It is 'the only fully online DMFT program granted accreditation' by COAMFTE.
What people say about it 1
Loyola Marymount University
Los AngelesDegreeM.A. in Marital and Family Therapy with Specialized Training in Art Therapy
Units57-60 semester units
Lengthnot published
Formatnot published
PracticumProgram places youstudents may accumulate up to 840 hours with a minimum of 350 accumulated hours providing art therapy services to individuals, groups, and/or families
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA 3.0
Not published by the school: time to complete and format. Worth asking admissions directly.
The program finds your clinical site rather than leaving it to you — 9 of the 78 do.
Founded 1975; Art Therapy Clinic; Art Therapy Research Institute; International Summer Program. Prepares for both CA MFT licensure and national art therapy registration.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Meridian University
Petaluma / Los Angeles campus + onlineDegreeM.A. in Counseling Psychology
Units103 quarter credits (~69 semester)
Length24–36 months
FormatHybrid and online
PracticumYou find your own
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.0
An out-of-state institution running a California-specific degree — 13 of the 78 are.
Requires 40 hours of personal psychotherapy for graduation; transformative/generative learning orientation
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Mount Saint Mary's University
Los AngelesDegreeM.S. in Counseling Psychology: Marriage & Family Therapy specialization
Units60 units
Length2 years (daytime) or 3 years (evening)
FormatHybrid; the Enlaces! certificate track is also available fully online (synchronous evenings, 3 years)
PracticumYou apply, with helpMarriage and Family Therapy (MFT) candidates must complete 250 hours of direct counseling during the Practicum year.
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA 3.0
Enlaces! bilingual Spanish-English certificate embedded at no additional units; includes a Spanish-speaking clinical placement
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →National University (absorbed Northcentral University and John F. Kennedy University)
San Diego / onlineDegreeM.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy (MAMFT) · PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy · M.A. in Counseling Psychology (separate CA MFT/LPCC program)
UnitsMAMFT: minimum 45 semester credit hours, up to 60 for licensure requirements in some states
Length~33 months average
FormatOnline with local in-person practicum/internship
PracticumYou apply, with help
Admissions testNot required
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
One of the 12 COAMFTE-accredited programs here — the accreditation that decides whether the degree travels out of California.
First distance-education MFT program to receive COAMFTE accreditation. Nine specializations: Child & Adolescent Family Therapy, Couple Therapy, General Family Therapy, LGBTQ Couple & Family Therapy, Medical Family Therapy, Military Family Therapy, Systemic Sex Therapy, Systemic Treatment of Addictions, Trauma-Informed Systemic Therapy. IMPORTANT: 45 credits is below CA's 60-semester-unit floor — verify which NU program is the CA-qualifying one (likely the M.A. Counseling Psychology).
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Northwestern University, The Family Institute
Evanston, IL / onlineDegreeM.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy (on-campus and online branches)
Units25 Northwestern quarter units (26 courses)
Lengthnot published
FormatTwo COAMFTE-accredited branches: on-campus Evanston, and online
PracticumProgram places you400+ Clinical Hours
Admissions testNot required
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition and time to complete. Worth asking admissions directly.
One of the 12 COAMFTE-accredited programs here — the accreditation that decides whether the degree travels out of California.
This is the only school here that does not appear on the Board’s list, under any spelling — it is an Illinois institution and the list is overwhelmingly California-sited. That is not a finding of ineligibility. Its MSMFT is COAMFTE-accredited, and a COAMFTE-accredited out-of-state degree can qualify in California through Bus. & Prof. Code §§4980.36/4980.37 and the Board’s Out-of-State Degree Program Certification — but through that route, on application, rather than automatically.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Notre Dame de Namur University
BelmontDegreeM.S. in Clinical Psychology / Marriage & Family Therapist (MS CP/MFT)
Units60 units
Length2–3 years
FormatIn-person, synchronous online, and asynchronous online; part-time or full-time; late afternoon, evening, weekends
PracticumOur program provides a minimum of 500 hours of practicum experience that may be counted toward licensure.who secures the seat: not published
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA 2.5
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Pacific Oaks College
PasadenaDegreeM.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy
Units60 credits (LPCC specialization adds 5 credits)
Length2.5 years full-time / 4 years part-time
FormatOn-campus, not offered online
PracticumYou apply, with helpStudents must complete a minimum of 225 face-to-face clinical traineeship hours (minimum of 280 face-to-face hours for LPCC) during a 10-12-month training commitment at an approved site
Admissions testnot published
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
LPCC: Yes — LPCC specialization requires 280 in-person clinical hours + 5 additional credits
Specializations: African American Family Studies; Latinx Family Studies; LGBTQIA+ Studies; Trauma Studies (secondary add-on)
What people say about it 1
Pacifica Graduate Institute
Carpinteria / Santa BarbaraDegreeM.A. in Counseling Psychology with emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Clinical Counseling, and Depth Psychology
Units93 quarter units
Length2.5 years (10 quarters)
FormatResidential low-residency — three-day monthly sessions plus seven-day summer sessions in years 1 and 2; four track options (weekend and weekday)
PracticumYou find your ownPacifica students are required to accrue a minimum of 300 cumulative hours, of which 280 must be direct service (counseling) hours.
Admissions testNot required
Depth psychology orientation — interdisciplinary courses in literature, mythology, religion and culture alongside clinical training. The strongest depth/archetypal option in the state.
What people say about it 2
r/psychologystudents · 2024Is Pacifica Graduate Institute worth the price tag — MA in Counseling PsychologyApplicant facing roughly $170k. Alumni disagree sharply about culture and value.mixedr/psychologystudents · 2023Pacifica Graduate Institute alums or students?Attendance requirements, and students weighing whether to leave after a quarter.mixed
Palo Alto University
Palo AltoDegreeM.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC), with an MFCC emphasis option
UnitsQuarter system; 4.5 quarter units per course; total not stated
Length9 quarters (~2 years)
FormatResidential hybrid (weekday evenings, on-campus or Zoom) OR distance/online (live Zoom + two in-person residencies)
PracticumYou apply, with helpThe program requires a minimum of 700 hours, including a minimum of 280 face-to-face client hours with the student working in the role of Counselor Trainee or Therapist Trainee
Admissions testNot required
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
LPCC: Yes — LPCC is the primary track; the MFCC emphasis satisfies CA MFT educational requirements
What people say about it 1
Pepperdine University (GSEP)
West Los Angeles / Irvine / Calabasas / onlineDegreeM.A. in Clinical Psychology with Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy
Units60–66 units (on-ground); 68 units (online)
Length2.5–3 years
FormatEvening on-campus at 3 sites, daytime format at West LA, and fully online
PracticumYou apply, with helpStudents who ultimately want to become licensed as an LMFT in California will be required to complete a minimum of 225 hours of direct client contact in an approved clinical setting. Students ultimately seeking to become licensed as an LPCC in California will be required to complete a minimum of 280 hours of direct client contact in an approved clinical setting.
Admissions testRequired, waivableminimum GPA 3.0
An out-of-state institution running a California-specific degree — 13 of the 78 are.
Explicitly states graduates meet educational requirements to sit for LMFT or LPCC in California
What people say about it 3
r/psychologystudents · 2024Pepperdine or Loma LindaDirect MFT comparison: COAMFTE status, medical-center placements, course load, campus culture.mixedr/ClinicalPsychology · 2024Thoughts on PepperdineCareer-changer asks about online options. Includes a disputed exchange about religious affiliation, with current students rebutting.mixedr/psychologystudents · 2026MFT Masters: Pepperdine vs Antioch vs Pacific Oaks vs AlliantVery recent and specific: a parent who needs online or low-residency and cannot use the Cal States.informational
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego (Mission Valley Regional Center)DegreeM.A. in Clinical Counseling (MACC)
Units63 units
Length24 months (fall start) or 32 months (spring start)
FormatFace-to-face, two nights/week
PracticumYou apply, with helpAll students have to accrue a minimum of 700 training hours to be eligible to graduate (290 direct client contact hours and 410 non-clinical hours).
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.0
All students complete the same 63 units regardless of which license they pursue
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Rhombus University
La MesaDegreeM.A. in Counseling Psychology
Units60 units
Length2–3 years
FormatOnline and self-paced
PracticumYou find your ownMust have passed Practicum courses with completion of 280 hours of supervised clinical experience
Admissions testRequiredminimum GPA 2.5
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
One of only 2 schools here that still requires an admissions test.
The Board lists Rhombus for LMFT and LPCC. Its own program page states neither licensure eligibility nor accreditation, and markets “professional Christian counselors” — confirm its accreditation with the school before treating this row as equivalent to the rest of the list.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Saint Mary's College of California
MoragaDegreeM.A. in Counseling, Marriage & Family Therapy / Professional Clinical Counseling (MFT/PCC) specialization
Units68 units minimum (40 core + 28 specialization); 81 units with dual School Counseling specialization
Length3–5 year plans of study
FormatClassroom + weekly seminars + fieldwork
PracticumYou apply, with help
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA 2.8
Dual specialization option adds the PPS credential
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →San Diego State University
San DiegoDegreeM.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy
Units60 semester units
Length2.5 years incl. three summers
FormatOn-campus, cohort, classes ≤30 students
PracticumStudents must acquire a minimum of 300 direct clinical contact hours (in-person or through telehealth with individuals, couples, families or other systems) to graduate. A minimum of 100 of the 300 hours must be relational hours.who secures the seat: not published
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA 2.85 for domestic applicants or 3.00 for international applicants
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
One of the 12 COAMFTE-accredited programs here — the accreditation that decides whether the degree travels out of California.
Culturally-infused curriculum, social justice emphasis; systemic/social-constructionist orientation; Center for Community Counseling and Engagement
What people say about it 2
San Francisco State University
San FranciscoDegreeM.S. in Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling
Units60 units min
LengthPublished 2-year and 3-year roadmaps; department-reported average time to degree is 2.9 years (range 2–7).
FormatIn-person
PracticumYou apply, with helpStudents must put in a minimum of 700 hours of field placement for each specialization, with at least 280 hours of direct client contact.
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA 3.0
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
LPCC: Conditional — requires additionally completing the Clinical Mental Health Counseling emphasis to be endorsed for LPCC
What people say about it 1
San Jose State University
San JoseDegreeM.S. in Clinical Psychology
Units60 semester units
Lengthnot published
Formatnot published
PracticumYou find your ownThe Board of Behavioral Sciences requires that students accrue a minimum of 225 hours of face-to-face counseling experience during the practicum experience (before graduation) [...] 75 hours can be client-centered advocacy (CCA), but the other 150 hours must be face-to-face hours
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA A minimum GPA of 3.0 in all Psychology courses AND a 3.0 for the last 60 semester units
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition, time to complete and format. Worth asking admissions directly.
Explicitly BBS-approved for CA MFT; program states it has made no determination of licensure eligibility in any state other than California
What people say about it 1
Santa Clara University
Santa ClaraDegreeM.A. in Counseling Psychology (MFT track; LPCC track; joint MFT/LPCC track)
Units90 quarter units; 91.5–93 quarter units for joint MFT/LPCC
Length3 years
FormatIn-person + online; full- and part-time pathways
PracticumYou apply, with helpMFT: Supervised fieldwork experience with a minimum of 225 hours of face-to-face experience counseling individuals, families, or groups. Up to 75 hours may be gained performing client-centered advocacy. SCU-CPSY requires a total time at the site for the academic year to be at least 550 hours. LPCC: [...] a minimum of 280 face-to-face clinical hours.
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.0
Published tuition$726 a unit
Emphases: Latino Counseling, LGBTQ Counseling, Health Psychology, Correctional Psychology, Child & Adolescent Mental Health
What people say about it 2
r/psychologystudents · 2026UCLA MSW vs SCU Counseling Psychology, if I want to be a therapist20 comments weighing the two routes.mixedThe GradCafe · 2014Accepted, but now what? MSW vs MFTAccepted to Santa Clara, USF and Alliant. A USF alum recommends USF; OP notes USF gave no institutional aid to MFT students that year.mixed
Sentio University
Los Angeles (residencies) / hybridDegreeM.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy
Units60 credits
Length20 months (5 semesters)
FormatHybrid — online coursework + in-person LA residencies
PracticumSeat guaranteedWe guarantee students over 400 hours of clinical experience that can be counted toward licensure in California.
Admissions testNot required
The Board has issued a Notice to Students about this school
Sentio holds provisional approval from the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, and that approval expires in July 2028. Per the Board’s notice, a Sentio graduate may register as an Associate and may sit the California Law and Ethics exam — but may not sit the Clinical Exam, and therefore cannot be licensed, until Sentio is fully accredited. If accreditation is not achieved by July 2028, Associates registered on this degree are disqualified and their supervised hours will not be accepted. That is the whole pathway, so read the notice itself before applying — and note that the school appears on the Board’s qualifying-degree list at the same time. Read the Board’s notice (PDF, 27 May 2026) →
One of only 3 schools that state every student in good standing gets a clinical placement.
Not published; scholarships $16,800–$67,200. Federal student loans NOT accepted.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Simpson University
ReddingDegreeM.A. in Counseling Psychology (MACP)
Units67.5 units
Length2 years
FormatIn class two nights a week, in 7-week terms
Practicumnot published
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA 3.0 cumulative GPA (for final 60 semester credits – applicants with a lower GPA may still be considered through our holistic admissions process)
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
One of only 4 options on the Board’s list sited in far northern California.
The program page states it meets Board requirements for both LMFT and LPCC. With Cal Poly Humboldt it is one of only two options on the Board’s list sited in far northern California, which is most of the reason to know about it.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Sofia University
Palo AltoDegreeM.A. in Counseling Psychology (MACP)
Units90–97.5 quarter units depending on concentration
Length3 years
FormatOnline + low-residency (two 10-day intensives per year — one in-person on campus at the start of Fall, one virtual synchronous at the start of Spring)
PracticumYou find your ownin California, a minimum of 225 supervised clinical hours are required for LMFT, and a minimum of 280 supervised direct counseling hours are required for LPCC
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.0
LPCC: Yes — students elect LMFT track, LPCC track, or both, starting in year 2
Creative Expression Concentration (21 units); transpersonal psychology heritage
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Sonoma State University
Rohnert ParkDegreeM.A. in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialization
Units60 units
Length2-year or 2.5-year plans
FormatOn-campus with field experience
PracticumYou apply, with helpSix hundred clock hours of supervised field experience are required for the CMHC specialization.
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.0
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Southern California Seminary
El CajonDegreeM.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy (MAMFT)
Units72 units
Lengthnot published
FormatOn campus, with online options
Practicumnot published
Admissions testnot published
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition and time to complete. Worth asking admissions directly.
The Board lists it for LMFT and LPCC. The program page describes the Board-required training components but does not itself name the LPCC pathway.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →The Chicago School
Los Angeles, Anaheim, OnlineDegreeM.A. Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy · PsyD Marital and Family Therapy (Anaheim, Los Angeles)
Unitsnot published
LengthMA: 3 years (fall start)
FormatIn-person and online, with two mandatory residencies in Southern California
PracticumYou apply, with helpstudents participate in a 12-month clinical training field placement and accumulate a minimum of 300 face-to-face hours, including at least 100 relational hours, of supervised clinical experience in a mental health setting
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA 3.0
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition and units. Worth asking admissions directly.
One of the 12 COAMFTE-accredited programs here — the accreditation that decides whether the degree travels out of California.
Practicum: 300 face-to-face contact hours minimum, ≥100 with couples and families
What people say about it 1
The Wright Institute
BerkeleyDegreeM.A. in Counseling Psychology
Units60 credit units
Length2 years as designed; 3-year option available by deferring practicum
FormatCohort model; daytime and weekend schedules
PracticumYou apply, with helpIn order to graduate, you need to accrue a minimum of 500 hours of supervised clinical experience, including 280 direct client hours.
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA 3.0
Cultural competency and social justice emphasis. Note: students who defer practicum are not eligible for federal loans in year 3.
What people say about it 2
Touro University Worldwide
Los Alamitos / onlineDegreeM.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy (M.A. MFT)
Units72 semester credit hours (18 courses = 54 cr + 6 practicum courses = 18 cr)
Lengthnot published
Format100% online, 8-week modules
PracticumYou find your own300 Total Practicum Client Contact Hours
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA 2.5 (or 2.75 for transfer students from another graduate program)
Published tuition$37,800 total
Not published by the school: time to complete. Worth asking admissions directly.
This program’s COAMFTE accreditation is on show cause
Touro’s own student-and-consumer-information page states that the Marriage and Family Therapy track “is the only track accredited with show cause” by COAMFTE. Show cause is the most serious status short of withdrawal: the program keeps its accreditation while it is required to demonstrate why it should not lose it. Two things this does not mean. The institution is not in trouble — WSCUC lists Touro University Worldwide as accredited with no sanction, most recent Commission action 27 June 2025. And it does not stop you licensing in California: the Board lists this institution, and California licensure does not require COAMFTE accreditation at all. What it does affect is portability to states and employers that require a COAMFTE degree, and the risk that the program’s status changes while you are enrolled. If you are considering this program, or are in it, ask the program directly what the show-cause findings were and when the Commission next reviews them. Read the Board’s notice (PDF, 10 August 2026) →
The cheapest published cost on the Board’s list — $37,800, against $152,340 at the other end.
Program states the MFT track meets CA BBS requirements without additional coursework. 300 practicum client-contact hours, ≥100 relational.
What people say about it 2
r/therapists · 2018Touro University Worldwide - Legit School?A Californian accepted to the online MFT, worried about self-sourcing internships and accreditation.criticalr/psychologystudents · 2025Antioch vs. Touro MFT — which supports licensure and working parents?Concrete detail on Touro's unusual relational-hours practicum requirement.informational
University of La Verne
La VerneDegreeM.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy
Units61 units (page also references '62-credit program' — internally inconsistent)
Length~3 years full-time
FormatIn-person, Mon/Wed late afternoon (4:00–6:25) or evening (6:50–9:15)
PracticumStudents must complete a minimum of 280 direct face-to-face hours by completion of the year-long practicum experience.who secures the seat: not published
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.0
Published tuition$990 a unit
Program established 1973; fall-only admission, Feb 15 deadline; 225-hour minimum fieldwork
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →University of Massachusetts Global (formerly Brandman)
Online — BBS lists 'California campus only'DegreeM.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT/PCC)
Units69 credits
Lengthnot published
FormatOnline coursework + 400 supervised in-person practicum hours; 8-week sessions, six start dates/year
PracticumYou find your ownOf the 400 hours, 300 hours must be direct client contact (DCC) and at least 100 of the DCC hours must be relational hours.
Admissions testNot required
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition and time to complete. Worth asking admissions directly.
LPCC: Three additional courses may make graduates eligible to register as an APCC in some states
An out-of-state institution running a California-specific degree — 13 of the 78 are.
The Board’s listing is qualified: it reads “University of Massachusetts Global – California campus only”. UMass Global is a national institution and the Board’s approval does not extend past the California campus, so confirm which campus a given cohort is enrolled through before assuming the degree qualifies.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →University of Phoenix
Online (Phoenix, AZ; enrollment restricted to California residents)DegreeM.S. in Counseling, Marriage, Family and Child Therapy
Units60 credits
Lengthnot published
FormatFully online and asynchronous, in 5–6 week courses
PracticumYou find your ownA minimum of 300 direct client hours are required to graduate.
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA 2.5
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition and time to complete. Worth asking admissions directly.
An out-of-state institution running a California-specific degree — 13 of the 78 are.
California residents only, by design — the program exists to satisfy the California Board. Read it as an out-of-state institution delivering a California-specific degree, not as a California campus.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →University of Redlands
RedlandsDegreeM.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with a Marriage and Family Therapy specialization
Units60 units, 66 with the MFT specialization
Lengthnot published
FormatOn campus
PracticumYou apply, with help
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.0
Not published by the school: time to complete. Worth asking admissions directly.
LPCC is the base outcome; the MFT specialization adds LMFT eligibility
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →University of San Diego (SOLES)
San DiegoDegreeM.A. in Marital and Family Therapy
Units60 units
Lengthnot published
Formatnot published
PracticumYou apply, with help400 hours of direct client contact, 200 of which are acquired with couples and/or families
Admissions testNot requiredminimum GPA 3.00
Not published by the school: time to complete and format. Worth asking admissions directly.
One of the 12 COAMFTE-accredited programs here — the accreditation that decides whether the degree travels out of California.
Dept. of Counseling & Marital and Family Therapy; COAMFTE-accredited since 1992 (per third-party source, unverified on USD's own site)
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →University of San Francisco
San Francisco (also Sacramento campus)DegreeM.A. in Counseling Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy Concentration
Units60 units
Lengthnot published
Formatnot published
Practicumnot published
Admissions testNot required
Not published by the school: time to complete and format. Worth asking admissions directly.
What people say about it 2
r/gradadmissions · 2023University of San Francisco - Counseling Psychology, MFT 3yr ProgramAdmitted students comparing the two-year and three-year tracks, and USF against CIIS.positiver/gradadmissions · 2026Accepted to my top choice but terrified of debtUSF two-year MFT at $81k. Replies do explicit return-on-investment arithmetic.critical
University of Southern California (Rossier)
Los AngelesDegreeM.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy
Units60 units
Length24 months full-time
FormatOn-campus OR online (synchronous)
Practicumnot published
Admissions testNot required
The most expensive published cost here — $152,340, about 4.0 times the cheapest.
Mandatory fees $977 on-campus / $31 online; school projects 3–5% annual increases
What people say about it 2
University of the Pacific (Benerd College)
StocktonDegreeM.A. in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy
Units62 units
Length2 years
FormatFlexible hybrid — online and in-classroom
Practicumnot published
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.0 (last 60 units)
Relatively new program. Cannot support an I-20 for international students.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →University of the West
RosemeadDegreeM.A. in Psychology — Marriage and Family Therapy
Units63 units
Length2.5–3 years
FormatIn-person; Fall and Spring starts
Practicumnot published
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.00
States it is the only Buddhist-focused MFT curriculum in the state and nation. 10:1 student-faculty ratio. Four specializations: Generalist, Family Systems & Intergenerational Studies, Mindfulness-Based Therapy, Community Mental Health.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Vanguard University
Costa MesaDegreeM.S. in Clinical Psychology
Units61–66 units
Length2–4 years (3-year track most popular)
FormatOn-campus (16-week courses) and online (8-week courses)
PracticumYou apply, with help
Admissions testnot published
Average class size 12; late afternoon and evening scheduling
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Weimar University
WeimarDegreeM.A. in Counseling Psychology and Wellness
Units60 units
Length2 years full time
FormatOnline only
Practicum280 of those hours must be direct client contact in a clinical setting counseling individuals, couples, families, or groupswho secures the seat: not published
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.0 (last 45 units)
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
One of only 4 options on the Board’s list sited in far northern California.
One of the few schools on the Board’s list that says it in its own words: the program page states it is “approved by the state of California’s Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) for both LPCC and LMFT licensure requirements.”
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Western Institute for Social Research
BerkeleyDegreeM.S. in Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy
Unitsnot published
Length2–6 years
FormatOnline
PracticumYou find your ownthe Practicum must include 150 hours of face-to-face/direct client counseling, and for those wishing to also qualify for the LPCC license, the Practicum must include 280 hours of face-to-face/direct client counseling
Admissions testnot published
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition and units. Worth asking admissions directly.
Tuition is $9,600 a year, charged as an annual subscription rather than per unit — on any ordinary completion timeline that makes it by a wide margin the cheapest LMFT-qualifying degree on the Board’s list. Two things to weigh against that. It is accredited by DEAC, a national rather than a regional accreditor, which is the distinction that decides whether a degree travels. And the unit count is not on the website; it is in the June 2026 catalog PDF. Non-profit, founded 1975.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →Western Seminary
San JoseDegreeM.A. in Counseling, Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling specialization
Units71 credits
LengthAbout 3 years (minimum 2 years 8 months)
FormatPrimarily in person, with 10 credits available online
PracticumYou find your owna minimum of 280 hours of face-to-face experience counseling individuals, couples, families, or groups
Admissions testnot publishedminimum GPA 3.0
Published tuitionnot published
Not published by the school: tuition. Worth asking admissions directly.
Board-approved since 1992, and the page states it satisfies both the AMFT/LMFT and APCC/LPCC registration paths. The seminary is Oregon-based; the California counseling degree is delivered from the San Jose campus, which is what the Board lists.
Courses, curriculum, practicum and cost →| Keep | Institution | Practicum — who secures it | Admissions test | Units | Length | Format | Published tuition | COAMFTE | LPCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alliant International University (CSPP)San Diego, Irvine, Los Angeles/Alhambra, Sacramento, Online | You find your own | not published | MA: 60 credits. PsyD/PhD: page cites '69-unit and 114-unit' options — not cleanly attributable, left unverified. | MA: minimum 2 years (6 semesters or 13 terms) | On-campus and fully online (synchronous + asynchronous) | $1,463/unit | Yes | Yes | |
| America Evangelical University / Kairos Pacific UniversityTustin | not published | not published | 66 units | About 2.5 years | In person, with evening and part-time options | not published | — | Yes | |
| Antioch University Los AngelesCulver City / Los Angeles | not published | not published | 90 quarter credits | not published | not published | $956/unit | — | Yes | |
| Antioch University Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara | not published | Not required | 90 quarter units minimum | 8 quarters (24 months) minimum full-time, one-day-per-week schedule | On-campus, some weekend and online courses | not published | — | Yes | |
| Azusa Pacific UniversityAzusa, Inland Empire, Orange County, San Diego | You apply, with help | not published | 63–90 units | 2–4 years (3 years is the recommended pace) | Evening and daytime cohorts | $865/unit | — | Yes | |
| Biola University (Talbot School of Theology)La Mirada | not published | Not required | 67 credits | 4 years | On-campus | not published | — | No | |
| Cal Poly HumboldtArcata | Program places you | not published | 60 units (16 of them fieldwork) | not published | not published | not published | — | No | |
| Cal Poly PomonaPomona | You apply, with help | Not required | 60 units | not published | not published | not published | — | No | |
| Cal Poly San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo | Program places you | Not required | 69 semester units (73 with thesis) | not published | not published | not published | — | No | |
| California Baptist UniversityRiverside | not published | not published | 63–87 units | 2 years | Fall, Spring and Summer entry points; on-campus and online variants exist | $864/unit | — | Yes | |
| California Institute of Integral StudiesSan Francisco | You apply, with help | not published | 60 units (LMFT track); 70 units (LPCC track) | 3 years (7 semesters) | On-campus weekday; on-campus weekend (5 weekends/semester); hybrid online | $1,449/unit | — | Yes | |
| California Lutheran UniversityThousand Oaks | Seat guaranteed | not published | 60 credits | 3 years (2-year accelerated option) | On-campus, Thousand Oaks; day and evening cohorts | $940/unit | — | No | |
| California Southern UniversityOnline (Chandler, AZ; incorporated in California in 1978) | not published | not published | 60 credits | not published | Fully online | not published | — | Yes | |
| California State University, BakersfieldBakersfield | not published | not published | 66 semester units | 3 years, full-time cohort | In-person full-time cohort, classes 1pm-10pm Mon-Thu, fall entry only | not published | — | Yes | |
| California State University, ChicoChico | You apply, with help | Not required | 60 units | 3 years, full-time cohort | Fully on-campus, Mon-Fri 8am-6pm; on campus 3-4 days a week for the first two years | not published | — | No | |
| California State University, Dominguez HillsCarson | You apply, with help | Required, waivable | 64 credits | 3 years | not published | not published | — | Yes | |
| California State University, East BayHayward | not published | Not required | not published | 2 years (~5 semesters) | Full-time cohort, Hayward campus only; day, evening, some weekends | not published | — | Yes | |
| California State University, Fresno (Fresno State)Fresno | You find your own | not published | 60 units | 5 semesters | On-campus + clinic | not published | — | Yes | |
| California State University, Fullerton (University Extension)Fullerton | You apply, with help | Not required | 63 units (21 courses) | 3 years + 1 term | On-campus, part-time, evening | $675/unit | — | Yes | |
| California State University, Long BeachLong Beach | not published | Not required | 65 units min | 2-year or 2.5-year tracks | Hybrid — in-person + synchronous online; not fully online. Late afternoon/evening M–Th, some weekend sessions | not published | — | Yes | |
| California State University, Los AngelesLos Angeles | not published | Not required | 73–77 units | 2.5–3 years, full-time only | In-person, late-afternoon/evening, 2–4 days/week; explicitly no online option | not published | — | Yes | |
| California State University, NorthridgeNorthridge | You apply, with help | Required | 72 semester units | 2.5–3 years, cohort, mandatory summers | Primarily in-person, some hybrid courses | not published | Yes | Yes | |
| California State University, SacramentoSacramento | You apply, with help | not published | 60 units | not published | not published | not published | — | Yes | |
| California State University, San BernardinoSan Bernardino | not published | not published | 60–68 semester units (varies by culminating option) | 2 years, full-time day cohort | On-campus full-time lockstep cohort | not published | — | Yes | |
| California State University, StanislausTurlock | not published | Not required | 60 units min (36 core + 24 track) | 2.5 years (5 semesters) | not published | not published | — | Yes | |
| Campbellsville University — Los Angeles Education Center (formerly Phillips Graduate University/Institute)Los Angeles | You apply, with help | not published | 60 units | 2 years / 5 consecutive terms incl. summers; part-time 6–7 terms | One full day per week (Saturday or weekday, 8am–5pm PT) plus case conferences and practicum | $66,495 | — | No | |
| Chapman UniversityOrange | Seat guaranteed | Required, waivable | not published | 2 years incl. one-year clinical practicum | On-campus | not published | Yes | Yes | |
| Concordia University Irvine (Townsend Institute)Irvine / online | not published | not published | 66 units | ~3–4 years | Online coursework + a required 4-day on-campus residency | $695/unit | — | Yes | |
| Daybreak UniversityAnaheim / online | not published | not published | 90 units | ~2–3 years | Online via Zoom; face-to-face and hybrid also available; 10-week terms, twice weekly 3-hour classes | not published | Yes | Yes | |
| Dominican University of CaliforniaSan Rafael | Program places you | not published | 43 units base MS; 60 units with MFT and/or PCC concentration | 30–36 months | In-person; part-time, full-time, evening and weekend options | $83,882 | — | Yes | |
| Fresno Pacific UniversityFresno | You apply, with help | not published | 65 units minimum | Three-year or four-year pathway | On-campus (Fresno main campus), some online courses | $610/unit | — | No | |
| Fuller Theological SeminaryPasadena (also an Arizona campus) | not published | not published | 98 quarter units standard track; 100 quarter units LPCC track (Pasadena only) | Two-year full-time track (14–16 units per quarter) or three-year track; both offered at Pasadena and Phoenix | not published | $540/unit | — | Yes | |
| Golden Gate UniversitySan Francisco / online | not published | Not required | 60 credits | As few as 2.5 years full-time; part-time available | Online or hybrid | $1,090/unit | — | Yes | |
| HIS UniversityBrea | You find your own | not published | 67 units | not published | not published | not published | — | No | |
| Hope International UniversityFullerton | You apply, with help | not published | MA: 60 units | MA: 2–3 years | On-ground; morning, afternoon and evening courses in 8–16 week sessions | not published | Yes | Yes | |
| Jessup UniversityRocklin | not published | not published | 63 units | 26 months | In person at Rocklin and San Jose, with a fully remote option for California residents | not published | — | Yes | |
| Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health SciencesRichmond (also San Mateo and Lathrop) | Program places you | Not required | 90 quarter credits | 24 months, eight quarters, full time | Hybrid — two afternoons or evenings a week, one in person and one online; clinical hours in business hours | $38,970 | — | No | |
| La Sierra UniversityRiverside | not published | not published | 96 quarter units (~64 semester) | not published | not published | $730/unit | — | Yes | |
| Life Pacific UniversitySan Dimas | not published | not published | 63 units | 21 courses plus a 12-month practicum | Online, synchronous and asynchronous, in 8-week terms | not published | — | Yes | |
| Loma Linda UniversityLoma Linda | You apply, with help | Not required | Quarter system; totals not published on the pages checked | MS: 2 years. DMFT: 3 years. | MS: campus-based or online. DMFT: online, blended synchronous + asynchronous. | not published | Yes | Yes | |
| Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles | Program places you | Not required | 57-60 semester units | not published | not published | $1,814/unit | — | Yes | |
| Meridian UniversityPetaluma / Los Angeles campus + online | You find your own | not published | 103 quarter credits (~69 semester) | 24–36 months | Hybrid and online | $676/unit | — | Yes | |
| Mount Saint Mary's UniversityLos Angeles | You apply, with help | Not required | 60 units | 2 years (daytime) or 3 years (evening) | Hybrid; the Enlaces! certificate track is also available fully online (synchronous evenings, 3 years) | $1,210/unit | — | Yes | |
| National University (absorbed Northcentral University and John F. Kennedy University)San Diego / online | You apply, with help | Not required | MAMFT: minimum 45 semester credit hours, up to 60 for licensure requirements in some states | ~33 months average | Online with local in-person practicum/internship | not published | Yes | Yes | |
| Northwestern University, The Family InstituteEvanston, IL / online | Program places you | Not required | 25 Northwestern quarter units (26 courses) | not published | Two COAMFTE-accredited branches: on-campus Evanston, and online | not published | Yes | not published | |
| Notre Dame de Namur UniversityBelmont | not published | Not required | 60 units | 2–3 years | In-person, synchronous online, and asynchronous online; part-time or full-time; late afternoon, evening, weekends | not published | — | Yes | |
| Pacific Oaks CollegePasadena | You apply, with help | not published | 60 credits (LPCC specialization adds 5 credits) | 2.5 years full-time / 4 years part-time | On-campus, not offered online | not published | — | Yes | |
| Pacifica Graduate InstituteCarpinteria / Santa Barbara | You find your own | Not required | 93 quarter units | 2.5 years (10 quarters) | Residential low-residency — three-day monthly sessions plus seven-day summer sessions in years 1 and 2; four track options (weekend and weekday) | $70,000 | — | Yes | |
| Palo Alto UniversityPalo Alto | You apply, with help | Not required | Quarter system; 4.5 quarter units per course; total not stated | 9 quarters (~2 years) | Residential hybrid (weekday evenings, on-campus or Zoom) OR distance/online (live Zoom + two in-person residencies) | not published | — | Yes | |
| Pepperdine University (GSEP)West Los Angeles / Irvine / Calabasas / online | You apply, with help | Required, waivable | 60–66 units (on-ground); 68 units (online) | 2.5–3 years | Evening on-campus at 3 sites, daytime format at West LA, and fully online | $140,080 | — | Yes | |
| Point Loma Nazarene UniversitySan Diego (Mission Valley Regional Center) | You apply, with help | not published | 63 units | 24 months (fall start) or 32 months (spring start) | Face-to-face, two nights/week | $848/unit | — | Yes | |
| Rhombus UniversityLa Mesa | You find your own | Required | 60 units | 2–3 years | Online and self-paced | not published | — | Yes | |
| Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaMoraga | You apply, with help | Not required | 68 units minimum (40 core + 28 specialization); 81 units with dual School Counseling specialization | 3–5 year plans of study | Classroom + weekly seminars + fieldwork | $1,180/unit | — | Yes | |
| San Diego State UniversitySan Diego | not published | Not required | 60 semester units | 2.5 years incl. three summers | On-campus, cohort, classes ≤30 students | not published | Yes | Yes | |
| San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco | You apply, with help | Not required | 60 units min | Published 2-year and 3-year roadmaps; department-reported average time to degree is 2.9 years (range 2–7). | In-person | not published | — | Yes | |
| San Jose State UniversitySan Jose | You find your own | Not required | 60 semester units | not published | not published | not published | — | Yes | |
| Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara | You apply, with help | not published | 90 quarter units; 91.5–93 quarter units for joint MFT/LPCC | 3 years | In-person + online; full- and part-time pathways | $726/unit | — | Yes | |
| Sentio UniversityLos Angeles (residencies) / hybrid | Seat guaranteed | Not required | 60 credits | 20 months (5 semesters) | Hybrid — online coursework + in-person LA residencies | $67,200 | — | No | |
| Simpson UniversityRedding | not published | Not required | 67.5 units | 2 years | In class two nights a week, in 7-week terms | not published | — | Yes | |
| Sofia UniversityPalo Alto | You find your own | not published | 90–97.5 quarter units depending on concentration | 3 years | Online + low-residency (two 10-day intensives per year — one in-person on campus at the start of Fall, one virtual synchronous at the start of Spring) | $663/unit | — | Yes | |
| Sonoma State UniversityRohnert Park | You apply, with help | not published | 60 units | 2-year or 2.5-year plans | On-campus with field experience | not published | — | Yes | |
| Southern California SeminaryEl Cajon | not published | not published | 72 units | not published | On campus, with online options | not published | — | Yes | |
| The Chicago SchoolLos Angeles, Anaheim, Online | You apply, with help | Not required | not published | MA: 3 years (fall start) | In-person and online, with two mandatory residencies in Southern California | not published | Yes | Yes | |
| The Wright InstituteBerkeley | You apply, with help | Not required | 60 credit units | 2 years as designed; 3-year option available by deferring practicum | Cohort model; daytime and weekend schedules | $78,600 | — | Yes | |
| Touro University WorldwideLos Alamitos / online | You find your own | Not required | 72 semester credit hours (18 courses = 54 cr + 6 practicum courses = 18 cr) | not published | 100% online, 8-week modules | $37,800 | Yes | Yes | |
| University of La VerneLa Verne | not published | not published | 61 units (page also references '62-credit program' — internally inconsistent) | ~3 years full-time | In-person, Mon/Wed late afternoon (4:00–6:25) or evening (6:50–9:15) | $990/unit | — | No | |
| University of Massachusetts Global (formerly Brandman)Online — BBS lists 'California campus only' | You find your own | Not required | 69 credits | not published | Online coursework + 400 supervised in-person practicum hours; 8-week sessions, six start dates/year | not published | — | Yes | |
| University of PhoenixOnline (Phoenix, AZ; enrollment restricted to California residents) | You find your own | Not required | 60 credits | not published | Fully online and asynchronous, in 5–6 week courses | not published | — | Yes | |
| University of RedlandsRedlands | You apply, with help | not published | 60 units, 66 with the MFT specialization | not published | On campus | $932/unit | — | Yes | |
| University of San Diego (SOLES)San Diego | You apply, with help | Not required | 60 units | not published | not published | $105,060 | Yes | Yes | |
| University of San FranciscoSan Francisco (also Sacramento campus) | not published | Not required | 60 units | not published | not published | $81,000 | — | Yes | |
| University of Southern California (Rossier)Los Angeles | not published | Not required | 60 units | 24 months full-time | On-campus OR online (synchronous) | $152,340 | — | No | |
| University of the Pacific (Benerd College)Stockton | not published | not published | 62 units | 2 years | Flexible hybrid — online and in-classroom | $1,244/unit | — | Yes | |
| University of the WestRosemead | not published | not published | 63 units | 2.5–3 years | In-person; Fall and Spring starts | $765/unit | — | No | |
| Vanguard UniversityCosta Mesa | You apply, with help | not published | 61–66 units | 2–4 years (3-year track most popular) | On-campus (16-week courses) and online (8-week courses) | $855/unit | — | Yes | |
| Weimar UniversityWeimar | not published | not published | 60 units | 2 years full time | Online only | not published | — | Yes | |
| Western Institute for Social ResearchBerkeley | You find your own | not published | not published | 2–6 years | Online | not published | — | Yes | |
| Western SeminarySan Jose | You find your own | not published | 71 credits | About 3 years (minimum 2 years 8 months) | Primarily in person, with 10 credits available online | not published | — | Yes |
Same seventy-eight records as the cards, one row each. Deliberately not sortable: forty-six schools publish no tuition, and a column sorted on a figure most of them do not have would order the page by who answers a question rather than by anything about the degrees.
Nothing matches that. Clear a filter or try a shorter search.
Threads about the decision itself
Not about one school — about accreditation, debt, practicum risk and whether the route is worth walking at all.
r/psychologystudents · 2026MFT / MSW / LPC programs with WSCUC accreditation vs COAMFTE or CACREPThe clearest explanation found of why a WSCUC-accredited, BBS-approved degree is fine inside California and painful outside it.informationalr/therapists · 2023MFT moving from CA to NY (non-COAMFTE school), seeking board licensing adviceWhat a non-COAMFTE California degree actually costs you if you leave the state.criticalr/therapists · 2025If a school loses accreditation, do you still get to keep your license?A prospective California student choosing among COAMFTE-listed schools that people call degree mills.informationalStudent Doctor Network · 2026Research shows most COAMFTE MFT students don't feel prepared for clinical practiceCites a 2025 survey of COAMFTE practicum students. Directly relevant to whether accreditation is a quality signal.criticalStudent Doctor Network · 2024Questions about MFT programs and practicums in CaliforniaA recent California graduate, now an associate, explains at length why practicum quality matters more than coursework.informationalStudent Doctor Network · 2018MFT program, need adviceA faculty member replies that at master's level there is little reputational difference, and recommends the public CSUs.informationalr/psychologystudents · 2023Los Angeles LMFT/LPCC training hours — always unpaid?Whether practicum and traineeship hours are paid in Los Angeles.criticalr/therapists · 2022No practicum sites in my areaA rural California student in an online program unable to find a placement. The practicum risk, made concrete.criticalr/therapists · 2026The road to licensure is destroying my mental health72 comments. A California associate at about 25 clients a week. Read this before you commit.criticalr/CounselingPsychology · 2026Is taking out a $130k loan for an MFT program worth it in California?Every reply says no.criticalThe GradCafe · 2014CACREP and COAMFTE accredited MFT in CaliforniaAn applicant realizing after acceptance that none of their California programs hold either accreditation.informationalThe GradCafe · 2020CSUN and CSULB MFT / masters in counselingThe busiest CSUN and CSULB admissions thread.informationalr/therapists · 2022Do major telehealth providers hire grads from Saybrook?Employability of an online, non-APA master's. Several people redirect to cheaper state programs.critical
What is not here
Institutions with no credible discussion found
Searched by every name variant across Reddit, Student Doctor Network and The GradCafe. Silence is not a verdict — several of these are small, and two have closed — but a missing link should not read as an endorsement, so they are named.
Phillips Graduate InstituteSofia UniversityMount Saint Mary's UniversityNotre Dame de Namur UniversityLoyola Marymount UniversityJohn F. Kennedy UniversityNational UniversityCalifornia State University, BakersfieldCalifornia State University, StanislausCalifornia State University, San BernardinoCalifornia State University, Fresno (Fresno State)California State University, SacramentoCalifornia State University, ChicoSonoma State UniversityCal Poly HumboldtCalifornia State University, Fullerton (University Extension)California State University, Los AngelesCalifornia State University, Dominguez Hillsr/psychotherapy is now private and r/mft has been banned. Both carried good California threads; nine of them had to be dropped because they no longer resolve.
How this was built
Tuition is never estimated. 35 institutions publish a per-unit or total figure and it is shown with the year and a link to the page it came from. The other 43 say not published. A prospective student comparing a $37,800 program against a $152,340 one deserves to know which figure came from the institution and which came from me. None came from me.
The LPCC column is the Board’s answer, not the school’s. Its table names the licenses each institution is listed for, so a card says LPCC route too only where the Board’s row carries LPCC, and LMFT only where it does not. Where a school adds a condition of its own — a campus, a format, an extra emphasis — the condition is printed under the card in the school’s own terms. The Board lists institutions rather than programs, so a school listed for both may open the LPCC route through a different degree than the one shown here; that is the question to ask admissions.
Nothing is ranked. There is no score, no stars and no best-of. The one comparative fact that is objective is COAMFTE accreditation, and it is a filter rather than a verdict.
Every forum link was verified to resolve on 7 August 2026, against the host's own endpoint rather than constructed from a thread ID. Descriptions are mine; nothing is quoted beyond a phrase. Sentiment tags are my reading of the thread, not a measurement.
Accreditation status is from the COAMFTE directory; the institution list is from the BBS education resources page. Everything else is from each institution's own site. If something here is wrong, tell me — that is what the page is for.
What changed on this page (1)
- 2026-08-07
- Reconciled the program directory against the Board's own list: 13 institutions added (65 to 78), and the LPCC column corrected for 33 of them — 7 that showed no answer are listed for LMFT and not LPCC, including Cal Poly Humboldt, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and USC. source ↗
Where you are on the path
You are still deciding.
11 other pages on this site are written for this stage. Next, most people read: what the whole route actually takes · what the work pays at the end · what the license itself costs.
Everything for this stage →Licensure
The route to LMFT, and how long it really takes.
Am I on track for California psychologist renewal?A private returning progress record for the 36-hour CPD cycleCan this person and arrangement support my California associate hours?A private multi-license screen for the supervisor, employer relationship, weekly plan, and required recordsWhat does my next California BBS license renewal require?A private renewal workspace for timing, status, fees, CE and reminders
All 191 pages on licensure →Public verification record
Source-checked, not expert-reviewed.
Checked . Scheduled review by ; sooner if Board education-resource revision, institution closure, program-status change, or monthly checkpoint.
Maintained evidence behind this page
Built on 2 public evidence records.
If a watched source changes, these dependencies put this page into the correction review before a material update can ship.
No rankings, no estimates
The same license costs $37,800 at one California program and $152,340 at another.
Seventy-eight institutions, on published facts only. Degree, units, length, format, accreditation and cost, next to what students and graduates actually say in public.
