1. A. An applicant for licensure as an associate marriage and family therapist or a marriage and family therapist shall have a master’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university in a behavioral health science program that:

   1. 1. Is accredited by COAMFTE;
   2. 2. Was previously approved by the Board under A.R.S. § 32-3253(A)(14); or
   3. 3. Includes at least three semester or four quarter credit hours in each of the number of courses specified in the core content areas listed in subsection (B).

2. B. Through December 31, 2029, a program under subsection (A)(3) shall include:

   1. 1. Marriage and family studies: Three courses from a family systems theory orientation that collectively contain at minimum the following elements:

      1. a. Introductory family systems theory;
      2. b. Family development;
      3. c. Family systems, including marital, sibling, and individual subsystems; and
      4. d. Gender and cultural issues;

   2. 2. Marriage and family therapy: Three courses that collectively contain at a minimum the following elements:

      1. a. Advanced family systems theory and interventions;
      2. b. Major systemic marriage and family therapy treatment approaches;
      3. c. Communications; and
      4. d. Sex therapy;

   3. 3. Human development: Three courses that may integrate family systems theory that collectively contain at minimum the following elements:

      1. a. Normal and abnormal human development;
      2. b. Human sexuality; and
      3. c. Psychopathology and abnormal behavior;

   4. 4. Professional studies: One course including at minimum:

      1. a. Professional ethics as a therapist, including legal and ethical responsibilities and liabilities; and
      2. b. Family law;
   5. 5. Research: One course in research design, methodology, and statistics in behavioral health science; and
   6. 6. Supervised practicum: Two courses that supplement the practical experience gained under subsection (F).

3. C. Beginning January 1, 2030, a program under subsection (A)(3) shall include:

   1. 1. Foundations of relational/systemic practice, theories, and models: Two courses that collectively contain at a minimum the following elements:

      1. a. Historical development of the MFT relational/systemic philosophy;
      2. b. Contemporary conceptual foundations of MFT; and
      3. c. Evidence-based practice and the biopsychosocial framework;

   2. 2. Clinical treatment with individuals, couples, and families: Two courses that collectively contain at a minimum the following elements:

      1. a. Developing competencies in treatment approaches designed for use with a wide range of diverse individuals, couples, and families (i.e. same-sex couples and interfaith couples, and young children, adolescents, and the elderly);
      2. b. Crisis and trauma intervention;
      3. c. Sex therapy; and
      4. d. Evidenced-based practice;
   3. 3. Biopsychosocial health and development across the life span: One course including at a minimum individual and family development, human sexuality, and biopsychosocial health across the life span;

   4. 4. Professional identity, law, ethics, and social responsibility: One course including at a minimum:

      1. a. Development of a MFT identity and socialization;
      2. b. Ethics in MFT practice, including understanding and applying the AAMFT Code of Ethics; and
      3. c. Understanding legal responsibilities;
   5. 5. Research and evaluation: One course in research and evaluation methods and evidence based practice;

   6. 6. Systemic or relational assessment and mental health diagnosis and treatment: One course including at a minimum:

      1. a. Understanding the traditional psycho-diagnostic categories;
      2. b. Understanding psychopathology;
      3. c. Assessing, diagnosing, and treating major mental health issues;
      4. d. Using a MFT relational or systemic philosophy to address common presenting problems including addiction, suicide, trauma, abuse, and intro-familial violence; and
      5. e. Providing therapy for individuals, couples, and families managing acute chronic medical conditions; and
   7. 7. Supervised practicum: Two courses that supplement the practical experience gained under subsection (F).

4. D. Beginning January 1, 2030, in addition to the core content areas specified in subsection (C), a MFT curriculum shall include the following. There is no minimum course requirement for these areas:

   1. 1. Contemporary issues in MFT: Developing awareness of emerging or evolving challenges, problems, or recent developments at the interface of MFT knowledge and practice and the broader local, regional, and global context;
   2. 2. Community intersections and collaboration: Practicing within defined contexts such as healthcare settings, schools, military settings, and private practice or nontraditional MFT practice using therapeutic competencies;
   3. 3. Telehealth practice: Developing competencies required to comply with R4-6-1106; and

   4. 4. Diverse, multicultural, and underserved communities:

      1. a. Understanding and applying knowledge of diversity, power, privilege, and oppression as these relate to race, age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, disability, health status, religion, spiritual beliefs, nation of origin, or other relevant social identities;
      2. b. Practicing with diverse, international, multicultural, marginalized, or underserved communities;
      3. c. Developing competencies in working with sexual and gender minorities and their families; and
      4. d. Developing and implementing anti-racist practices.
5. E. In evaluating the curriculum required under subsections (B) and (C), the Board shall assess whether a core content area is embedded or contained in more than one course. The applicant shall provide information the Board requires to determine whether a core content area is embedded in multiple courses. The Board shall not accept a core content area embedded in more than two courses unless the courses are succession courses. The Board shall allow subject matter in a course to qualify in only one core content area.

6. F. A program’s supervised practicum shall meet the following standards:

   1. 1. Provides an opportunity for the enrolled student to provide marriage and family therapy services to individuals, couples, families, or other systems under the direction of a faculty member or supervisor designated by the college or university;
   2. 2. Occurs over a minimum of two semesters of clinical practice;
   3. 3. Includes at least 300 client-contact hours, 100 of which are relational hours, provided under direct supervision; and
   4. 4. Includes clinical supervision provided by an AAMFT-approved supervisor or an LMFT licensed by the Board.
7. G. An applicant may submit a written request to the ARC for an exemption from the requirement specified in subsection (F)(4). The request shall include the name of the behavioral health professional proposed by the applicant to act as supervisor of the practicum, a copy of the proposed supervisor’s transcript and curriculum vitae, and any additional documentation requested by the ARC. The ARC shall grant the exemption if the ARC determines the proposed supervisor is qualified by education, experience, and training to provide supervision.

8. H. The Board shall deem an applicant to meet the curriculum requirements for marriage and family therapist licensure if the applicant:

   1. 1. Holds an active and in good standing associate marriage and family therapist license issued by the Board; and
   2. 2. Met the curriculum requirements with a master’s degree in a behavioral health field from a regionally accredited university when the associate marriage and family therapist license was issued.

Historical Note

New Section made by exempt rulemaking at 10 A.A.R. 2700, effective July 1, 2004 (Supp. 04-2). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 11 A.A.R. 2713, effective June 27, 2005 (Supp. 05-2). Amended by final exempt rulemaking pursuant to Laws 2015, Chapter 154, § 10, at 21 A.A.R. 2630, effective November 1, 2015 (Supp. 15-4). Amended by final exempt rulemaking pursuant to Laws 2015, Chapter 154, § 10, at 22 A.A.R. 3238, effective November 1, 2016 (Supp. 16-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 26 A.A.R. 2881, effective January 3, 2021 (Supp. 20-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 31 A.A.R. 3032 (September 26, 2025), effective November 2, 2025 (Supp. 25-3).