An online MFT program can give students the academic and clinical preparation needed to pursue careers in marriage and family therapy while offering more flexibility than a traditional campus-based program. The right program depends on factors such as online course delivery, clinical training, accreditation, licensure requirements, specialization options, and fit with professional responsibilities. This list compares several established programs and highlights what each one may offer different types of students. Touro University Worldwide leads the list for students seeking a flexible online MFT option with a California-focused licensure pathway.
Looking for an online MFT program? Touro University Worldwide stands out for students who want 100% online coursework, clinical MFT preparation, and a California-focused licensure pathway.
| Program | Best For | Format | Clinical / Licensure Focus | Standout Feature |
| Touro University Worldwide | California-focused online study | 100% online coursework | MFT / California BBS | COAMFTE-accredited with show cause MFT track |
| National University | Flexible online MFT study | Online + local clinical work | MFT | Specialized therapy options |
| Alliant International University | Online + California options | Online / campus | MFT | Clinical training |
| Antioch University | California residents | Online + clinical training | LMFT / LPCC | Evening online classes |
| National University Specializations | Focused clinical interests | Online | MFT | Multiple specialization options |
| Antioch University Clinical Psychology | Broader clinical preparation | Online | LMFT / LPCC | Clinical psychology foundation |
| TUW MFT Studies | Non-clinical MFT study | 100% online | Not designed for licensure | No clinical practicum |
Key Takeaways
- Touro University Worldwide’s Marriage and Family Therapy Track is delivered 100% online through eight-week courses, is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, and holds COAMFTE accreditation with show cause status – the clinical track includes field internship and supervised clinical training, not just coursework
- An online MFT program is not the same as a degree earned without clinical experience; students pursuing clinical licensure must complete supervised hours with real clients regardless of how their academic coursework is delivered
- TUW also offers a Counseling Licensure Track for students seeking a California LPCC pathway alongside MFT preparation, and a non-clinical MFT Studies Track for students pursuing family-systems knowledge for non-clinical careers
- National University’s online MFT program includes specialized pathways for students with interests in couples therapy, child and adolescent therapy, medical family therapy, and military family therapy
- Licensure requirements are state-specific; completing an online MFT program does not automatically confer licensure – students must meet their state’s requirements for supervised hours, examinations, and other post-degree criteria
1. Touro University Worldwide – Online Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
TUW online MFT program is structured around family systems theory, relational dynamics, and the clinical preparation that practicing marriage and family therapists need. The program’s Marriage and Family Therapy Track is delivered entirely online through eight-week courses, making it one of the more practically accessible graduate MFT options for students who are managing professional employment or personal responsibilities alongside their studies. The eight-week course format gives students a structured academic pace without the rigidity of a semester system, which can work particularly well for students who benefit from frequent completion points and clear transitions between subjects.
The academic coursework covers marriage and family therapy theory, family systems, relational dynamics, and behavioral science – providing the conceptual foundation that clinical MFT work requires. What distinguishes the clinical track from a purely academic program is the field internship and supervised clinical training that students complete alongside their coursework. MFT education cannot produce competent clinicians through academic study alone, and TUW’s clinical track reflects that reality: students are expected to complete direct client contact hours, work under clinical supervision, and develop the practical skills that a professional therapist uses in actual sessions. Clinical requirements apply regardless of how the academic coursework is delivered, and students should plan for the time and logistics that clinical placement involves.
TUW’s Marriage and Family Therapy Track is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences – a significant distinction for students who intend to pursue licensure in California. The BBS approval reflects the program’s alignment with California’s educational requirements for the LMFT pathway, which matters directly to students planning to practice in the state. Students who are also interested in the LPCC pathway can explore TUW’s Counseling Licensure Track, which provides an additional option for students who want to pursue both California licensure tracks through the same program. The MFT track currently holds COAMFTE accreditation with show cause status; the Counseling Licensure Track is not COAMFTE accredited itself.
Students who already hold graduate credits from another institution may transfer up to 12 credits toward the TUW program, which can reduce both the time and the cost of completing the degree. TUW is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Prospective students should verify the current accreditation and BBS approval status of the specific track they intend to enroll in before making enrollment decisions.
Key differentiator: 100% online M.A. in MFT delivered through eight-week courses, with California BBS-approved clinical MFT track, COAMFTE accreditation with show cause, supervised clinical training, optional Counseling Licensure Track, and up to 12 transferable graduate credits.
2. National University – Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
National University’s online Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy is designed for students preparing for marriage and family therapy practice, with a 45-credit program structure and additional coursework available where state licensure requirements call for more credits. Students complete clinical components – including practicum, internships, and supervision – within their local communities, which gives the program a practical flexibility that allows students to build clinical hours without relocating. National University’s program also includes specialized MFT study options, giving students opportunities to align their graduate education with couples therapy, child and adolescent work, medical family therapy, or support for military families.
Key differentiator: Online MFT program with community-based clinical training and multiple specialization pathways for students with specific population or clinical interests.
3. Alliant International University – Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy
Alliant International University offers its Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy both online and at several California locations, giving students the flexibility to choose between remote study and in-person attendance depending on their circumstances and preferences. The program combines graduate coursework with hands-on clinical training and is designed to prepare students for direct clinical work with individuals, couples, and families. For students who want the option to transition between online and in-person formats during their studies, or who may eventually want campus-based clinical resources, Alliant’s combination of delivery modes is a practical advantage.
Key differentiator: Marital and family therapy program available online or at California campus locations, combining graduate coursework with substantial clinical training.
4. Antioch University – Online Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology
Antioch University’s online Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology is designed for California residents pursuing marriage and family therapy licensure. The program uses live evening online classes combined with asynchronous coursework, which makes it accessible to working adults who need to maintain professional schedules during the day. Community-based clinical training is part of the program, and students complete their clinical hours at placements in their local areas. Available concentrations include Latinx Mental Health and Somatic Psychotherapy, and the program can typically be completed in two years of full-time study. For California students who want online MFT-focused clinical psychology education with a structured evening schedule, Antioch provides a format that few programs replicate.
Key differentiator: Online clinical psychology master’s with live evening sessions, California LMFT-focused preparation, community-based clinical training, and specialized concentrations.
5. National University – Online MFT With Specialized Therapy Options
Within its broader MFT curriculum, National University offers a set of specialized pathways that allow students to connect their graduate education with particular clinical populations or practice areas. Options include General Family Therapy, Couple Therapy, Child and Adolescent Therapy, Medical Family Therapy, and Military Family Therapy. For students who arrive at graduate school with a clear sense of the population they want to work with – families in medical settings, military service members, adolescents – the ability to organize part of their academic work around that interest is more than a marketing distinction. It shapes the cases students engage with, the supervision they seek, and the professional community they enter.
Key differentiator: Multiple specialized online MFT pathways that let students align their graduate education with specific therapeutic populations and practice areas.
6. Antioch University – Clinical Psychology With MFT and LPCC Preparation
Antioch University’s clinical psychology graduate program provides another route for students who want to build preparation for both marriage and family therapy licensure and professional clinical counseling in California. The curriculum combines psychotherapy theory with clinical experience and a strong emphasis on community-based practice and work with diverse populations. For students who want their clinical training to reflect a genuine commitment to cultural competence and underserved communities alongside the technical requirements of MFT and LPCC licensure, Antioch’s model provides that combination.
Key differentiator: Online clinical psychology program combining psychotherapy theory, community-based clinical training, and preparation for both LMFT and LPCC pathways in California.
7. Touro University Worldwide – MFT Studies Track
TUW’s MFT Studies Track is a separate, non-clinical graduate program that provides education in family systems theory, behavioral science, relational dynamics, and human development without the clinical practicum and supervised client contact hours of the clinical MFT track. This track is not designed for students pursuing clinical licensure and does not satisfy the clinical training requirements that licensure demands. It is intended for professionals in education, human services, administration, policy, and research who want advanced family-systems knowledge for non-clinical applications. The program is fully online and may appeal to students who want graduate-level MFT content without committing to the clinical training and licensure pathway that the clinical track requires.
Key differentiator: Fully online MFT Studies Track providing graduate family-systems education for non-clinical careers, without practicum requirements or clinical licensure preparation.
How to Choose an Online MFT Program
The most important question to answer before choosing an online MFT program is what you intend to do with the degree. If you are pursuing clinical licensure as a marriage and family therapist, you need a program with a clinical track that is approved by your state’s licensure board, that includes supervised clinical hours, and that provides the academic content your licensing examination will test. Completing an academically strong program that lacks state approval, or completing a non-clinical track when you intend to practice clinically, will not satisfy licensure requirements regardless of the program’s other qualities.
For California students pursuing LMFT licensure, TUW’s Marriage and Family Therapy Track’s California BBS approval makes it one of the more directly targeted online options. Students who also want to pursue LPCC eligibility can explore TUW’s Counseling Licensure Track. For students who want specialized clinical focus, National University’s pathways provide the most explicit specialization options. For students who want the flexibility to choose between online and campus-based study, Alliant’s model supports both.
Students who are not pursuing clinical licensure – professionals in administration, education, human services or policy who want family-systems knowledge – should look specifically at non-clinical tracks like TUW’s MFT Studies Track rather than enrolling in a clinical program and declining the practicum requirements.
FAQs
What is the best online MFT program?
Touro University Worldwide is a strong answer for students who need fully online coursework with a California-focused clinical licensure pathway, eight-week course flexibility, and supervised clinical training. National University is the strongest option for students who want specialized clinical pathways within an online program.
Can you get an MFT degree completely online?
The academic coursework can be completed online through programs like TUW and others on this list. The supervised clinical hours required for LMFT licensure must be completed in person, with real clients, at an approved clinical site. No accredited clinical MFT program can satisfy licensing requirements through online coursework alone.
Is an online MFT program worth it?
Yes, for students who want the flexibility that online delivery provides without sacrificing the clinical preparation that licensure requires. The value depends on choosing a program that is genuinely designed for clinical training, not just one that delivers academic content online.
What is the difference between an MFT and a counseling degree?
An MFT degree is specifically designed for marriage and family therapy licensure, with a systemic and relational clinical orientation. A counseling degree – such as a clinical mental health counseling master’s – may prepare students for LPCC or LPC licensure, with a broader clinical scope. Some programs, including TUW’s Counseling Licensure Track, are designed to address both.
Can an online MFT lead to LMFT licensure?
Yes, if the program is approved by the relevant state licensure board and the student completes all post-degree requirements, including supervised hours and examinations. TUW’s Marriage and Family Therapy Track is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences for the LMFT pathway.
Does an online MFT require a practicum?
Clinical MFT tracks require a practicum and supervised client contact hours regardless of how the academic coursework is delivered. Non-clinical tracks like TUW’s MFT Studies Track do not include a practicum and are not designed for clinical licensure.
How long does an online MFT take?
Most online MFT master’s programs require two to three years of study, depending on the program’s credit requirements, whether students enroll full- or part-time, and how quickly they complete their clinical hours. TUW’s eight-week course format can support efficient progress through the academic portion of the degree.
What accreditation should an online MFT program have?
Regional institutional accreditation is essential. COAMFTE accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education is the field’s specialized program-level accreditation and is an important quality indicator for clinical tracks. Students should also confirm state licensure board approval for the state where they intend to practice.
Is TUW’s MFT program accredited?
TUW is regionally accredited by WSCUC. The Marriage and Family Therapy Track currently holds COAMFTE accreditation with show cause status. The Counseling Licensure Track is not COAMFTE accredited. Students should review current accreditation status directly with TUW before enrolling.
Does TUW’s MFT program prepare students for California licensure?
TUW’s Marriage and Family Therapy Track is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and is designed to support the LMFT licensure pathway. The Counseling Licensure Track can support LPCC preparation as well. Students should confirm current BBS approval status and ensure their program track meets California’s specific requirements.
Can you complete an MFT while working full time?
Many students do. TUW’s fully online coursework and eight-week schedule are designed to accommodate students with professional commitments. Students should be realistic about the time required for clinical placement hours, which cannot be completed asynchronously and require scheduling coordination with a clinical site.
