BBS/COAMFTE Comparison
The following description provides an overview and comparison of the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) requirements for licensure eligibility and COAMFTE program standards. For additional information on licensure, please see the BBS website. For additional information on COAMFTE accreditation, please see the AAMFT website.
Preparation has three major components:
Academic program:
BBS: Programs must require a minimum of 48 semester units and should include an integrated course of study and supervised clinical training. The BBS also specifies education in a few clinical areas such as substance abuse, human sexuality, psychopharmacology, and testing. No philosophical or theoretical base is prescribed.
COAMFTE: Programs must require a minimum of 48 semester units and coursework should reflect a philosophical and theoretical underpinning in systemic and other relationally oriented theories and practices. While certain topic areas are required, there is a stronger emphasis on theory, historical and philosophical foundations of the field, and greater choice of specialized topic areas.
Supervised clinical experience:
BBS: Sites must meet specific BBS criteria for supervision, type of practice, and type of setting.
COAMFTE: The graduate of a COAMFTE program must complete a minimum of 500 direct client contact hours plus 100 hours of supervision while in the program. These hours must apply systemic ideas and practices. Sites must meet specific COAMFTE standards, which are more rigorous than BBS standards. Only client contact and supervision may be counted. See the section of this literature on Curriculum for an expanded description of the clinical experience requirement. COAMFTE clinical requirements are only defined for the graduate program.
Definition of a "Trainee." This status is defined by the BBS and refers to students or pre-graduates of a Master's program in MFT who are eligible to participate in clinical experience. Students must have completed a minimum of 12 semester units of coursework to be eligible for Trainee status.
Definition of an "Intern". This status is defined by the BBS and refers to graduates of MFT programs, who are registered with the BBS and are earning clinical hours under supervision to work towards licensure. Students must apply to the BBS for intern registration status upon graduation and provide verification of a completed qualifying graduate program to continue eligibility for licensure. Interns must renew their registration annually until they complete their hours and pass the licensure exam. All clinical hours of experience must be gained within six years prior to applying for the licensure exam.
Licensure exam
Applicants for licensure must take two written exams. Interns apply for approval to take the exam upon completion of all educational requirements and the 3000 hours of clinical experience. Successful completion of both exams qualifies the candidate for MFT licensure and to practice independently. Licenses are renewed every two years through payment of a renewal fee. Licensed MFTs must complete 36 hours of Continuing Education credits for every license renewal period.
Documentation of COAMFTE accreditation. The program holds the documentation. If students need evidence of COAMFTE accreditation, it is publicly available from the AAMFT website and from the program.
