Post-Baccalaureate
Certificate in Marriage
and Family Therapy
100% ONLINE CERTIFICATE IN MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY
Complete your studies on your own time.
NEW START DATE EVERY MONDAY
Start your first course when it’s convenient for you.
10 MONTHS TO YOUR CERTIFICATE IN MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY
Finish your marriage and family therapy certificate in just 4-6 courses.
National and Northcentral have merged, and this program is now offered by NU. Learn more.
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy
Develop skillsets and gain knowledge beyond the bachelor’s degree level with the 100% online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy at National University. Led by mentoring professors, NU’s online certificate gives a quick path to meeting state-level licensure requirements. Our online certificate in marriage and family therapy can also help you to clarify your professional direction and to stand out in the field.
Gain the Skillsets to Stand Out in the Marriage & Family Therapy Field
Tailor your NU online marriage and family therapy certificate to fit your career goals with one of these areas of emphasis or specialized certificate programs:
- Child and Adolescent Family Therapy
- Couple Therapy (specialized certificate program)
- General Family Therapy
- LGBTQ Couple and Family Therapy (specialized certificate program)
- Medical Family Therapy
- Military Family Therapy
Many of the courses within this certificate program correspond with courses in NU’s COAMFTE-accredited Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy degree program. These courses can be applied for transfer credit if you continue your studies at NU with the goal of preparing for MFT licensure.
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredits public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the U.S.
Course Details
- Credit Hours: 12
- Courses: 4-6
- Estimated Time to Complete: 10 months
The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy can be completed in 12 credits. Each course runs 12 weeks, and you’ll receive 3 semester credits per course.
Students can select any area of emphasis for the general certificate or select one of the Specialized Certificate Programs listed below.
Couples Therapy
With the changing definition of marriage, along with social expectations, marriage and long-term relationships often face challenges that call for the help of a trained third party. NU’s Couple Therapy specialization is designed to prepare you to work with couples in therapeutic settings, primarily using a family therapy, systems perspective. Students in this specialization are required to complete two content courses in this area, a research course focused on issues related to working with couples, and at least 100 hours of clinical experience in an approved setting with a qualified local clinical supervisor.
Child and Adolescent Family Therapy
When divorce and other strife enters the lives of children and teens, it often takes a sensitive professional to help them and their families weather these storms. The Child and Adolescent Family Therapy specialization is designed to prepare you to work in therapeutic settings with children and adolescents using a family therapy, systems approach. In this specialization you will be required to complete two focused content courses, a research course focusing on issues related to working with children, adolescents and families, as well as complete at least 100 hours of clinical experience in an approved setting under the guidance of a qualified local supervisor.
General Family Therapy
According to the 2012 Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment in the Marriage and Family Therapy field is expected to grow 41% in the next decade. The Master’s in General Family Therapy prepares you to meet this growing demand. There is no physical residency requirement, which means you are able to complete all of your coursework online and secure a clinical placement site in your local community to complete the face-to-face clinical training component of the program. All courses are taught by professors who possess significant experience teaching in the field of MFT as well as working as MFTs.
National University pursues programmatic accreditation whenever appropriate. The Master’s and PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy are COAMFTE and IACSTE accredited.
Medical Family Therapy
Medical challenges can often overwhelm a family emotionally. But the guidance of a trained professional can make a difference. The Medical Family Therapy specialization is designed to prepare you to work with individuals, couples and family who are facing chronic and acute medical difficulties. Medical Family Therapy incorporates a family therapy, systems perspective in helping clients to understand and manage their medical difficulties. In this specialization you will be required to complete two focused content courses, a research course focused on issues related to medical family therapy, and at least 100 hours of clinical experience in an approved medical setting with a qualified local clinical supervisor.
National University pursues programmatic accreditation whenever appropriate. The Master’s and PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy are COAMFTE and IACSTE accredited.
Military Family Therapy
Members of the military and their families are typically strong, but that strength sometimes needs the reinforcement that only a trained counselor can provide. Military families also face unique challenges, such as long periods of separation during deployments. The Military Family Therapy specialization prepares you to work primarily with individuals, couples, and families that are affiliated with the military, using a family therapy, systems perspective. In this specialization you will be required to complete two focused content courses, a research course focusing on issues related to working with military families, and at least 100 hours of clinical experience in an approved military setting with a qualified local clinical supervisor.
LGBTQ Couples and Family Therapy
Same-sex couples face many of the same relational issues as heterosexual couples, but the attendant differences can create unique challenges as well. The LGBTQ Couple and Family Therapy specialization is designed to prepare you to work with clients in the LGBTQ community and to specialize in working with couples and families using a family therapy, systems-oriented approach. In this specialization, you will be required to complete two content courses focused in this area, a research course focused on issues related to working with LGBTQ couples and families, and at least 100 hours of clinical experience in an approved setting with a qualified local clinical supervisor.
Course Sequence
AREAS OF EMPHASIS AND SPECIFIC COURSES – 12 CREDIT HOURS
Students can select any four courses from all the courses listed below or they can select a group of courses based on an area of specialization.
Child and Adolescent Family Therapy
Course Name
Couple Therapy
Course Name
General Family Therapy
Course Name
Note: Students may complete the recommended courses listed above or they may select any four MFT master’s level courses (with the exception of MFT-5101).
LGBTQ Couple and Family Therapy
Course Name
Medical Family Therapy
Course Name
Military Family Therapy
Course Name
Specializations
Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy – Dual Licensure
NU’s Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy Dual Licensure prepares you with skills beyond the bachelor’s degree level to help you stand out in the field and complete the additional course work needed to add the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license to your Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). This certificate requires only 12 credits to complete.
Throughout this certificate program, you’ll explore topics such as group therapy, psychological tests and measurements, and theories of psychotherapy and counseling.
Certificate in Systemic Sex Therapy
This specialization is designed for students that are interested in working with individuals and couples that are facing sexual difficulties. Courses in this specialization cover the historical and theoretical foundations of systemic sex therapy, including how religion, culture and society have informed sexual behaviors. Students will learn about sexual disorders, models of therapy and assessment, creating a non-judgmental therapeutic alliance with clients and ethical issues specific to this field of practice. Additionally, students will learn how to apply this knowledge within the practice of marriage and family therapy.
Certificate in Systemic Treatment of Addictions
This specialization is designed for students that are interested in working with individuals and families facing addiction issues and co-occurring disorders. Courses in this specialization examine the historical and theoretical foundations of addictive disorders, the philosophies of co-occurring disorders and various systematic theories and evidence-based models for treatment. Students will also learn methods for assessing substance-related and addictive disorders in the context of family therapy and ethical issues related to working in the field of addictions as a Marriage and Family Therapist.
Certificate in Trauma-Informed Systemic Therapy
NU’s Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Trauma-Informed Systemic Therapy s focused on developing the skills and personal and professional growth that are required for effective practice in the field of marriage and family therapy. Throughout the coursework, you will work with individuals and families who might have been exposed to traumatic events and are dealing with effects related to traumatic experiences.
Certificate Requirements
The University may accept a maximum of 3 semester credit hours from a graduate-level program to NU’s Post-Baccalaureate certificate program. Coursework must have been completed at an accredited college or university within the last seven years with a grade of “B” or better. See the Transfer Credit Policy for additional information.
The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate has the following graduation requirements:
- Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0 (letter grade of “B”) or higher
- Official documents on file for basis of admission: a conferred bachelor’s degree from an accredited academic institution
- Official transcripts on file for all transfer credit hours accepted by the University
- All financial obligations must be met before the student will be issued their complimentary diploma and/or degree posted transcript
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Program Disclosure
Successful completion and attainment of National University degrees do not lead to automatic or immediate licensure, employment, or certification in any state/country. The University cannot guarantee that any professional organization or business will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any certification, licensure, or related exam for the purpose of professional certification.
Program availability varies by state. Many disciplines, professions, and jobs require disclosure of an individual’s criminal history, and a variety of states require background checks to apply to, or be eligible for, certain certificates, registrations, and licenses. Existence of a criminal history may also subject an individual to denial of an initial application for a certificate, registration, or license and/or result in the revocation or suspension of an existing certificate, registration, or license. Requirements can vary by state, occupation, and/or licensing authority.
NU graduates will be subject to additional requirements on a program, certification/licensure, employment, and state-by-state basis that can include one or more of the following items: internships, practicum experience, additional coursework, exams, tests, drug testing, earning an additional degree, and/or other training/education requirements.
All prospective students are advised to review employment, certification, and/or licensure requirements in their state, and to contact the certification/licensing body of the state and/or country where they intend to obtain certification/licensure to verify that these courses/programs qualify in that state/country, prior to enrolling. Prospective students are also advised to regularly review the state’s/country’s policies and procedures relating to certification/licensure, as those policies are subject to change.
National University degrees do not guarantee employment or salary of any kind. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to review desired job positions to review degrees, education, and/or training required to apply for desired positions. Prospective students should monitor these positions as requirements, salary, and other relevant factors can change over time.