Expand your clinical scope. Broaden your career options
The Counseling Licensure Track (Not COAMFTE Accredited; CA BBS Approved) at Touro University Worldwide prepares students for advanced clinical practice by combining COAMFTE-accredited Marriage & Family Therapy Track with specialized coursework aligned to prepare to sit for LMFT and LPCC in California. Designed for students seeking greater flexibility in counseling roles, this track supports work with individuals, families, and diverse populations across a wide range of mental health settings.
The Marriage and Family Therapy Track (COAMFTE Accredited) program combined with the Counseling Licensure Track (Not COMAFTE Accredited) is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS).
Counseling Licensure Track Overview
The Counseling Licensure Track is an extension of TUW’s Marriage and Family Therapy Track (COAMFTE Accredited- with Show-cause) and is intended for students who want to pursue dual licensure pathways (LMFT and LPCC) in California, and approved by the CA BBS. In addition to core MFT clinical training, students complete LPCC-specific coursework focused on counseling theory, career development, and advanced intervention strategies.
This track is especially valuable in states where LPCC licensure expands employment opportunities, practice scope, and reimbursement options.
Note: COAMFTE is not an accreditor of Clinical Counseling programs
Why Choose Touro University Worldwide
- Expanded Career Flexibility: Counseling Licensure coursework broadens your clinical competencies beyond couple and family systems to include individual counseling and career development.
- Online Learning Designed for Working Professionals: Flexible, fully online coursework allows you to balance graduate study with professional and personal commitments.
- Licensure-Focused Curriculum: Coursework is structured to align with licensure expectations, particularly in states such as California.
- Mission-Driven Education: TUW emphasizes ethical practice, cultural responsiveness, and service-oriented leadership in mental health professions.
Counseling Licensure Track Structure
- Total Credits: 10 semester credits (Not including the MFT Course Work of 72 semester credits)
- Four additional Counseling Licensure Track -focused courses:
- Counseling Theory (3 credit)
- Advanced Counseling Techniques (3 credits)
- Lifestyle and Career Development Counseling (3 credits)
- Spousal/Partner Abuse Detection & Intervention (1 credit)
- Four additional Counseling Licensure Track -focused courses:
- Practicum Requirement: Yes
- The Counseling Licensure Track cannot be taken separately, and must be added to the Marriage and Family Therapy Track
What Can You Do With the Counseling Licensure Track
Graduates who complete licensure requirements may pursue roles such as:
- Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
- Marriage and Family Therapist (where dual licensure applies)
- Mental Health Counselor
- Clinical Therapist or Psychotherapist
- Community Mental Health Counselor
- Trauma, Substance Use, or Career Counselor
- Behavioral Health Program Clinician
Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median annual salary for mental health counselors, substance abuse, and behavioral disorder is $59,190. The BLS projects a 17% (much faster than average) job growth in the field over the next decade. The online TUW Master in Marriage and Family Therapy – Counseling Licensure Track prepares graduates with skills and knowledge they need for success in this in-demand field.
Who This Track Is Best For
- Students seeking clinical licensure counseling roles
- Professionals who want broader clinical practice options beyond family systems
- Individuals planning to work in community agencies, private practice, healthcare systems, or counseling centers
Frequently Asked Questions – Counseling Licensure Track
Alumni
Proud 2023 TUW MFT Alumna Brittney Kirkland shares her academic experience with the clinical Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy degree.
Counseling Licensure Track (Not COAMFTE Accredited, CA BBS Approved)
Required Counseling Licensure Track Courses
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course is an elective course for students who are interested to take it in addition to the MFT set program. The course provides overview of major counseling/psychology theories, in addition counseling techniques and practices are reviewed associated with these theories.
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course serves as an overview of the contemporary theories and techniques of psychotherapy. The course will explore psychotherapy processes, compare various theoretical approaches, and introduce professional and ethical issues in psychotherapy.
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course serves as an overview of the theories of career development counseling. The course will explore the approaches to career development, compare various theoretical approaches, and introduce ethics into career development counseling.
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Providing for client safety is an essential aspect of Marriage and Family Therapy. This course focuses on the detection, assessment and management of domestic violence. Students will learn about the underlying factors that contribute to family violence and be able to identify and assess abuse with women, men, children, and couples. Students will become familiar with therapeutic interventions and techniques, legal and ethical implications, and community resources available to clients.
CREDITS
1
Class Type
100% online, 8-week courses*
Transfer Credits
Transfer in up to 12 credits
Accreditation
WSCUC, CA BBS (meets educational requirements)
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Tuition Information
Effective Fall 2024 Tuition is assessed as the following:
Touro University Worldwide is practicing locked-in tuition, which means your tuition will not change for the remainder of your program, as long as you are actively matriculating.
For the Marriage and Family Therapy graduate program with Counseling Licensure Track, Touro University Worldwide’s tuition is $525 per semester credit. Each eight (8) week, three (3) credit course costs $1,575. Learn more about TUW tuition and fees.
| Track | 1 credit | 3 credits | Cost of Program |
| Counseling Licensure Track | $525 | $1,575 | $43,050* |
Application Fee: Students applying to the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) degree program pay a one time $25 application fee.
Material Fee: Students on the Clinical track are required to pay $116 Material Fee (effective Summer 2024) during the Capstone course (MFT690), which will provide access to an exam kit that prepares students for the CA Exam, National Exam and LPCC Exam. The exam kit is part of the capstone course only.
Students interested in the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy program must meet one of the following criteria to be considered for admission:
- Have earned a Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5.
- Transfer student from another college/university’s graduate program in good academic standing (minimum GPA of 2.75).
Students, who meet one of the above criteria, will be required to complete the following steps in order to be admitted and enrolled:
- Submit an application.
- Submit official transcripts from all institutions attended. Transcripts must come directly from the issuing institutions. Students who completed college coursework outside the United States must have their transcripts translated and evaluated. (See Foreign Credit for additional information.) Students are required to complete step 3 by the end of their first term of enrollment.
- Sign and Acknowledge the MFT Student Agreement & Notice to Students before Enrollment Regarding State Requirement for Licensure.
- Submit an essay in no more than 500 words addressing the desire to work in the Marriage and Family Therapy profession including the following:
- Reason for selecting the TUW Masters in MFT Program
- How a masters level education in the field of MFT fits with the career plan and goals
- How the MFT program in conjunction with applicant’s background and interests furthers the career plan and goals.
Under the COAMFTE Standards 12.5, the MFT Master’s Program requires students to complete the following Practicum Clinical Hours:
- Total of 300 Practicum Client Contact Hours and at least 100 MFT relational/systemic supervision hours
- Some state minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective states.
- For client contact hours a minimum of 100 Practicum hours must be relational (Couple and Family) Hours with the remaining hours consisting of individual, couple, or family hours.
- Some state minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 100 relational (couple and family) hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state.
- Total of 100 hours of MFT relational/systemic supervision including a minimum of 50 hours of MFT relational/systemic supervision utilizing observable data (video or audio recordings) from TUW Program Clinical Supervisors.
- Weekly face-to-face meetings with your clinical placement site ancillary (site) supervisors. TUW Program Clinical Supervisors zoom conferences will be held for 2.5 hours a week to allow for greater flexibility in assisting students.
Touro University Worldwide is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). For more information on WSCUC, visit www.wscuc.org or write WSCUC at 985 Atlantic Ave., Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501.
The online Marriage & Family Therapy graduate degree program, and the Counseling Licensure track at Touro University Worldwide is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) and is designed so that graduates are eligible for MFT and LPCC Licensure in the State of California without requiring any additional coursework.
Make a Difference With TUW’s Online MFT Master’s Degree
Touro University Worldwide’s online Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy degree program builds the knowledge and competencies to become a family-centered therapist. Request information to learn more about our accredited and affordable online MFT master’s degree.