The Path to LMFT Licensure
For Oklahoma Marital & Family Therapist Licensure Candidates
Welcome and congratulations on making it this far! This working document aims to guide you through the process of acquiring your MFT license in the state of Oklahoma. Please notify me if you see any errors or matters requiring attention.
Approximate Timelines Preceding Candidacy
Graduation+
1 Year Before Graduation
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You are responsible for ensuring you've met the necessary requirements to be eligible for graduation and candidacy.
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Most programs offer student/pre-licensure and equity rates. Some will allow students to volunteer to work the training/program in exchange for free attendance. Not all programs allow students to participate, however.
To find a training event, search for your preferred interest and see what educational events they offer.
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You will spend almost a year of your life at your practicum site so make sure it’s a good one.
Look for a place with a supervisor who is accessible and will help you grow.
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Thank you for your patience as I grow this page.
6 Months Before Graduation
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OBBHL has a listing of approved supervisors
Ask around for referrals
List of AAMFT Approved Supervisors
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3 Months Before Graduation
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Immediately Following Graduation
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What Graduates Are Saying About Being an MFT Student
“Plant seeds in self-care. Understand your needs for decompressing. Build a self-care routine now so you are not trying to fit in while juggling work anxiety.”
“Stay on top of your courses and credits. Make sure you have taken all the right classes and have enough credits to graduate and qualify for supervision.”
“It is never too early to start studying for the national exam.”
“Watch as many videos on https://www.psychotherapy.net/ as you can. It’s free as a student. Take advantage of this resource.”
Candidacy
Initial 6 Months of Candidacy
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Thank you for your patience as I grow this page.
Candidacy+
The Final Stretch
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…and that’s okay!
Don’t mess around, but know that life happens and you may not be able to complete supervision within the 2 year time frame.
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Compile, double check, and submit your final documents to the board of behavioral health.
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You must continue tracking your hours and meeting with your supervisor until you are officially licensed.
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BBHL meets every 2 months, so be aware of your final submission timeline.
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Thank you for your patience as I grow this page.
What my current and former candidates say about candidacy and supervision
“Keep learning, but/and live your life. Also, cancelations happen.”
“Get your own therapist. Vent to your therapist, not your supervisor. Validation is nice but spending time venting in supervision is a waste of a resource.”
“Check out Note Designer. It has helped me save a lot of time on notes.”
“Use this time to work on yourself as a person so you can be a better therapist. Also, use your supervisor as the resource they are. Ask them questions, get their insight.”
Licensure
Initial 2 Years of Licensure
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Thank you for your patience as I grow this page.
Maintaining Ethical Practice
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Reach out to colleagues, attend consultation groups, continue supervision.
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Subscribe to Google Scholar alerts. You can customize certain keywords and corresponding articles will be sent to your inbox.
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Holding a membership with an organization of interest (e.g., ICEEFT, AAMFT) will allow you access to research, articles, trainings, like-minded professionals, and community.
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Have a trusted source where you can get accurate information about your requirements for remaining legal and ethical.
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CEUs exist for a reason and help you practice ethically.
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Thank you for your patience as I grow this page.
Finding a State-Approved LMFT Supervisor
Oklahoma LMFT Candidates must work under the supervision of an Oklahoma Licensed Marital and Family Therapist for a minimum of two years.
How to find a supervisor
The BBHL has a registry of all State-Approved LMFT Supervisors
AAMFT has their own registry of approved supervisors as well
Look for Okies to remain compliant with Oklahoma law
Ask friends, colleagues, and professors for referrals
Gather a list of names, research them, feel them out, narrow down
Make contact with remaining names and begin interviewing
Questions for potential supervisors coming soon!
Paying for a supervisor
Fees vary.
Free: If your supervisor works at the same place as you, sup will likely be free. Some agencies pay for your choice of supervisor if you commit to working there a minimum of 2 years after becoming licensed.
I have heard amounts between $50-$150 being charged for supervision.
I would estimate the average fee range being $75-$100.
Don't be afraid to ask for a discount or equity rate!
On-site vs Off-site Supervisors
On-site sup is often free, convenient (proximity), and they "get" your workplace.
On-site sup may create a dual relationship (permanent rules, 86: 15-3-4) and pose challenges to the supervisee.
It could be uncomfortable processing personal issues related to your job with your boss/supervisor during sup. It could also be uncomfortable withholding your struggles.
Off-site sups will very likely be more expensive than on-site sups. Commuting to your off-site sup may be challenging.
Choosing your own supervisor, on or off-site, allows you to handpick a person who meets your needs and shares your clinical interests.
LMFT Exams
Every person eligible for LMFT candidacy must take and pass the national LMFT exam. In Oklahoma, the LMFT exam (and the state ethics exam/OLMFTE) must be passed before officially entering candidacy.
Association of Marital & Family Therapist Board of Examiners
AMFTRB publishes the exam and offers numerous resources to help you succeed.
After receiving approval from OBBHL, you can sign up for the exam.
Cost of examination (as of February 2022): $365.00, no discounts available, additional fees apply for rescheduling ($165-$175).
Scores are provided via email approximately 20 days after the exam. You will not get instant results, unfortunately.
Your score report is available to download up to 30 days after receiving the email. There's an additional $25 fee should you need a copy after the 30 days.
If you need your scores to be sent to additional people, a fee of $60 is required.
AMFTRB Practice Exam
Exam Roadmap
Exam Handbook for Candidates (PDF, 2022 version)
Content outline (pages 16-23) is incredibly helpful. If you know the statement, you should do well on the exam.
Use these pages to quiz yourself!
Do not hesitate to request and utilize accommodations.
6 Domains of Practice on Exam
Domain 1–The Practice of Systemic Therapy
Domain 2–Assessing, Hypothesizing, and Diagnosing
Domain 3–Designing and Conducting Treatment
Domain 4–Evaluating Ongoing Process and Terminating Treatment
Domain 5–Managing Crisis Situations
Domain 6–Maintaining Ethical, Legal, and Professional Standards
Oklahoma LMFT Examination
OLMFTE is the state ethics exam and must be passed before candidacy begins
Test takers have 60 minutes to complete the exam. Must score at least 80% to pass. Takers may retest after 3 days.
Exam fee is $45
Use the LMFT Act & Regs as your study guide
American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Code of Ethics
The AAMFT Code of Ethics will be peppered throughout the exam.
Remember, this is a national exam– state ethics don't apply.
Potential Study Materials
Family Solutions Institute (this is the material I used)
Great book, mostly worksheets. I'd use this as a companion to another text. It'd also be great for testing yourself. If you can fill out each worksheet from memory, you'll probably do well on the exam.
It has been suggested that test takers only practice with this company since they publish the actual exam. I have heard that other practice tests are incongruous with the national exam.
MFT Exam (I have no experience with this company or their resources)
Suggestions from my former students and candidates
“I found Violini's independent study guide with MP3s and his comprehensive practice exam (100 questions) super helpful. The AMFTRB practice exam, Diane Gehart's MFT exam prep, studying in groups (for accountability and moral support) and your prep class, also super helpful.”
“AATBS- Books are expensive and small but a good summary of everything covered. AATBS practice exam was helpful and also gives the answers to all 200 questions.”
“Dr. Diane Gehart’s orange book, YouTube videos (she has a book on every chapter), and her prep course. In this prep class, Dr. Gehart breaks down how to answer questions. Many questions will have multiple correct answers, understanding how to use deduction will be important. ”
“Take the AAMFTRB practice exam. It will not show the answers but will give you a percentage breakdown of each domain and where you stand.”
Exam Prep
Knowing what to study keeps you focused on the content that matters.
EXAM DOMAINS (copied from AMFTRB)
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01 The Practice of Systemic Therapy
Tasks related to incorporating systemic theory and perspectives into practice activities, and establishing and maintaining ongoing therapeutic relationships with the client system.
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02 Assessing, Hypothesizing, and Diagnosing
Tasks related to assessing the various dimensions of the client system, forming and reformulating hypotheses, and diagnosing the client and family system in order to guide therapeutic activities.
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03 Designing and Conducting Treatment
Tasks related to developing and implementing interventions with the client system.
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04 Evaluating Ongoing Process and Terminating Treatment
Tasks related to continuously evaluating the therapeutic process and incorporating feedback into the course of treatment, as well as planning for termination.
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05 Managing Crisis Situations
Tasks related to assessing and managing emergency situations, and intervening when clinically indicated and/or legally mandated.
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06 Maintaining Ethical, Legal, and Professional Standards
Tasks related to ongoing adherence to legal and ethical codes and treatment agreements, maintaining competency in the field, and professionalism.
Suggestions for studying for the exam from my former students and candidates
“Start studying/prepping months and months before the exam, make it a priority, but/and live your life (I went to the lake the weekend before my exam).”
“Test with a classmate. I tested with a classmate and both of us agreed that it was comforting to have each other in the room.”
“Work on test anxiety. Practice mindfulness.”
“Study with the intention of knowing how to utilize the models of family therapy. Memorizing key terms is only a small part of studying. Do not waste time trying to research what will be on the exam. Every exam is different.”
“My biggest regret was not planning on some kind of self-care post exam. The exam is draining. Take a vacation, burn an effigy, get a massage, treat yourself. Make it something you look forward to, so when you're in the exam, your self-care item can help manage anxiety.”
Models of MFT
The national exam continues to be application based, indicating you need to really know your models in order to answer questions effectively.
Cybernetics
Info about cybernetics coming soon!
Bowen Family Systems
Info coming soon
Object Relations Theory
Info coming soon
Milan Systemic Therapy
Info coming soon
Structural Family Therapy
Info coming soon
Whitaker’s Symbolic-Experiential Model
Info coming soon
Experiential Therapy
Info coming soon
Intergenerational Therapy
Info coming soon
Solution-Focused Therapy
Info coming soon
Gottman Method
Info coming soon
Feminist Family Therapy
Info coming soon
General Family Systems
General Family Systems info coming soon!
Psychoanalytic
Info coming soon
MRI Systemic Therapy
Info coming soon
Strategic Therapy
Info coming soon
Satir’s Human Growth Model
Info coming soon
Internal Family Systems
Info coming soon
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Info coming soon
Cognitive-Behavioral Family Therapy
Info coming soon
Narrative Therapy
Info coming soon
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Info coming soon
Medical Family Therapy
Info coming soon
Start studying early and allow yourself ample time to seek clarification from colleagues, professors, and practitioners in the field.
Exam Tips
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Establishing a regular mindfulness practice may help you reduce anxiety, racing and jumbled thoughts, and focus on nailing this exam. Using your brain to help ground and calm you can help you access all the knowledge you have stored in there.
After all, your only resource in the exam room is your brain
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The exam is comprised of multiple choice questions, with 4 potential answers each. For the most part, each answer set has two wrong answers and two correct answers. Your job is to narrow down your options to the two most likely answers and choose the “more correct” answer.
Clear as mud, right?
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Most exams (if not all??) are completed electronically and for some, there may be a small learning curve as the software is new to first-timers.
Before the exam starts, consider taking the tutorial that explains how to navigate the software. Use the provided features like flagging questions to which you wish to return, crossing out incorrect answer options, etc.
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While I can’t remember the question, I’ll never forget reading the very first question of my exam and feeling my heart sink as I realized I HAD NO IDEA HOW TO ANSWER IT. It was demoralizing and frustrating.
There will be questions you can’t answer for one reason or another. That’s okay. Accept this and continue trying as you move through the next questions.
PS - I flagged question number one and went back to it after I answered all the questions I knew. This helped me stress less, focus on what I did know, and keep a decent time.
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Get a good night’s sleep.
Eat healthy and filling foods, but be mindful of how your body responds to those foods. No one wants to feel bloated or uncomfortable during an important and expensive exam.
Avoid cramming.
Imagine yourself doing well.
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I appreciate your patience as I build this resource page.