Healthcare License Verification
How to Verify a Marriage and Family Therapist License (LMFT)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) are licensed in most U.S. states and regulated by state behavioral health boards. Verification is done at the state level through public license lookup tools.
Quick answer
LMFT licensure is state-issued. Verify through the state behavioral health or MFT licensing board in the state where the therapist practices. Most states have public online license lookups. California uses the Board of Behavioral Sciences (bbs.ca.gov). There is no national LMFT license database.
How LMFT licensing works
Marriage and family therapy is regulated in most U.S. states. Licensure generally requires:
- A master's or doctoral degree in MFT or a related clinical field from an accredited program
- Supervised clinical hours (typically 3,000–4,000 hours post-degree)
- Passing the MFT licensing exam (AMFTRB's national exam, used by most states)
- State application and background check
The title varies slightly by state: most use LMFT, some use MFT. The pre-licensure title also varies (AMFT in California, IMFT or MFTA in other states).
A few states do not separately license MFTs
Some states license MFTs under a broader “licensed professional counselor” or “licensed therapist” category, or do not separately license MFT as a distinct profession. In those states, the relevant license is the broader behavioral health credential. Check state-specific requirements.
State licensing board verification
Each state's MFT licensing board maintains a public license lookup. Use the board in the state where the therapist is providing services:
| State | Licensing Board / Lookup |
|---|---|
| California | Board of Behavioral Sciences — bbs.ca.gov (license verification tool) |
| Texas | Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists — dshs.texas.gov |
| Florida | Florida Dept. of Health, Board of Clinical Social Work, MFT, and Mental Health Counseling — flhealthsource.gov |
| New York | NY Office of Professions — op.nysed.gov (search LMFT) |
| All states | AAMFT maintains a state licensing resource directory at aamft.org/Licensing |
The public lookup will show license status (Active, Inactive, Expired, Suspended, Revoked), license type, expiration date, and in many states, disciplinary history.
AAMFT Clinical Fellow status
The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) offers a Clinical Fellow membership designation for licensed MFTs who meet additional clinical training requirements. AAMFT Clinical Fellow is a professional membership status, not a state license — it indicates advanced training and peer review.
AAMFT does not maintain a public practitioner directory open to the general public for verification. For credentials, rely on the state license lookup rather than AAMFT membership status.
Telehealth and multi-state practice
Unlike nursing (which has the Nurse Licensure Compact), there is no multi-state licensure compact for MFTs as of 2026. Therapists must hold a license in each state where they provide services — including telehealth services delivered to clients in a different state.
When verifying a telehealth MFT, confirm the therapist holds an active license in the state where the client is located, not just the therapist's home state.
Red flags
- No state license found in the state where services are provided
- Using the title “LMFT” with only an AMFT (pre-licensure associate) status
- Expired LMFT license — most states require 2-year renewal with continuing education
- Therapist providing telehealth in a state where they are not licensed
- Disciplinary action or restriction on the state license
Verification checklist
- 1. Identify the state(s) where the therapist is providing services
- 2. Find the state MFT licensing board and use the public license lookup
- 3. Confirm Active status, license type (LMFT not AMFT/pre-licensure), and expiration
- 4. Check for disciplinary actions or restrictions in state records
- 5. For telehealth: verify license in the client's state, not only the therapist's state
- 6. For insurance billing: verify NPI at npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov
Verify MFT program accreditation
LMFTs must complete a degree from a COAMFTE-accredited program for most licensure pathways. Use VerifyED to confirm whether an MFT school program is properly accredited.
Search Schools and Accreditation →