Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (marriage and family therapist) · Florida · regulated by Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (Dept. of Health) · high confidence
| Pre-license credential | Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern |
|---|---|
| Supervised experience | 2 years of post-master's clinical experience = at least 1,500 hours face-to-face psychotherapy in no less than 100 weeks; 50% of clients receiving MFT services |
| Direct client contact | 1,500 hours face-to-face psychotherapy; 50% of clients receiving MFT; must include unmarried dyads, married, separating/divorcing couples and families with children |
| Supervision | at least 100 hours of supervision in no less than 100 weeks |
| Minimum time | 2 years (no less than 100 weeks) |
| Time limit | intern registration expires 60 months after issue; one-time hardship extension up to 24 months |
| Exams | AMFTRB national MFT exam; 8-hour Florida laws and rules course; 3-hour HIV/AIDS course |
Supervision
- How much: at least 100 hours of supervision in no less than 100 weeks
- How often: at least 1 hour every two weeks
- Group supervision: each group hour must alternate with an individual hour; group = 3-6 interns, all in person; individual = supervisor with ≤2 interns
- Who may supervise: Qualified supervisor: LMFT with ≥5 yrs experience (or equivalent / AAMFT Approved Supervisor), 3 yrs post-license, supervision training; max 25 interns
When hours count and what to keep
- Before your degree: not counted; practicum may not satisfy post-master's experience; a doctoral internship may be applied
- Paperwork: DH-MQA 1175 intern registration; supervisor approval letter; DH-MQA 1181 Verification of Clinical Experience (by supervisor)
Can you be supervised remotely in Florida?
Only partly. Some supervision or presence must be in person or on site. What shapes this: in-person minimum, state-only supervisor credential, prior board approval, video limited.
- Video supervision: Electronic face-to-face supervision allowed, but ≥50% of required supervision interactions must be in person, one in-person meeting must precede any online supervision, and group supervision must be fully in person. Exception (rule (7)): supervisor may go fully electronic, even telephone, when necessary to protect health/safety/welfare.
- Phone only: not allowed ordinarily; allowed only under the rule (7) necessity exception
- In-person minimum: ≥50% of required supervision interactions in person; first meeting in person; group supervision in person
- Supervisor licensed in Florida? not required: Florida LMFT, MFT licensed in another state with MFT coursework + 5 yrs experience, AAMFT Approved Supervisor, or CSW/MHC licensed in Florida or the state where supervision took place
- Supervisor credential: Qualified supervisor: 5 yrs clinical experience (3 post-license) + supervision training or AAMFT Approved Supervisor; Board approval of each supervisor.
- Supervisee cap: ≤25 registered interns per qualified supervisor
- Board approval first: Intern registration before hours begin; supervisor must submit an agreement letter and the Board must approve the qualified supervisor before hours count; changing/adding supervisors needs Board approval first.
- If you live outside Florida: Registration required for anyone who 'intends to practice in Florida' to earn the experience; no rule on the intern's own physical location. Hours before registration or before supervisor approval do not count.
The client’s location decides which state’s rules apply. This is not legal advice; confirm with the board before building a program. Compare every state on the remote-supervision map.
Recent and pending changes
Ch. 2026-59 (HB 1279) revised the MFT degree-accreditation date: non-COAMFTE/CACREP degrees must be conferred before September 1, 2032. Rule 64B4-2.002 amended 7-6-26 (telehealth 'premises').
Where the rules are unclear
Florida’s own documents disagree or are silent on these points. Ask the board if they affect you:
- Rule 64B4-2.002(7) necessity exception: does the Board treat an intern living outside Florida as 'necessary to protect the health, safety, or welfare' so that all supervision may be electronic?
In the board’s own words
“Completed at least 2 years of clinical experience during which 50 percent of the applicant's clients were receiving marriage and family therapy services” — Fla. Stat. § 491.005(3)(d)✓ matched in the source
“Received at least 100 hours of supervision in no less than 100 weeks” — Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B4-2.002(1)(a)✓ matched in the source
“Received at least 1 hour of supervision every two weeks.” — Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B4-2.002(1)(c)✓ matched in the source
“Any registration issued after March 31, 2017, expires 60 months after the date it is issued.” — Fla. Stat. § 491.0045(6)✓ matched in the source
“the supervisor and intern must have in-person face-to-face contact for at least 50% of all of the interactions required” — Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B4-2.002 (amended eff. 7-6-26), subsections (3)-(8)✓ checked by hand
“Prior to utilizing any online or interactive methods for supervision, the supervisor and the intern shall have at least one in-person face-to-face meeting.” — Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B4-2.002 (amended eff. 7-6-26), subsections (3)-(8)✓ checked by hand
“Group supervision must be conducted with all participants present in-person.” — Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B4-2.002 (amended eff. 7-6-26), subsections (3)-(8)✓ checked by hand
“may utilize face-to-face electronic methods, including telephone only communication, to conduct all supervisory sessions” — Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B4-2.002 (amended eff. 7-6-26), subsections (3)-(8)✓ checked by hand
“must have in-person face-to-face contact for at least 50% of all of the interactions” — Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B4-2.002 (amended eff. 7-6-26), subsections (3)-(8)✓ checked by hand
“A qualified supervisor shall supervise no more than 25 registered interns simultaneously.” — Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B4-2.002 (amended eff. 7-6-26), subsections (3)-(8)✓ checked by hand
“includes a licensed mental health professional being present and available to the registered intern via telehealth or other synchronous electronic means” — Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B4-2.002 (amended eff. 7-6-26), subsections (3)-(8)✓ checked by hand
“A licensed mental health professional must be on the premises when clinical services are provided by a registered intern in a private practice setting.” — Fla. Stat. §491.005(1)(c)-(d), (3)(c)-(d), (4)(c)-(d) (2026)✓ matched in the source
6 more quotes are in the state explorer.
Other licenses in Florida
- LMHC (professional counselor)
- LCSW (clinical social worker)
- Psychologist
- All Florida licenses · every state
Sources
- Fla. Stat. § 491.005(3)(c)-(f) (2026)
- Fla. Stat. § 491.0045 (intern registration)
- Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B4-2.001
- Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B4-2.002, amended 7-6-26
- Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B4-21.007 (MFT qualified supervisor)
- Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B4-3.003, 64B4-3.0035
- Florida Board, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist page
- Laws of Florida ch. 2026-59 (CS/CS/HB 1279)
- Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B4-3.0085(2)-(4) (intern registration)
Checked against Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (Dept. of Health)’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.