Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (marriage and family therapist) · Kentucky · regulated by Kentucky Board of Licensure of Marriage and Family Therapists · medium confidence
| Pre-license credential | MFTA (Marriage and Family Therapist Associate, permit) |
|---|---|
| Supervised experience | At least 2 years' post-master's experience in MFT practice, defined as 1,000 hours of direct face-to-face or telehealth client contact, plus 200 hours of clinical supervision |
| Direct client contact | 1,000 hours of direct, face-to-face or telehealth contact with individuals, couples, families, and groups |
| Supervision | 200 hours post-master's; ≥100 individual; ≥50 hours using raw data (video, live observation, co-therapy) |
| Minimum time | 2 years |
| Time limit | Associate permits limited to a total of 5 years (effective 1-1-2016) |
| Exams | AMFTRB national MFT examination |
Supervision
- How much: 200 hours post-master's; ≥100 individual; ≥50 hours using raw data (video, live observation, co-therapy)
- How often: Equally distributed across the qualifying period, averaging at least 4 hours per month; board notice: minimum 48 hours per year, checked at annual renewal
- Group supervision: Max 100 of the 200 hours; group = 3 to 6 supervisees (individual = 1 or 2 supervisees)
- Who may supervise: Board-approved: AAMFT Approved Supervisor + KY LMFT ≥2 yrs; AAMFT candidate + ≥3 yrs; or KY LMFT ≥5 yrs (last 18 months in KY) + 6-hr supervision course
When hours count and what to keep
- Before your degree: Not counted: experience and supervision must be subsequent to the master's degree
- Paperwork: Application for Permit as MFT Associate with Supervision Plan for Clinical Experience (contract); Supervisory Log submitted with each annual permit renewal
Can you be supervised remotely in Kentucky?
Yes by video, but the supervisor needs a state-specific supervisor credential and the board must approve the arrangement first. What shapes this: state-only supervisor credential, prior board approval.
- Video supervision: Supervision must be direct face-to-face or live video conferencing, and video is allowed only if both supervisor and associate have completed the 15-hour board-approved telehealth training (201 KAR 32:110 §3(1)-(2)).
- Phone only: not allowed (supervision must be face-to-face or live video conferencing)
- Supervisor licensed in Kentucky? required
- Supervisor credential: Board-approved supervisor: AAMFT Approved Supervisor + KY LMFT ≥2 yrs, AAMFT candidate + KY LMFT ≥3 yrs, or KY LMFT ≥5 yrs (last 18 months in KY) + 6 hours board-approved supervision CE; supervisor of a telehealth associate also needs 15 hours telehealth training
- Supervisee cap: ≤12 MFT associates at the same time unless the board approves more
- Board approval first: Written supervision contract must be board-approved before the associate practises (KRS 335.332)
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
201 KAR 32:025 and 32:045 are marked 'Expired 7 years after last effective date (KRS 13A.3102) 12-16-2022' on the LRC site; board still lists them; board Regulations Committee met 9/14/2026 to discuss upcoming regulations. 32:035 (supervision) last effective 8-26-2021, current.
Where the rules are unclear
Kentucky’s own documents disagree or are silent on these points. Ask the board if they affect you:
- 201 KAR 32:025 (associate permit, incl. the 5-year total limit) and 201 KAR 32:045 (examination) are marked 'Expired' by the LRC as of 12-16-2022 under KRS 13A.3102, yet the board's Legal page still lists them. Is the 5-year associate-permit limit still enforced, and under what authority?
In the board’s own words
“a minimum of two (2) years of the practice of marriage and family therapy consisting of 1,000 hours of direct, face-to-face or telehealth contact” — 201 KAR 32:035 §1(5)✓ matched in the source
“A minimum of two hundred (200) hours of clinical supervision acceptable to the board and subsequent to being granted a master's degree” — KRS 335.330(2)(b)✓ matched in the source
“Be equally distributed throughout the qualifying period and shall average at least four (4) hours per month” — 201 KAR 32:035 §3(1)(a)✓ matched in the source
“all current and future associate permits shall be limited to a total of five (5) years as a marriage and family therapist associate” — 201 KAR 32:025 §1(2)(c)✓ matched in the source
“Marriage and family therapist associates are allowed to take the national Marital and Family Therapist exam at their own discretion.” — KY MFT Board, Examination Information page✓ matched in the source
“Associate Licensee's must complete a minimum of 48 hours of supervision annually.” — KY MFT Board, Notice to Supervisees and Supervisors✓ matched in the source
“or be conducted via live video conferencing if both the supervisor and supervisee have met the educational requirements of 201 KAR 32:110” — 201 KAR 32:035 §3(1)(d)✓ matched in the source
“shall have completed fifteen (15) hours of board-approved training in the practice of telehealth” — 201 KAR 32:110 §3(1)✓ matched in the source
“A marriage and family therapist in good standing, who is licensed in Kentucky and has a minimum of five (5) years of post-licensure experience” — 201 KAR 32:035 §2(2)(c)✓ matched in the source
“shall provide proof of completion of six (6) hours of board-approved continuing education courses in supervision” — 201 KAR 32:035 §2(4)✓ matched in the source
“A board-approved supervisor shall not supervise more than twelve (12) marriage and family therapy associates at the same time, unless approved by the board.” — 201 KAR 32:035 §7(1)✓ matched in the source
“1,000 hours of direct, face-to-face or telehealth contact with individuals, couples, families, and groups” — 201 KAR 32:035 §1(5)✓ matched in the source
1 more quotes are in the state explorer.
Other licenses in Kentucky
- LPCC (professional counselor)
- LCSW (clinical social worker)
- Psychologist
- All Kentucky licenses · every state
Sources
- KRS 335.330(2)-(3)
- KRS 335.332 (associate permit)
- 201 KAR 32:035 §§1-4, 6-8 (Supervision of MFT associates)
- 201 KAR 32:025 §1(2)(c), §§2-5 (MFT associate; expired per LRC 12-16-2022)
- 201 KAR 32:045 §1(3) (Examination; expired per LRC 12-16-2022)
- KY MFT Board, Examination Information page
- KY MFT Board, Notice to Supervisees and Supervisors (2026)
- KY MFT Board, Legal page (still lists 201 KAR 32:025 and 32:045 as board regulations)
- KRS 13A.3102 Expiration of administrative regulations
- Application for Permit as a Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (8-2015), practicum section
- 201 KAR 32:110 §§2-3
Checked against Kentucky Board of Licensure of Marriage and Family Therapists’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.