Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (marriage and family therapist) · Minnesota · regulated by Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy · high confidence
| Pre-license credential | LAMFT (Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist) |
|---|---|
| Supervised experience | not less than 4,000 hours, in no less than two and no more than seven years (two years of supervised postgraduate experience) |
| Direct client contact | 1,000 hours clinical client contact, including ≥500 hours face-to-face with couples, families, or relational groups |
| Supervision | 200 hours; at least 100 individual |
| Minimum time | two years from filing the application to take the national exam |
| Time limit | seven years from filing the national-exam application; LAMFT renewable yearly for up to six additional years |
| Exams | AMFTRB national MFT exam (apply within 6 months of starting experience; LAMFT requires passing) plus board state exam on law, rules and ethics |
Supervision
- How much: 200 hours; at least 100 individual
- How often: average of one hour of supervision per five hours of clinical client contact; no more than 100 supervision hours in any 12-month period
- Group supervision: up to 100 hours group (supervisor + no more than six supervisees); 'individual' allows up to two supervisees
- Who may supervise: Board-approved LMFT supervisor: Minnesota LMFT with ≥4 years and 4,000 hours as LMFT plus supervision training (3 sem. hrs or 30 hrs), or AAMFT Approved Supervisor
When hours count and what to keep
- Before your degree: not counted (postgraduate experience)
- Paperwork: Supervisor verification form supplied by the board (setting, hours, client contact, supervision, supervisor credentials); applicant keeps a permanent detailed log
Can you be supervised remotely in Minnesota?
Mostly, with some limits. What shapes this: state-only supervisor credential.
- Video supervision: Statute (since 5/24/2022) requires the board to accept all 200 supervision hours via real-time two-way audio-video; the older rule's 25% cap on electronic supervision is superseded per the board's own page.
- In-person minimum: none (all supervision may be real-time audio-video)
- Supervisor licensed in Minnesota? required for Minnesota clinical hours (board-approved, Minnesota-licensed LMFT supervisor); for clinical hours accrued in another jurisdiction, an AAMFT-approved supervisor or an LMFT authorized to supervise there
- Supervisor credential: MN Board of MFT 'board-approved LMFT supervisor' status (MN LMFT with 4 yrs/4,000 h as LMFT + 30 h supervision training, or AAMFT Approved Supervisor); application filed with the board
- Supervisee cap: individual = supervisor + no more than 2 supervisees; group = supervisor + no more than 6 supervisees
- Board approval first: No supervision-plan filing found in rules; the supervisor must already be board-approved (listed on the board site) for clinical hours to count
- If you live outside Minnesota: Clinical hours may be accrued in another jurisdiction under an AAMFT-approved or locally authorized LMFT supervisor; no text addresses an LAMFT outside Minnesota treating Minnesota clients
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
Minn. Stat. 148B.33 subd. 1a (added 2019, amended 2022) requires the board to accept 100% video supervision, overriding the 25% limit in Minn. R. 5300.0155 subp. 4(D).
Where the rules are unclear
Minnesota’s own documents disagree or are silent on these points. Ask the board if they affect you:
- Minn. R. 5300.0155 subp. 4 D (up to 25% electronic) conflicts with Minn. Stat. 148B.33 subd. 1a (all hours by audio-video); the board page says the statute governs since 5/24/2022. Will the rule be amended?
- Does 'face-to-face clinical client contact' (board page) and 'face-to-face contact' in the rule definition of supervision (5300.0100 subp. 16) include telehealth and video?
In the board’s own words
“The postgraduate experience shall include not less than 4,000 hours” — Minn. R. 5300.0155, subp. 3✓ matched in the source
“completed in no less than two and no more than seven years from the filing of the application to take the national examination” — Minn. R. 5300.0155, subp. 3✓ matched in the source
“an average rate of one hour of supervision per five hours of clinical client contact, for a minimum total of 200 hours” — Minn. R. 5300.0155, subp. 4(A)✓ matched in the source
“may be renewed on a yearly basis for up to six additional years” — Minn. R. 5300.0175✓ matched in the source
“with all required hours of supervision provided through real-time, two-way interactive audio and visual communication” — Minn. Stat. 148B.33, subd. 1a✓ matched in the source
“with all required hours of supervision provided through real-time, two-way interactive audio and visual communication” — Minn. Stat. 148B.33, subd. 1a✓ matched in the source
“Effective May 24, 2022, a candidate for LMFT licensure may obtain all required supervision electronically.” — MN Board of MFT, Supervision Requirements page (Wayback 20260607)✓ matched in the source
“a candidate for LMFT licensure may obtain all required supervision electronically” — MN Board of MFT, Supervision Requirements page (Wayback 20260607)✓ matched in the source
“All clinical client contact must be supervised by a board-approved, Minnesota-licensed marriage and family therapist supervisor.” — Minn. R. 5300.0155, subp. 4, item A✓ matched in the source
“If clinical client hours are accrued in another jurisdiction, supervision must be provided by an AAMFT-approved supervisor, or an LMFT authorized to provide supervision” — MN Board of MFT, Supervision Requirements page (Wayback 20260607)✓ matched in the source
“An application for board-approved LMFT supervisor status must be filed with the board prior to approval of supervisor status by the board.” — Minn. R. 5300.0160, subp. 4✓ matched in the source
“Group supervision is defined as a setting in which the supervisor and no more than six supervisees are present.” — Minn. R. 5300.0155, subp. 4, item C✓ matched in the source
4 more quotes are in the state explorer.
Other licenses in Minnesota
- LPCC (professional counselor)
- LICSW (clinical social worker)
- Psychologist
- All Minnesota licenses · every state
Sources
- Minn. Stat. 148B.33, subd. 1(4),(7) and subd. 1a
- Minn. R. 5300.0155, subp. 2-5
- Minn. R. 5300.0160, subp. 2-3
- Minn. R. 5300.0175
- Minn. R. 5300.0240, subp. 1, 4, 6
- Minn. R. 5300.0170, item C
- Minn. R. 5300.0100, subp. 16 (definition of supervision)
- MN Board of MFT, Supervision Requirements page (Wayback 20260607)
- Minn. Stat. 148B.331, subd. 1 (MFT guest licensure)
Checked against Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.