How many hours do I need for an LMFT in Montana?

at least 3,000 hours under direct supervision of an approved supervisor, including 1,000 hours face-to-face client contact; up to 500 pre-degree

How much supervision does an LMFT in Montana require?

at least 40 hours of face-to-face supervision, at least 38 individual, minimum 20 with each supervisor; at least 25 hours using raw clinical data; 20:1 ratio of client contact hours to supervision hours

Is there a time limit for completing the hours in Montana?

supervised work experience must be obtained in the 5 years before application; candidate registers annually, up to 5 times unless approved

Can I be supervised by video in Montana?

Mostly, with some limits. LMFT: ≥40 hours face-to-face supervision (≥38 individual, ≥20 with each supervisor) at a 20:1 ratio; face-to-face includes real-time audio-visual; ≥25 hours must involve raw clinical data (live observation, one-way mirror, live-feed camera, video- or audiotape)

Montana requirements

LMFT requirements in Montana

What it takes to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Montana: 3,000 supervised hours, plus supervision, time limits, exams and whether you can be supervised by video. Every figure is sourced to the state board and dated.

Sourced to Montana Board of Behavioral Health (Department of Labor and Industry)Checked September 25, 2026Not individually reviewed by a clinicianAbout this site

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (marriage and family therapist) · Montana · regulated by Montana Board of Behavioral Health (Department of Labor and Industry) · high confidence

Pre-license credential	LMFT Candidate (MFLC)
Supervised experience	at least 3,000 hours under direct supervision of an approved supervisor, including 1,000 hours face-to-face client contact; up to 500 pre-degree
Direct client contact	at least 1,000 post-degree hours of client contact, minimum 50% with couples and families
Supervision	at least 40 hours of face-to-face supervision, at least 38 individual, minimum 20 with each supervisor; at least 25 hours using raw clinical data
Time limit	supervised work experience must be obtained in the 5 years before application; candidate registers annually, up to 5 times unless approved
Exams	AMFTRB examination in marriage and family therapy

Supervision

How much: at least 40 hours of face-to-face supervision, at least 38 individual, minimum 20 with each supervisor; at least 25 hours using raw clinical data
How often: 20:1 ratio of client contact hours to supervision hours
Group supervision: group supervision of no more than six candidates; at least 75% of supervision individual
Who may supervise: LCSW, LCPC, LMFT, licensed psychologist, or licensed board-certified psychiatrist. New supervisors (from 8/22/2026): active license, licensed ≥3 yrs excluding candidacy, AND 1 semester credit or 20 hrs board-approved supervision training (post-degree, post-candidacy); earlier supervisors grandfathered

When hours count and what to keep

Before your degree: up to 500 of the 3,000 hours may be pre-degree if approved by the graduate program
Paperwork: Training and supervision plan; Supervision Attestation form; supervised experience attestation signed by candidate and each supervisor

Can you be supervised remotely in Montana?

Mostly, with some limits. What shapes this: prior board approval.

Video supervision: LMFT: ≥40 hours face-to-face supervision (≥38 individual, ≥20 with each supervisor) at a 20:1 ratio; face-to-face includes real-time audio-visual; ≥25 hours must involve raw clinical data (live observation, one-way mirror, live-feed camera, video- or audiotape)
Phone only: not allowed (face-to-face electronic supervision must provide both audio and visual interaction)
Supervisor licensed in Montana? other: active license in good standing "in the jurisdiction in which the supervision is occurring" (new supervisors from 8/22/2026); whether a remote out-of-state supervisor needs a Montana license is not stated
Supervisor credential: No supervisor registration/license; new supervisors (from 8/22/2026) need ≥3 yrs licensure excluding candidacy + 1 grad semester credit or 20 hrs board-approved supervision training (not during grad school/candidacy); pre-8/22/2026 supervisors exempt from the training
Supervisee cap: group supervision ≤6 candidates
Board approval first: Candidate license required before post-degree hours count; candidate submits a training and supervision plan with at least one qualified supervisor of record; later plan updates/supervisor changes need no further approval unless non-conforming (report within 20 business days)
If you live outside Montana: Board treats practice as occurring in Montana when the client is physically in Montana, regardless of the candidate's location; candidate should check the other state's laws

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

ARM 24.219.704 amended eff. Aug 22, 2026 (MAR 2026-512): supervision hours cut from 200/150/80/100 to 40/38/20/25 to match the 20:1 ratio adopted in 2024; added the 500-hour pre-degree clause.

Where the rules are unclear

Montana’s own documents disagree or are silent on these points. Ask the board if they affect you:

For video supervision across state lines, is supervision "occurring" in Montana (so the supervisor needs a Montana license) or where the supervisor sits? ARM 24.219.421(2)(a) wording is ambiguous.

In the board’s own words

“practiced under the direct supervision of an approved supervisor for at least 3,000 hours, including 1,000 hours of face-to-face client contact” — MCA 37-39-311(2)(c) — official ARM viewer, active version✓ matched in the source

“at least 40 hours of face-to-face supervision of which at least 38 hours are in individual supervision” — ARM 24.219.704(2)(c)(i) — official ARM viewer, active version✓ checked by hand

“There must be a 20:1 ratio of client contact hours to supervision hours” — ARM 24.219.704(2)(c) — official ARM viewer, active version✓ checked by hand

“Supervised work experience must have been obtained in the five years prior to application for licensure.” — ARM 24.219.301(27) — official ARM viewer, active version✓ checked by hand

“LMFT: the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB) examination in marriage and family therapy” — ARM 24.219.403(1)(e) — official ARM viewer, eff. 8/22/2026✓ checked by hand

“at least 1000 post-degree hours of client contact with a minimum of 50 percent of those hours providing services to couples and families” — ARM 24.219.704(2)(c) — official ARM viewer, eff. 8/22/2026✓ checked by hand

“"Face-to-face" means supervision of a candidate by the supervisor which is either: (a) in-person; or (b) electronically.” — ARM 24.219.301(9),(10),(13) DEFINITIONS (active version eff. 8/22/2026)✓ checked by hand

“(iv) be simultaneous; and (v) provide for both audio and visual interaction.” — ARM 24.219.301(9),(10),(13) DEFINITIONS (active version eff. 8/22/2026)✓ matched in the source

“Does the board allow both telepractice and telesupervision? Yes.” — BBH Candidate and Peer Support Supervision FAQ (updated 9/9/26), p.1-4✓ matched in the source

“You are considered to be practicing in Montana if your client is physically located in Montana regardless of your physical location.” — BBH Candidate and Peer Support Supervision FAQ (updated 9/9/26), p.1-4✓ matched in the source

“"Direct client contact" means physical presence, telephonic presence, or interactive video link presence of the client” — ARM 24.219.301(9),(10),(13) DEFINITIONS (active version eff. 8/22/2026)✓ checked by hand

“have an active license in good standing in the jurisdiction in which the supervision is occurring” — ARM 24.219.421(2)-(4) SUPERVISOR QUALIFICATIONS (active version eff. 8/22/2026)✓ matched in the source

9 more quotes are in the state explorer.

Other licenses in Montana

Sources

Checked against Montana Board of Behavioral Health (Department of Labor and Industry)’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.

Track your hours as you earn them

Practice Harbor is free while you are pre-licensed. It counts your clinical hours from the sessions you mark as attended, and you can add outside hours by hand.

Start free with Practice Harbor All requirements

General information, not legal advice. Requirements are summarized from each state’s licensing board, statutes and regulations on the date shown; the board decides, and rules change. Becoming Licensed is not affiliated with any licensing board.