Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (marriage and family therapist) · North Dakota · regulated by North Dakota Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Board · high confidence
| Pre-license credential | LAMFT (Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist) |
|---|---|
| Supervised experience | a minimum of three thousand hours, of which one thousand five hundred hours of direct clinical client contact |
| Direct client contact | 1,500 direct clinical client contact hours, ≥500 each with couples, family groups, and individuals |
| Supervision | at least 200 hours face-to-face, ≥100 individual |
| Minimum time | 24 months full time |
| Time limit | 48 months part time; associate license 1 year, renewable up to 4 more years |
| Exams | AMFTRB national MFT exam (written) plus a state exam by the board (laws, ethics) |
Supervision
- How much: at least 200 hours face-to-face, ≥100 individual
- How often: minimum one hour every two weeks; 100 hours/year full time or 50/year part time
- Group supervision: group = 3-6 supervisees; individual = supervisor + ≤2 supervisees; ≤100 of 200 hours group
- Who may supervise: LMFT (non-associate) with graduate course or 30-hr CE in supervision and 3,000 hrs MFT client contact over ≥3 yrs licensed; or AAMFT Approved Supervisor/in-training; not employer or relative
When hours count and what to keep
- Before your degree: not counted toward the two years (experience must follow the qualifying degree); rule 5(i) allows credit for up to 500 clock-hours, context unclear
- Paperwork: Supervision agreement on official form within 60 days of starting; Board experience verification form signed by supervisor
Can you be supervised remotely in North Dakota?
Yes. Required supervision can be done entirely by live video, with no in-person minimum.
- Video supervision: No limit on hours via real-time two-way interactive audio+visual communication; such hours count as in-person (111-02-02-03(5)(f)).
- In-person minimum: None set by the state
- Supervisor licensed in North Dakota? not required: ND or other-jurisdiction licensed MFT supervisor (200 h); remaining hours may be under other licensed MHPs per NDCC 43-53
- Supervisor credential: Board recognition by application (non-provisional license, supervision course or 30 h CE, 3,000 h MFT client contact) OR AAMFT Approved Supervisor/Supervisor-in-training
- Supervisee cap: individual supervision ≤2 supervisees; group 3-6; associate may have ≤2 Board-approved supervisors at a time
- Board approval first: Supervision agreement on the official form submitted within 60 days of starting supervision (not prior).
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
N.D. Admin. Code 111-02-02-03 last amended effective April 1, 2024 (video supervision language).
In the board’s own words
“a minimum of three thousand hours, of which one thousand five hundred hours of direct clinical client contact” — N.D. Admin. Code 111-02-02-03(2)✓ matched in the source
“over a period of not less than twenty-four months, full time, and no more than forty-eight months, part time” — N.D. Admin. Code 111-02-02-03(2)✓ matched in the source
“At least two hundred hours of face-to-face contact between the supervisor and supervisee of which at least one hundred hours must be in individual settings” — N.D. Admin. Code 111-02-02-03(5)(a)✓ matched in the source
“The associate must receive a minimum of one hour of supervision every two weeks.” — N.D. Admin. Code 111-02-02-03(5)(f)✓ matched in the source
“An associate marriage and family therapist license lasts for one year and may be renewed for up to four additional years.” — N.D. Cent. Code §43-53-06(4)✓ matched in the source
“There is no limit to the number of hours that can be completed via two-way interactive audio and visual communications.” — N.D. Admin. Code 111-02-02 (-03 supervised experience; -04 supervisor)✓ matched in the source
“has both audio and visual count as in-person supervision hours.” — N.D. Admin. Code 111-02-02 (-03 supervised experience; -04 supervisor)✓ matched in the source
“The supervision by a North Dakota or other jurisdiction licensed marriage and family therapist shall take place in individual and group settings” — N.D. Admin. Code 111-02-02 (-03 supervised experience; -04 supervisor)✓ matched in the source
“designated as an approved supervisor or supervisor-in-training by the American association for marriage and family therapy” — N.D. Admin. Code 111-02-02 (-03 supervised experience; -04 supervisor)✓ matched in the source
“An associate may have no more than two board-approved supervisors at a time” — N.D. Admin. Code 111-02-02 (-03 supervised experience; -04 supervisor)✓ matched in the source
“A supervisor may not be employed by the person whom the supervisor is supervising.” — N.D. Admin. Code 111-02-02 (-03 supervised experience; -04 supervisor)✓ matched in the source
“must be submitted to the board on the official form within sixty days of the initiation of supervision.” — N.D. Admin. Code 111-02-02 (-03 supervised experience; -04 supervisor)✓ matched in the source
Other licenses in North Dakota
- LPCC (professional counselor)
- LCSW (clinical social worker)
- Psychologist
- All North Dakota licenses · every state
Sources
- N.D. Cent. Code §43-53-06(3)-(4)
- N.D. Admin. Code 111-02-02-03 Experience requirements
- N.D. Admin. Code 111-02-03-05 Examination methods
Checked against North Dakota Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Board’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.