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Wisconsin Marriage & Family Therapy — Requirements & Free Practice

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Marriage and Family Therapist Temporary Credential

Temporary credential allowing eligible out-of-state marriage and family therapists to practice within their existing credential’s scope while a permanent credential application is pending.

Licensing authority: Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling and Social Work Examining Board — Marriage and Family Therapist Section · Application information

Act10 temporary licensure
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application timing
Apply for the temporary credential within 30 days of beginning to provide health care services for a health care employer and attest to the first practice date and statutory eligibility.
Employer notification
For services other than telehealth, the employer must provide the required credential and disciplinary-status attestations within 10 days after services begin.
Existing credential
Hold a valid, unexpired credential from another state authorizing substantially the same acts as a Wisconsin MFT or MFT-in-training; have no current investigation, restrictions or limitations in any jurisdiction.
Expiration
The temporary credential expires when the permanent application is granted or denied under § 440.094(2)(c)2.a.; the national COVID-19 emergency exception is not an independent currently applicable applicant route.
Permanent application
Apply for the appropriate permanent Wisconsin credential; this pending credential application does not create an additional examination requirement for temporary issuance under § 440.094.
Practice scope
All applicable practice duties, scope limits and malpractice insurance responsibilities apply. Telehealth is permitted.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Marriage and Family Therapist License

License to practice marriage and family therapy, requiring qualifying graduate education, supervised practice and approved examinations.

Licensing authority: marriage and family therapist section · Application information

Initial licensure by examination
Application
Submit the DSPS application and applicable fee under Wis. Stat. §§ 457.06 and 440.05.
Background
Disclose pending charges and convictions as required by MPSW 16.01(5); the section considers their substantial relationship to practice subject to Wisconsin fair employment provisions.
Education
Provide a COAMFTE-accredited master’s or doctorate in marriage and family therapy, or a qualifying mental health graduate degree with substantially equivalent course work under MPSW 16.02; a Board-approved evaluation may establish equivalent foreign education under MPSW 16.01(2)(c).
Education documentation
Form 12401 requires Form 1972 when the degree is titled Marriage and Family Therapy and the program was COAMFTE-accredited; otherwise submit Form 2238, course descriptions and official transcripts.
Eligible applicants
Form 12401 permits this method for training license holders seeking full licensure and applicants already licensed elsewhere who are ineligible for or prefer not to use reciprocity.
Exam access
The Wisconsin examination access credentials are supplied after application submission; its passing score is 85%.
Foreign language
If education was not received in English, MPSW 16.01(2)(c) requires a passing TOEFL score. TOEFL is an applicant condition, not an examination of this profession.
Practice documentation
Submit the supervised practice experience documentation described in Form 12401, including Form 2574.
Supervised practice
Complete 3,000 supervised marriage and family therapy practice hours, including at least 1,000 face-to-face client-contact hours, under MPSW 16.04 while holding a valid training license. The rule also addresses approved mental health graduates enrolled in qualifying marriage and family therapy education.
Late license renewal after five years
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Current competence
Provide either an active credential in good standing in another state or 60 approved CE hours, including 8 hours in professional ethics and boundaries, completed within the preceding 2 years.
Eligibility
The credential expired more than 5 years ago and there are no unmet disciplinary requirements or surrendered/revoked credential; the applicant may not use the initial application process.
Fee
Pay the renewal and late renewal fees.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Late license renewal within five years
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing education
Complete at least 30 approved continuing education hours per 2-year credential period, including at least 4 hours of professional ethics and boundaries; the initial partial period and Board-granted postponements, waivers and retirement exemptions are addressed in MPSW 19.02 and 19.04.
Expired credential
The credential expired no more than 5 years ago.
Fee
Pay the renewal fee and late renewal fee.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial licensure by military reciprocity
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Submit the application and fee; the Board may request verification. An affidavit may establish military status when documentation is unavailable under § 440.09(2m).
Existing credential
Hold an outside governmental credential qualifying the applicant to perform the acts authorized by the corresponding Wisconsin credential, and be in good standing in every outside jurisdiction that issued such a credential.
Military status
Be a service member, qualifying former service member, or qualifying spouse; a former service member must have been discharged other than dishonorably within 4 years. The statutory definition includes a surviving spouse of a person who died in service.
Renewal
The reciprocal credential follows § 440.09(3); ordinary credential renewal conditions continue to apply.
Residence
Reside in Wisconsin.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Psychometric testing specialty authorization
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Academic training
Submit evidence of graduate or postgraduate academic training from a regionally accredited program covering descriptive statistics, reliability and measurement error, validity and test-score meaning, normative score interpretation, test selection, administration procedures, demographic and linguistic variables, and testing people with disabilities.
Implementation
The Board’s MFT licensing page lists psychometric testing as a specialty added to the credential, with Form 2579 as the supervisor affidavit.
Section approval
The appropriate section must receive and approve the qualification evidence before unsupervised psychometric testing.
Supervisor statement
Submit a signed statement from a professional qualified under MPSW 1.11(4)(a) or (c) confirming that the applicant meets the requirements; a previously approved affidavit need not be resubmitted.
Underlying license
Hold the full MFT licence.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Return to active practice after retirement
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Education
Before returning to active practice or title use, submit evidence satisfactory to the section of at least 30 CE credit hours for every biennium covered by the exemption.
Renewal
Meet the applicable credential renewal or reinstatement procedure when expiration or disciplinary status also requires it.
Retired status
Previously received a retirement CE exemption.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial licensure by reciprocity
Wisconsin Statutes and Rules Examination
Application
Apply and pay the reciprocal credential fee under Wis. Stat. § 440.05(2).
Discipline
Disclose every past or pending disciplinary action against any professional credential; provide pending charge and conviction information required by MPSW 17.02(4).
Equivalence
The section must find the other jurisdiction’s requirements substantially equivalent to Wis. Stat. § 457.10.
Existing license
Hold a current MFT credential or substantial equivalent in good standing in another United States state or territory. This is an applicant condition; another state’s examination is not a Wisconsin requirement leaf.
Wisconsin examination
Pass the Wisconsin Statutes and Rules Examination with the Board’s 85% passing score.
License reinstatement
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Discipline
Show completion of applicable disciplinary requirements.
Eligibility
Apply for reinstatement after surrender or revocation, or after failing to renew within 5 years while disciplinary requirements remain unmet.
Extended inactivity
When the credential has not been active within the last 5 years, complete the requirements of MPSW 1.08(3).
Rehabilitation
Provide evidence of rehabilitation or changed circumstances warranting reinstatement.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

License renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing education
Complete at least 30 approved continuing education hours per 2-year credential period, including at least 4 hours of professional ethics and boundaries; the initial partial period and Board-granted postponements, waivers and retirement exemptions are addressed in MPSW 19.02 and 19.04.
Fee
Pay the renewal fee.
Renewal date
The Board’s licensing page states February 28 of each odd-numbered year for the MFT credential.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Retirement to non practicing status
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Retirement
Certify retirement, no use of the MFT title, and no practice of marriage and family therapy.
Section approval
The section may grant a continuing education exemption and change the existing credential’s status to non-practicing.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Marriage and Family Therapist Temporary License

Temporary license for applicants who have completed educational and supervised-practice requirements and applied for the next available examination; valid for up to 9 months and renewable once.

Licensing authority: marriage and family therapist section · Application information

Temporary licensure awaiting examination
Application
Submit the full initial licence application and the temporary application and fee. The Board’s licensing page states: "A temporary license application is not a stand-alone application. It is available to Licensure by Exam applicants."
Education
Complete the educational requirements for the full MFT license.
Examination timing
Wis. Stat. § 457.14(1)(e) requires an application to take the next available approved examination; temporary issuance permits practice while examination is pending. An examination leaf does not assert that its passing score is due before temporary issuance.
Practice
Complete the supervised-practice requirements for full MFT licensure.
Term
The temporary license lasts no more than 9 months and may be renewed once.
Temporary license reissue after hold
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Hold
Return the temporary licence before expiration with a written request that it be placed on hold.
Reissue
The licence may later be reissued for the remainder of the original 9-month period.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Temporary license one time renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Board instructions
The Board’s MFT licensing page requires Form 3071 payment submission through the existing license’s document-upload action and recommends submission at least 2 weeks before expiration.
Limit
Only one renewal is permitted under MPSW 17.01 and Wis. Stat. § 457.14(2).
Request
Submit a written renewal request and any required renewal fee.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Marriage and Family Therapist Training License

Supervised marriage and family therapy training license, valid for 48 months and renewable at section discretion.

Licensing authority: Marriage and Family Therapist Section · Application information

Initial training licensure
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Submit a signed application and the training licence fee.
Education
Satisfy § 457.10(2), enroll or plan to enroll in an approved marriage and family therapy institute, or hold an approved mental health graduate degree and enroll or plan to enroll in an approved/accredited MFT graduate program.
Position
Hold or have an offer for a supervised MFT practice position, or a position the section determines provides equivalent training and supervision.
Scope
Practice only within the scope of training or supervision.
Term
48 months; renewal requires section discretion.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

  • training-law.html

    Wis. Stat. § 457.11(1), issuance and exhaustive prerequisites

  • mpsw16.html

    MPSW 16.015(1), exhaustive training issuance conditions

Supervised psychometric testing authorization
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Academic training
Meet the graduate/postgraduate academic qualification requirements of MPSW 1.11(5)(a).
Scope
The training licence remains a supervised credential; psychometric testing is clinical practice, not an assessment of the licence applicant.
Supervision
Psychometric testing under a training licence must be supervised by a licensed psychologist under MPSW 1.11(4)(b), or by a qualified Board licensee specified in MPSW 1.11(4)(c) under (4)(d).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Training license reinstatement
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Discipline
Complete applicable disciplinary requirements and show rehabilitation or changed circumstances.
Eligibility
A training licence is a Board credential; the reinstatement procedure applies to a surrendered/revoked credential, or failure to renew within 5 years with unmet disciplinary requirements.
Extended inactivity
Complete MPSW 1.08(3) requirements if inactive for 5 years, including fees and current competence evidence.
Training scope
The reinstated licence remains limited to training/supervised practice; training licence renewal remains within the section’s discretion.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Training license discretionary renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Use the Board’s training licence renewal application (Form 2921MFT); the Board’s licensing page identifies this form.
Section discretion
The marriage and family therapist section may renew the 48-month training license at its discretion.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

AMFTRB Marital and Family Therapy National Examination

Provider
Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB); administered for AMFTRB by Professional Testing Corporation (PTC) at Prometric computer-based testing centers
Format
Computer-based examination of objective multiple-choice questions, each with four alternative answers of which only one is correct; given during a one-week testing window every month; scores on the six domains and the total examination are reported after the window closes
Exam questions
180 multiple-choice items
Time limit
4 hours total testing time
Passing score
Criterion-referenced passing score set on an anchor examination by a modified Angoff method and adjusted across forms by equating; the reported score equals the total number of correct responses
Exam fee
US $370.00 examination fee (includes testing center fees)
Examination outline
  • Domain 01 — The Practice of Systemic Therapy — Tasks related to incorporating systemic theory and perspectives into practice activities, and establishing and maintaining ongoing therapeutic relationships with the client system inclusive of diverse cultural contexts. (16%; 29 items) (16%)
    • 01.01 Conceptualize therapy consistent with the philosophical perspectives of systemic theory.
    • 01.02 Maintain consistency between systemic theory and clinical practice.
    • 01.03 Integrate individual treatment approaches with systemic treatment approaches.
    • 01.04 Integrate multiple dimensions of diversity and social justice theories with systemic treatment approaches.
    • 01.05 Use a systemic perspective to co-create a safe, inclusive, and non-judgmental space.
    • 01.06 Use a systemic perspective to co-create a therapeutic relationship with the client system.
    • 01.07 Use a systemic perspective to understand the complexities inherent in therapeutic interactions (e.g., family homeostasis, self of the therapist).
  • Domain 02 — Assessing, Hypothesizing, and Diagnosing — Tasks related to assessing and conceptualizing the various dimensions of the client system inclusive of diverse cultural contexts, including forming and reformulating systemic hypotheses and diagnosing the client system to guide therapeutic activities and interventions, including use of artificial intelligence (AI) as appropriate. (16%; 29 items) (16%)
    • 02.01 Assess the client system’s verbal and non-verbal communication styles to develop hypotheses about relationship patterns, perceptions, and responses to the reciprocal influence of relational patterns and the presenting issues.
    • 02.02 Assess the mental status of clients.
    • 02.03 Assess historic and current self-injurious behavior, suicidal ideation and intent, and/or homicidal ideation and intent.
    • 02.04 Identify and assess behavioral dynamics, processes, and interactional patterns (e.g., boundaries, roles, rules, alliances, coalitions, and hierarchies) within the client system to determine systemic functioning.
    • 02.05 Formulate and continually assess hypotheses regarding the client system that consider and incorporate diverse contexts.
    • 02.06 Assess appropriateness of potential treatment and therapeutic delivery modalities for the client system.
    • 02.07 Assess environmental factors (e.g., discrimination, gang violence, migration) affecting the client system.
    • 02.08 Assess the client system’s levels of economic, social, emotional, physical, spiritual, and cognitive functioning.
    • 02.09 Assess historic and current effects of substance use disorders on the functioning of the client system.
    • 02.10 Assess historic and current effects of violence or trauma, including vicarious trauma, on the client system.
    • 02.11 Assess historic and current effects of childhood experiences and traumas on the client system.
    • 02.12 Assess historic and current effects of impact of process use disorders (e.g., gambling, internet use, technology use, shopping) on functioning of the client system.
    • 02.13 Assess historic and current effects of sexual functioning on the client system.
    • 02.14 Assess how the developmental and family life cycle stages of the client system impact problem formation, maintenance, and resolution.
    • 02.15 Assess strengths, resources, coping skills, and resilience within and available to the client system.
    • 02.16 Select, administer, review, and/or interpret results of standardized instruments within the therapist’s training, competence, and scope of practice.
    • 02.17 Assess and diagnose clients in accordance with current DSM and ICD diagnostic criteria while maintaining a systems perspective.
    • 02.18 Formulate treatment hypotheses that integrate systemic perspectives, assessment inventories, and diagnostic impressions.
    • 02.19 Assess effects of occupational issues on the client system (e.g., military personnel, workers in geographically dispersed locations, first responders).
    • 02.20 Collaborate with the client system to determine need for evaluation by other professional and community systems.
    • 02.21 Collaborate with professional and community systems as appropriate in making diagnoses and establishing treatment priorities.
    • 02.22 Collaborate with the client system to refer as appropriate based on diagnoses and treatment priorities.
  • Domain 03 — Designing and Conducting Treatment — Tasks related to developing and implementing a course of culturally responsive treatment with the client system, including identifying possible therapeutic models, implementing associated interventions, and treatment planning, including use of artificial intelligence (AI) as appropriate. (17%; 30 items) (17%)
    • 03.01 Evaluate and maintain a quality therapeutic alliance with the client system.
    • 03.02 Establish therapeutic contracts.
    • 03.03 Utilize assessment information to develop a treatment plan that reflects a contextual understanding of the presenting issue.
    • 03.04 Determine relevant short-term goals, long-term goals and objectives for treatment, as well as criteria for successful completion of treatment.
    • 03.05 Identify the client system’s previous and current attempts to resolve the presenting issues.
    • 03.06 Identify members of client and collateral systems involved in resolving issues.
    • 03.07 Develop and monitor ongoing safety plan to address identified safety risks for the client in all therapeutic delivery contexts.
    • 03.08 Engage in therapeutic interventions based on theory and current research and a shared contextual understanding of the client system and presenting issues.
    • 03.09 Clarify with the client system the rationale for selecting therapeutic interventions as appropriate.
    • 03.10 Collaborate with the client system to determine sequence of treatment and identify which members will be involved.
    • 03.11 Develop and monitor recovery-oriented systemic care for treatment of substance use disorders.
    • 03.12 Use genograms and/or family mapping as therapeutic interventions as indicated.
    • 03.13 Facilitate client system change through restructuring and reorganization.
    • 03.14 Collaborate with the client system to identify and explore competing priorities of client issues to be addressed in treatment.
    • 03.15 Assist the client system in developing decision-making, coping, and effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills in their relational contexts.
    • 03.16 Attend to the homeostatic process and its impact on the client system’s ability to attain therapeutic goals.
    • 03.17 Assist the client system in developing alternative perspectives of the presenting issues to facilitate solutions.
    • 03.18 Influence client behavior and perceptions through use of metaphor, rewriting narratives, mindfulness, etc.
    • 03.19 Integrate cultural, spiritual, social, intellectual, and biological characteristics and strengths of the client system when devising effective treatment strategies.
    • 03.20 Recognize and support client autonomy when devising effective treatment strategies.
    • 03.21 Maintain awareness of common side effects of medications, monitor client system for these within the boundaries of professional competence, and coordinate care with any relevant prescribers.
    • 03.22 Adapt therapeutic stance and interventions to accommodate the process and structure of all therapeutic delivery modalities.
  • Domain 04 — Evaluating Ongoing Process and Terminating Treatment — Tasks related to continuously evaluating the therapeutic process, incorporating feedback into the course of treatment, and planning for termination, inclusive of different cultural contexts and use of artificial intelligence (AI) as appropriate. (16%; 29 items) (16%)
    • 04.01 Use theory and current research in the ongoing evaluation of process, outcomes, and termination.
    • 04.02 Evaluate the progress of therapy in collaboration with client and collateral systems as indicated.
    • 04.03 Modify treatment plan in collaboration with client and collateral systems as indicated.
    • 04.04 Continually evaluate client system appropriateness for all therapeutic delivery modalities.
    • 04.05 Develop a termination plan in collaboration with the client and collateral systems to maintain therapeutic gains after treatment has ended.
    • 04.06 Terminate therapeutic relationship in a professional and culturally responsive manner.
  • Domain 05 — Managing Crisis Situations — Tasks related to assessing and managing emergency situations, inclusive of different cultural contexts, and intervening when clinically indicated and/or legally mandated. (16%; 29 items) (16%)
    • 05.01 Assess impairment in the client system during crisis situations to determine if and what immediate interventions may be needed.
    • 05.02 Assess for presence of suicidal ideation and determine the level of intervention.
    • 05.03 Assess for risk of violence toward the client from others to determine the need for intervention.
    • 05.04 Assess the client’s potential for self-injurious behavior to determine level of intervention.
    • 05.05 Assess the client’s potential for violence or harm toward others, including the therapist, to determine level of intervention.
    • 05.06 Assess risk of violence toward therapist from sources outside of the client system and develop a safety plan.
    • 05.07 Assess impact of community-level crisis on client system and develop interventions as they pertain to that crisis.
    • 05.08 Assess the impact of client system’s trauma history and other relevant contextual factors on current crisis.
    • 05.09 Collaborate with other relevant stakeholders in managing client system’s crisis.
    • 05.10 Respond to emerging crisis as appropriate to the therapeutic delivery modality and use relevant crisis resources.
  • Domain 06 — Maintaining Ethical, Legal, and Professional Standards — Tasks related to ongoing adherence to legal and ethical codes and treatment agreements, maintaining culturally responsive competency, upholding professional standards, and utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical practice. (19%; 34 items) (19%)
    • 06.01 Demonstrate professional responsibility and competence regarding legal issues and regulations across therapeutic delivery modalities, including use of artificial intelligence (AI).
    • 06.02 Compare agency and employment policies with relevant ethics code, statutes, case law, and regulations and privilege the higher standard.
    • 06.03 Integrate current ethical codes of licensing boards, relevant professional organizations, and associations into appropriate professional practice.
    • 06.04 Adhere to relevant business laws related to clinical practice (e.g., Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, False Claims Act, etc.)
    • 06.05 Practice within therapist’s scope of competence.
    • 06.06 Maintain awareness of and effectively manage how the therapist’s personal issues, life experiences, values and morals, and previous trauma impact the therapeutic process.
    • 06.07 Maintain awareness of and effectively manage how the supervisors’ personal issues, life experiences, values and morals, and previous trauma influence the supervisory process
    • 06.08 Adhere to treatment agreements with client systems and respect the rights of clients.
    • 06.09 Provide the client system with written professional disclosures regarding fees, credentials, reporting complaints, confidentiality, privileged communication, and providing technologically assisted services, including use of artificial intelligence (AI), etc.
    • 06.10 Confirm the client system’s identities, locations, and safety levels at the beginning of each teletherapy session.
    • 06.11 Monitor and mitigate risk for potential exploitation of the client system by the therapist.
    • 06.12 Consult with colleagues and other professionals as necessary regarding ethical and legal issues, and document these consultations.
    • 06.13 Respect the roles and responsibilities of other professionals involved in the client system’s treatment process as they relate to ethical and legal issues.
    • 06.14 Maintain accurate and timely records including long-term safe and confidential storage and plan record transfer and/or disposal within timeframes specified by current statutes.
    • 06.15 Adhere to ethical and regulatory guidelines for engaging in the supervisor-supervisee relationship across modalities.
Examination sources

Wisconsin Statutes and Rules Examination

Provider
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
Format
Online statutes and rules test
Time limit
Not timed; applicants may exit and return during the next 3 months
Passing score
85%
Examination outline
  • MPSW 16
  • MPSW 17
  • MPSW 19
  • MPSW 20
  • Chapter 48
  • Chapter 51
  • Chapter 55
  • Chapter 146
  • Chapter 457
  • Chapter 948
  • MPSW 1
Examination sources