2026 data Louisiana board official source

Louisiana Marriage and Family Therapist License Requirements

What the state board actually requires: fees, renewal cycle, and requirements from official records.

Specializes in treating relationship and family issues.

What the Louisiana data shows for Marriage and Family Therapists

Becoming a licensed marriage and family therapist in Louisiana means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 3,230 training hours, a passing score on MFT National Examination, and 2 years of supervised work experience, plus a background history check once the applicant turns 18. Louisiana regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Masters or Doctoral Degree".

Upfront cost is $239, with renewal running $203 on a 2-year cycle. Maintaining the license requires 36 hours of continuing education per 2-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.

Reciprocity for this profession works like this: MFT Licensure Compact: adoption underway.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
19/100
Marriage and Family Therapist · Louisiana

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
3,230 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$239
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$102/yr
$203 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
18.0 hrs/yr
36 hours every 2 years
Experience Required F
2 years
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Louisiana

Education / Training Hours
Masters or Doctoral Degree
3,230 hours
Exam Requirement
MFT National Examination
Required
Initial License Fee
$239
Renewal Fee
$203
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
36 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years
Work Experience Required
2 years
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Louisiana licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Marriage and Family Therapist in Louisiana?
Louisiana's requirements cover 3230 hours of education or training, the MFT National Examination exam, and an initial fee of $239. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Marriage and Family Therapist in Louisiana?
Certification as a marriage and family therapist in Louisiana means clearing the state's checklist: 3230 hours of education plus 2 years of work experience, and a passing exam score. The Louisiana licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Marriage and Family Therapist license to Louisiana from another state?
Here's how reciprocity typically plays out for marriage and family therapists: MFT Licensure Compact: adoption underway. Many occupations are additionally covered by interstate licensing compacts that ease cross-state moves. Check with the Louisiana licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does Louisiana require a background check for Marriage and Family Therapist licensing?
Background screening is part of the marriage and family therapist licensing process in Louisiana. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.
What are the continuing education requirements for Marriage and Family Therapist in Louisiana?
Licensed marriage and family therapists in Louisiana must complete 36 hours of continuing education every 2 years. The renewal fee is $203.

What to do with this marriage and family therapist license

Marriage and Family Therapist in Louisiana, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a marriage and family therapist-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Louisiana licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.