How to Become an LMFT in Colorado: A Step-by-Step Guide
By Madison Dennis
When I was graduating with my Master’s Degree from USC in 2019, I realized that although I left the program with the tools and skills to practice therapy, I had almost no education on how to actually become a licensed marriage and family therapist.
I spent hours pouring over the state regulatory website deciphering legal jargon, doing ratio calculations, and trying desperately to piece together the fragments of information that would help guide me to licensure. And while in the state of Colorado, DORA has outlined the steps on their website, it helps to have someone who has ‘been there, done that’ to make the information more digestible. Luckily for you, I am here to be your guide!
What is DORA?
Dora is the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies which regulates MFTs (marriage and family therapists) and other mental health licenses including professional counselors, social workers, and addiction counselors. You must be registered with DORA to work as a marriage and family therapist in Colorado.
Additionally, it is important to note that while the information in this blog with you is credible and up to date as of the writing of this blog, it is always best to double check the DORA website in case there have been any recent updates that may apply to you and your journey to becoming a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT).
Steps to Licensure
- Meet requirements to register as a MFTC
- Gain 2,000 hours of supervised clinical experience
- Pass the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB) exams
Requirements to Register as a MFTC and the Colorado Jurisprudence Exam
MFTC, or marriage and family therapist candidate, is the status which indicates that you have met requirements to begin accruing hours towards licensure. In order to apply for MFTC status through DORA, you must meet the following requirements:
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- Fitness: You must not in violation of the mental health practice act (Article 245)
- Education: You must have completed a masters or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a COAMFTE accredited school or college. COAMFTE is the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, the specialized accrediting body for master’s, doctoral, and post-graduate clinical training programs in marriage and family therapy (MFT) in the United States and Canada. COAMFTE schools and programs in Colorado are: Colorado State University; Regis University; University of Colorado Denver; and Denver Family Institute.
- Pass the Jurisprudence Exam: This 45 question, online, open-book exam tests your knowledge and understanding of the laws and regulations that you must abide by as a marriage and family therapist in Colorado. You have 60 days to complete the exam once you begin. If you do not pass the exam, you can retake the exam after 10 days. When you do pass the exam, be sure to keep a copy of your results- you will need this later when you apply for licensure! Your passing exam results are good for 5 years.
Once you become a MFTC, you will have 3 years to meet the post-degree work experience requirements, pass the license exam, and apply for licensure.
*An important note: All MFTC licenses expire December 31st every 3 years. If you need more time to complete the work requirements and take the exam, you can renew your MFTC after 3 years and continue to earn hours. You must renew through DORA before December 31st in order to keep practicing. If you need to renew again after that, another renewal can be approved but you must complete continuing education requirements in order to keep your MFTC active.
Gain 2,000 Hours of Supervised Clinical Practice
Now that you are a MFTC, you can begin to work towards your 2,000 hour requirement. The hours must be completed over a minimum of 24 months (that’s right, no speedrunning this). At least 1,500 hours must be face‑to‑face direct client contact. Within those direct hours, at least 1,000 hours must involve couples and families. Other hours can include documentation, client advocacy, case conceptualization, etc.
In order to gain those face-to-face direct client hours, you must be supervised by a board approved supervisor, which includes:
- LMFTs in good standing
- AAMFT-approved supervisors, or
- LCSW (licensed clinical social worker), LPC (licensed professional counselor), or LP (licensed psychologist) that has been approved by DORA to supervise MFTCs.
You will need at least 100 hours of supervision during the accrual of your clinical hours. Of the 100 supervision hours, a minimum of 50 hours must be individual supervision. The additional 50 supervision hours can be either individual or group supervision. Supervision hours must be spread across the experience period, not “bunched” at the beginning or end.
Hot tip: use a tracking app or tool such as Track Your Hours hyperlink or Time2Track hyperlink to help you keep a record of your hours and supervision meetings. It will save you so much time and stress.
While supervision can feel like yet another box to check on the way to licensure, remember that supervision is so much more than that. It is the opportunity to expand your clinical knowledge and skillset, explore countertransference, work through anxiety or imposter syndrome, receive support and guidance when facing legal or ethical dilemmas, develop professionally, and take the next step with clarity and confidence.
Good supervision is essential to your development as a well-rounded therapist. We offer clinical supervision for MFTCs looking for support.
Pass the AMFTRB Exam
You did it! You have finished earning your hours and you are ready for the final step. First, you will need to register for the AMFTRB (Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards) exam through DORA. This 180 question exam focuses on 6 key areas:
- Practice of Systemic Therapy
- Assessing/Diagnosing
- Designing Treatment
- Evaluating/Terminating
- Managing Crisis, and
- Ethical/Legal Standards.
You will have 4 hours to finish it. Unlike the Jurisprudence Exam, this one is not open-book. Most candidates spend 2-4 months preparing for the exam. The exam is offered in monthly one-week windows. If you fail, you can retake during the next exam window or any after that. When you pass the exam, you should receive your LMFT license and number shortly after (processing times may vary).
Congratulations! You are now a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Colorado!
How We Can Help
Now that you are a licensed therapist in Colorado, you will need to maintain your license by earning continuing education hours throughout the year and renewing your license every two years. To continue to grow and develop, you should also consider consultation with other licensed therapists!
Consultation provides you with a space to work through tough problems, sharpen your clinical skills, network with peers, and stave off burnout by connecting deeply with others who just ‘get it.’ At Firelight Supervision we offer a variety of consultation groups, even specialty groups that you can join and start connecting with others in!
Author Bio
Madison Dennis is a licensed marriage and family therapist, clinical supervisor, and blogger with Firelight Supervision. Madison supports provisionally licensed and fully licensed therapists in moving past self-doubt and imposter syndrome to show up calm, confident, and connected with their clients. She specializes in adolescents, young adults, and families navigating intergenerational and developmental trauma, with clinical grounding in psychodynamic psychotherapy, DBT and CBT. Follow Firelight Supervision on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
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