Marriage and Family Therapist and Mental Health Counselor Training Programs

The 2024 policy expansion allowing Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) and Mental Health Counselors (MHCs) to independently bill Medicare represents a significant workforce development opportunity for rural communities. This study will examine the national geographic distribution of MFT and MHC training programs, characterize variation in state training requirements, and assess the extent to which programs incorporate rural-specific curricula or clinical rotations.