One Board, One Pre-License Track
The Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists (the Board) licenses marriage and family therapists through a single pre-license stage: the Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT). An AMFT completes post-graduate experience and supervision under a Board-approved contract, then applies for the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).
Georgia's statute also lists separate hour figures for an applicant who reaches the LMFT through a master's program without the AMFT, or through a qualifying doctorate (O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-13(a)(2)). Those routes sit outside this guide, which covers the AMFT path.
The AMFT License: Degree, Practicum and the Contract
AMFT eligibility starts with the degree: an MFT master's degree, an equivalent program, or a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 135-5-.05(2)(a); O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-13(a)(1)). The degree includes a one-year practicum (Rule 135-5-.05(2)(b)).
The AMFT applicant must submit and obtain the Board's approval of a "Contract for Post-Graduate Experience and Supervision" (Rule 135-5-.05(2)(c)). An applicant who has not yet secured employment or begun supervision when applying submits an updated contract "within thirty (30) days of securing post-graduate employment or beginning post-graduate supervision" (Rule 135-5-.05(2)(c)1), and any later change to the contract "must be submitted to the Board within thirty (30) days for approval" (Rule 135-5-.05(2)(c)2).
Unapproved hours may not be applied toward the LMFT. The rule is explicit: "Any post-graduate experience or supervision obtained by an associate marriage and family therapist without Board approval may not be applied toward licensure as a marriage and family therapist" (Rule 135-5-.05(2)(c)4).
An AMFT applicant registers for and sits for "the Examination in Marital and Family Therapy following Board review" as part of AMFT licensure (Rule 135-5-.05(2)(d)). An AMFT may practice only for a period not to exceed five years (O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-13(c); Rule 135-5-.05(3)(b)), which the Board's FAQ counts from the date of initial issuance; endorsement from another state is not available for the AMFT (MFT How-To Guide; O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-13(d)(3)).
What Counts as Direct Clinical Experience
Direct Clinical Experience is defined as "time spent in client contact as therapist or co-therapist, in supervision, in case staffing, or in case consultation" (Rule 135-5-.06(1)(h)). Time spent in supervision, case staffing and case consultation counts toward the total alongside client-contact hours under the current rule.
Full-time experience is defined as "a minimum of 20 hours per week spent in direct clinical experience" (Rule 135-5-.06(1)(j)). The statute measures the experience as two years of full-time post-master's experience "or its equivalent" (O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-13(a)(2)(A)).
The LMFT Hours: 1,500 Direct, 100 Supervision
Georgia's statute sets the LMFT experience requirement as "two years of full-time post-master's experience or its equivalent ... which shall include a minimum of 1,500 hours of direct clinical experience and 100 hours of supervision ... not less than two years and not more than five years" (O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-13(a)(2)(A)). Georgia's Rule 135-5-.06(2)(a) has not been amended to match the statute; where the two disagree, the statute controls.
| Requirement | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Direct clinical experience | 1,500 hours minimum | O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-13(a)(2)(A) |
| Supervision | 100 hours total | O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-13(a)(2)(A) |
| Experience window | Not less than 2 years, not more than 5 years | O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-13(a)(2)(A) |
| Full-time definition | 20 hours a week in direct clinical experience | Rule 135-5-.06(1)(j) |
The Supervision Split and Pacing
Of the 100 supervision hours, "a minimum of 50 of these 100 hours must have been in individual supervision, and a maximum of 50 of these 100 hours may have been in group supervision" (Rule 135-5-.06(2)(a)2(ii)). Supervision also has to track the pace of the clinical work: "a minimum of 5 hours of such supervision must have been obtained concurrent with each 100 hours of direct clinical experience" (Rule 135-5-.06(2)(a)2(iii)), and the rule describes the 100 supervision hours as "concurrent with his/her documented experience" (Rule 135-5-.06(2)(a)2).
Arithmetic, not a separate rule: at the 5-per-100 pace, 1,500 direct clinical hours implies at least 75 supervision hours paced alongside that work. The total supervision requirement is still 100 hours, so reaching the pacing rate at 1,500 direct hours does not by itself satisfy the total; the remaining 25 hours still have to be obtained.
Eligible Supervisors and the Board Approved MFT Supervisor
An AMFT's supervisor is a licensed MFT, LPC, LCSW, psychiatrist or psychologist "licensed and in good standing for a minimum of three years," or a person who is an AAMFT Approved Supervisor, a Georgia Board Approved MFT Supervisor, or who is receiving supervision-of-supervision to qualify as one (Rule 135-5-.06(2)(a)2(i)).
The Board Approved MFT Supervisor designation itself is not automatic: it requires a licensed MFT with three years of full-time post-licensure MFT experience, 180 hours of supervising at least two supervisees over two to five years, 36 hours of supervision-of-supervision, 24 of them individual, and the recommendations the rule requires (Rule 135-5-.05(1)(a)).
The Family and Ownership Bar, Quoted
Georgia bars two things at once. First, family: "Supervisors may not provide supervision to family members" (Rule 135-5-.05(1)(n)1). Second, ownership: a supervisor may not supervise where the AMFT or a family member has "an ownership interest in, operate, or manage the business entity" where the supervisor is employed or the services are provided (Rule 135-5-.05(1)(n)1). Georgia defines family member as "a member of a person's immediate or extended family, by direct descent or by marriage, including intimate or cohabitation relationships" (Rule 135-5-.05(1)(n)2). The same bar applies to directors (Rule 135-5-.05(1)(i)1).
The bar names family and ownership. The rule reaches family members and an ownership interest in, or operation or management of, the business entity; it says nothing further about employers (Rule 135-5-.05(1)(n)1).
Forms D and E
Georgia verifies AMFT experience on two forms. Form D, "Verification of Direct Post Graduate Clinical Experience," covers one experience per form and asks for weekly hours split by Individual versus Couple/Family across client contact as therapist or co-therapist, case staffing or case consultation, and clinical supervision received as a supervisee; the form instructs: "Do not indicate a range of hours."
Form E, "Verification of Supervision of Direct Post Graduate Clinical Experience," covers one supervisor per form and reports "INDIVIDUAL: ___ Hours/Week," "GROUP: ___ Hours/Week," and "TOTAL HOURS," and the supervisor certifies as an AAMFT-Approved Supervisor, a person in supervision-of-supervision, or a Georgia Board Approved MFT Supervisor. The fields on Forms D and E are collected in Georgia supervised experience verification forms.
Technology-Delivered Supervision
Georgia defines and permits TeleMental Health supervision for every license type, including the AMFT track: "the delivery of supervision via technology-assisted media by a supervisor at one site while the supervisee is located at a distant site," with the supervisor needing 9 hours of continuing education first, including 3 hours in "Supervising TeleMental Health Therapy," and "verbal and written consent from the supervisee" (Rule 135-11-.01(a)7, (b)2(i),(iv)). The Board's FAQ addresses the AMFT track by name: asked about "AMFT, MFT, or MSW" supervision by phone, computer or video, the Board answers "Yes, and the supervisor and supervisee should receive the CEU's training in TeleMental Health counseling" (Board FAQ).
Form E still prints "face to face." Form E and the AMFT Contract Affidavit define supervision as "the direct, i.e., face to face, clinical review," while Rule 135-11-.01 and the Board's FAQ allow technology-delivered supervision.
The Exam, Renewal and Fees
A current AMFT is "not required to re-take the Examination in Marital and Family Therapy" when applying for the LMFT (Rule 135-5-.06(2)(a)3; O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-8(2)). Every license the Board issues, including the AMFT, expires "on September 30th of even numbered years" (Rule 135-6-.03(1)), and renewal requires "thirty-five (35) hours of continuing education ... within the two (2) year biennial licensure cycle to renew each license, including associate level licenses" (Rule 135-9-.01(2)(a)). Renewal costs $100 and a late renewal costs $150, per the Board's fee schedule (MFT How-To Guide). For the CE breakdown across categories and cycles, see Georgia license renewal and CE requirements.
The AMFT carries its own cap on top of the biennial renewal cycle: five years (O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-13(c)), counted from initial issuance per the Board's FAQ, no inactive status, and a lapsed AMFT license may be reinstated only once (Rule 135-6-.04(3); Board FAQ).
Moving to Georgia With an Out-of-State LMFT
Georgia offers an expedited path for a fully licensed LMFT moving from another state: the Board issues the Georgia license "no later than 30 days" from a complete application (O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-13(d)(2)). That expedited path is for the full LMFT only; endorsement is not available for the AMFT (O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-13(d)(3)).
Common Mistakes on the Georgia AMFT to LMFT Track
Logging hours under a contract change that has not been approved
Hours obtained without Board approval may not be applied toward the LMFT, whether the change was a new site, a new supervisor, or new employment (Rule 135-5-.05(2)(c)4).
Treating the rule's LMFT hour figure as current
Rule 135-5-.06(2)(a) has not been amended to match the statute. The statute's 1,500 direct clinical hours and 100 supervision hours control (O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-13(a)(2)(A)).
Letting group supervision exceed the 50-hour ceiling
A maximum of 50 of the 100 supervision hours may be group; the other 50 or more must be individual (Rule 135-5-.06(2)(a)2(ii)).
Missing the 30-day window on a contract change
Any change to the Contract for Post-Graduate Experience and Supervision has to reach the Board within thirty days for approval (Rule 135-5-.05(2)(c)2).
Misreading the family and ownership bar
The rule bars family members and ownership, operation or management of the business entity; it says nothing further about employers (Rule 135-5-.05(1)(n)1).
Assuming the AMFT can go inactive between jobs
Associate level licenses, including the AMFT, may not be placed in inactive status, and a lapsed associate license may be reinstated only once (Rule 135-6-.04(3); Board FAQ).
Track Your Hours From Day One
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More on Georgia licensure
Georgia's counseling track carries its own hour count and contract system, covered in Georgia LPC requirements. The clinical social work track runs a 3,000-hour requirement over 36 to 108 months, covered in Georgia LCSW requirements.
Related Georgia Guides
How to Become a Therapist in Georgia
The full picture across Georgia's counseling, social work and marriage and family therapy tracks.
Georgia Supervised Experience Verification Forms
What Forms D and E, and the counseling and social work forms, ask for.
Georgia License Renewal and CE Requirements
The renewal date, CE hours and subject splits for every Georgia license.
Georgia LPC Requirements
The APC-to-LPC track: the two-year statutory experience requirement and the directed-experience contract.
Georgia LCSW Requirements
The LMSW-to-LCSW track: 3,000 hours over 36 to 108 months and the 120-hour supervision requirement.
Associate Professional Counselor in Georgia
The APC license on Georgia's counseling track.
FAQ: Georgia LMFT Requirements
What are the LMFT requirements in Georgia?▾
The route this guide covers reaches the LMFT through the Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) license: a qualifying master's degree, a one-year practicum, and a Board-approved Contract for Post-Graduate Experience and Supervision (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 135-5-.05(2)(a),(b),(c)). By statute, the LMFT itself requires a minimum of 1,500 hours of direct clinical experience and 100 hours of supervision, completed in not less than two and not more than five years (O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-13(a)(2)(A)).
How many hours do you need for an LMFT in Georgia?▾
The statute sets 1,500 hours of direct clinical experience and 100 hours of supervision, completed within not less than two years and not more than five years (O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-13(a)(2)(A)). Of the 100 supervision hours, at least 50 must be individual and at most 50 may be group, with at least 5 hours of supervision concurrent with each 100 hours of direct clinical experience (Rule 135-5-.06(2)(a)2(ii),(iii)). Georgia's rule text has not caught up to the statute; the statute controls.
What is an AMFT in Georgia?▾
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) is the pre-license credential an LMFT candidate on the AMFT route holds while gaining post-graduate experience and supervision under a Board-approved contract (Rule 135-5-.05(2)(c)). The license runs for a period not to exceed five years, which the Board's FAQ counts from initial issuance, carries no inactive status, and may be reinstated only once if it lapses (O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-13(c); Rule 135-6-.04(3)). Endorsement is not available for the AMFT (MFT How-To Guide; O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-13(d)(3)).
How much supervision does an AMFT need in Georgia?▾
A minimum of 50 of the required 100 supervision hours must be individual supervision, and a maximum of 50 may be group supervision (Rule 135-5-.06(2)(a)2(ii)). Supervision also has to keep pace with the work: a minimum of 5 hours of supervision must be obtained concurrent with each 100 hours of direct clinical experience (Rule 135-5-.06(2)(a)2(iii)). Direct Clinical Experience itself includes client contact, supervision, case staffing and case consultation (Rule 135-5-.06(1)(h)).
Does Georgia require a new exam for the LMFT?▾
No. An AMFT applicant registers for and sits for the Examination in Marital and Family Therapy following Board review as part of AMFT licensure (Rule 135-5-.05(2)(d)). Current AMFTs are not required to re-take the Examination in Marital and Family Therapy when they apply for the LMFT (Rule 135-5-.06(2)(a)3; O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-8(2)).
How much does it cost to renew an LMFT license in Georgia?▾
Renewal costs $100 per the Board's fee schedule, and a late renewal costs $150, per the MFT How-To Guide. Every license, including the AMFT, expires on September 30 of even numbered years (Rule 135-6-.03(1)), and renewal requires 35 hours of continuing education within the two-year cycle, including associate level licenses (Rule 135-9-.01(2)(a)).
Can an out-of-state LMFT get licensed in Georgia?▾
Georgia offers an expedited path for an LMFT already licensed in another state: the Board issues the Georgia license no later than 30 days from a complete application (O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-13(d)(2)). That expedited endorsement is only for the full LMFT; endorsement is not available for the AMFT (O.C.G.A. § 43-10A-13(d)(3)).
Requirements verified against Chapter 135 of the Board's rules (current through rules filed September 2, 2026) and O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 10A, current as of September 24, 2026. Statutes, rules and fees can change. Confirm current requirements at the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists before making decisions about your licensure path. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice.