How to Become an LMFT or LPCC: A Complete 2026 Guide

January 21, 2026

Becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) opens the door to a meaningful, high-impact career supporting individuals, couples, families, and communities. As demand for mental health professionals continues to rise across California and the nation, more students are seeking clinical training programs that blend academic rigor, supervised practice, and real-world experience.

This 2026 guide outlines the steps to licensure, the education required, and how Pepperdine University’s Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) - with multiple formats and specializations in Evening Format, Daytime Format, Online, and with Latinx Communities prepares graduates for successful, purpose-driven clinical careers.

LMFT vs. LPCC: Understanding the Two Career Tracks

Both LMFTs and LPCCs provide psychotherapy, but each license has a different focus and scope.

What is an LMFT?
A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializes in:

Couples therapy
Family systems and relational dynamics
Childhood and adolescent behavioral concerns
Communication and conflict resolution
Relationship-based interventions

LMFTs are trained to view mental health concerns through the lens of interpersonal relationships and systemic patterns.

What is an LPCC?
A Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor focuses on:

Individual mental health
Assessment and treatment planning
Behavioral and emotional disorders
Career, personal, and developmental counseling
Evidence-based therapeutic interventions

LPCCs primarily treat individuals, although some may work with couples or groups, depending on their training.

Which license should you pursue?
Choose LMFT if you’re drawn to working with couples, families, and relational patterns.

Choose LPCC if your interests lean toward individual treatment, assessment, or behavioral intervention.

Pepperdine’s MA in Clinical Psychology prepares students for both pathways, but there are different requirements for the amount of supervised clinical hours needed to graduate.

Education Requirements: Why a Master’s in Clinical Psychology Matters

To become an LMFT or LPCC in California, you must complete a qualifying graduate program approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS). Pepperdine’s Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an MFT is one of the most direct and comprehensive routes.

A strong academic program should offer:

Coursework aligned with BBS licensure requirements
Hands-on clinical training through practicum and supervised fieldwork
Cultural competence, including work with diverse populations
Trauma-informed and evidence-based practice
Experienced faculty who are also clinicians

Pepperdine University offers several formats of its MA in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, including:

With Latinx Communities (a culturally responsive emphasis focused on bilingual practice, advocacy, and community leadership)

Each format provides the necessary academic coursework and clinical training to pursue licensure as an LMFT or LPCC in California.

Step-by-Step: From Graduate School to Licensure

Here’s a clear breakdown of the full pathway from education to licensure in California.

1. Earn Your Master’s Degree
Complete a graduate clinical program that meets BBS requirements, including coursework in:

Human development
Psychopathology
Assessment
Addiction and recovery
Family systems
Law and ethics
Multicultural counseling
Research and evaluation

Pepperdine’s curriculum includes all required coursework for LMFT and LPCC pathways.

2. Complete Supervised Practicum Hours During Your Program
As part of your master’s training, you’ll complete at least 225 hours of face-to-face clinical experience, often at:

Community mental health agencies
Schools
Nonprofit counseling centers
Hospitals
University counseling clinics

Programs with strong local partnerships—such as Pepperdine’s—can streamline placement and supervision opportunities.

3. Register as an Associate (AMFT or APCC)
After graduation, you must apply to the BBS to become either:

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT)
Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC)

This status allows you to continue accruing supervised hours post-degree.

4. Accrue the Required Post-Degree Clinical Hours
California requires:

3,000 total supervised hours for both LMFT and LPCC pathways
Hours across specific categories (e.g., group therapy, assessment, counseling, crisis intervention)

Associates typically complete these hours while employed in community mental health settings, schools, hospitals, private practices, or nonprofits.

5. Pass the Required Licensing Exams
For LMFT:

California Law & Ethics Exam
Clinical Exam (LMFT Clinical Exam)

For LPCC:

California Law & Ethics Exam
National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)

6. Apply for Licensure and Begin Independent Practice

Once your hours and exams are approved, you receive a license to practice independently as an LMFT or LPCC in California.

Salary, Job Outlook, and Career Growth in California

California has one of the highest demands for mental health professionals in the nation.

Job Outlook

Employment of marriage and family therapists is projected to grow 14% by 2032 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
LPCC and mental health counselor roles are projected to grow 18% nationwide.
California has one of the largest shortages of behavioral health clinicians, with particularly high demand in school, community, and integrated healthcare settings.

Average Salaries in California

While salaries vary by specialization and setting, typical ranges include:

LMFT average salary: $65,000–$100,000+ annually
LPCC average salary: $70,000–$105,000+ annually
Private practice clinicians and clinical supervisors often earn more, depending on caseload and experience.

Growing Career Settings

Graduates often work in:

Community mental health clinics
School-based programs
Integrated behavioral health settings
Hospitals
Nonprofits and social service agencies
Private practice
Faith-based or culturally specific counseling centers
Crisis response and trauma-focused services

How Pepperdine Prepares Graduates for Licensure Success

Pepperdine University’s MA in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy is designed to align closely with California’s licensure requirements while providing multiple pathways to meet different student needs.

Program Strengths That Support Licensure

Curriculum that meets all BBS requirements for LMFT and LPCC educational standards
Cohort-based learning for strong peer support
Robust practicum partnerships throughout Southern California
Experienced faculty-clinicians who teach from active clinical expertise
Flexible program formats (Evening, Daytime, Online, Latinx Communities)
Preparation for multicultural and bilingual clinical practice
Training that emphasizes ethics, cultural humility, and evidence-based practice

Programs Tailored for Different Lifestyles and Career Goals

Evening Format: Ideal for working adults seeking flexibility
Daytime Format: Structured, full-time campus experience
Online Format: For students needing geographic flexibility with strong practicum support
With Latinx Communities: Specialized training for bilingual and bicultural clinical work

Pepperdine’s emphasis on relational, culturally responsive, and community-focused practice helps prepare students not only for licensure, but for meaningful careers serving diverse families and individuals.

Conclusion

The path to becoming an LMFT or LPCC in California involves the right graduate program, supervised training, licensure exams, and a commitment to serving communities with compassion and clinical excellence.

Pepperdine University’s MA in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in MFT programs provides the academic foundation, practical training, and supportive network needed to start a fulfilling career in mental health—whether your goal is to become an LMFT, LPCC, or to serve communities through specialized clinical work.

LPCC