© Copyright 2025 MarriageFamilyTherapist.org
Compare Nevada's top-ranked MFT degrees by cost, accreditation, and career outcomes to find your best fit.
Nevada's mental health workforce shortage is acute. Large portions of both the Las Vegas and Reno metro areas carry federal mental health professional shortage designations, and projected employment growth for marriage and family therapists in the state outpaces the national average. Yet only two public universities offer in-state graduate training in the field: UNLV, which holds COAMFTE accreditation for its Couple and Family Therapy program, and UNR, whose CACREP-accredited counseling program includes a Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling concentration.
That narrow pipeline creates a real tension. Applicants face limited seats, and anyone who needs an online or hybrid format must look out of state while still meeting Nevada's specific board requirements for licensure. Below, we compare both in-state MFT programs, break down online alternatives, and walk you through costs, financial aid, and the full path to becoming a licensed marriage and family therapist in Nevada.
Nevada offers just two in-state master's-level pathways into marriage and family therapy, but each serves a distinct purpose. UNLV's Couple and Family Therapy program holds COAMFTE accreditation and is the only program in the state with that designation, while UNR's CACREP-accredited Counseling program provides a Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling concentration that can also position graduates for Nevada LMFT licensure. Below, we break down what each school brings to the table so you can make a confident, well-informed decision.
Las Vegas, NV · $10,000/yr
Best for: Future LMFTs seeking integrated healthcare training
UNLV is home to Nevada's only COAMFTE-accredited MFT program, a 60-credit Master of Science in Couple and Family Therapy that can be completed in roughly 30 months. Housed within the School of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, the program gives students direct exposure to integrated care models across Southern Nevada's healthcare network. UNLV also offers a Graduate Certificate in Medical Family Therapy for practitioners who want specialized training in chronic illness, trauma, and substance use within medical settings.
Reno, NV · $16,000/yr (net price)
Best for: Northern Nevada residents pursuing dual-licensure flexibility
UNR's Master of Arts in Counseling with a Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling concentration is CACREP-accredited and structured to meet Nevada LMFT licensing requirements. The program sits within the College of Education and offers strong ties to Northern Nevada community agencies, school systems, and nonprofit family service organizations. Because UNR houses three CACREP-accredited counseling majors under one umbrella, students can coordinate coursework toward potential dual-licensure pathways, such as LMFT alongside LCPC, a notable advantage in Nevada's growing behavioral health market.
Nevada has two public universities offering graduate training in marriage and family therapy, and the differences between them matter more than most applicants realize. UNLV awards a dedicated Master of Science in Couple and Family Therapy, while UNR houses its family therapy training inside a broader Master of Arts in Counseling with a Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling (MCFC) concentration. Both require 60 credit hours and are campus based, but accreditation type, clinical placement landscape, and specialization flexibility diverge in ways that can shape your licensure path and career trajectory.
| Feature | UNLV (Las Vegas) | UNR (Reno) |
|---|---|---|
| Degree Awarded | Master of Science in Couple and Family Therapy | Master of Arts in Counseling (MCFC concentration) |
| Total Credits | 60 | 60 |
| Accreditation Focus | MFT specific (aligned with COAMFTE standards) | CACREP accredited counseling program |
| Specialization Tracks | Dedicated MFT curriculum; also offers a Graduate Certificate in Medical Family Therapy | Three concentrations available: MCFC, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and School Counseling |
| Thesis Option | Thesis and non-thesis tracks offered | Check program handbook for current options |
| In-State Graduate Tuition (annual) | Approximately $7,413 | Approximately $7,032 |
| Out-of-State Graduate Tuition (annual) | Approximately $25,555 | Approximately $25,174 |
| Average Net Price (institutional) | $10,359 | $15,927 |
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 17:1 |
| Clinical Placement Landscape | Las Vegas metro offers a large, diverse population base with numerous community mental health agencies, hospitals, and private practices; more practicum sites but higher competition among students from multiple programs | Reno's smaller metro provides a close-knit clinical community; fewer total sites, but placement competition is typically lower and supervisors often develop longer mentoring relationships with students |
| Licensure Pathway | Graduates qualify directly for the Nevada LMFT exam track and the national MFT licensing examination | MCFC graduates can pursue LMFT licensure in Nevada; the CACREP credential also supports LPC or LCPC pathways if career goals shift |
| Application Deadline | Contact the graduate coordinator for current deadlines | January 15 for fall admission |
| Graduate Assistantships | Available; check department listings | Assistantship opportunities noted by the program |
If you live in Nevada but cannot attend classes on campus, an online MFT program can be a practical path to licensure. However, not every distance program will satisfy the Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists. Understanding what the Board expects, and which online degrees align with those expectations, will save you time and money.
The Board requires applicants to hold a graduate degree from a program accredited by either COAMFTE (the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education) or CACREP (the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs). Your institution must also carry regional accreditation. When the Board references "equivalent" programs, it generally means degrees from regionally accredited schools whose coursework and clinical hours closely mirror COAMFTE or CACREP standards, even if the program itself lacks that specific stamp. In practice, holding a recognized programmatic accreditation is far safer than relying on an equivalency argument.
Notably, the Board does not publish a pre-approved list of accepted programs. Instead, credentials are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. That means you should confirm with the Board before enrolling that your chosen program's curriculum, credit hours, and clinical requirements will be accepted.
Several best online MFT programs carry COAMFTE accreditation, which is the gold standard for MFT-specific degrees:
Because these programs hold COAMFTE accreditation, they present the most straightforward path to Nevada Board approval.
Some online counseling programs with a marriage and family therapy concentration carry CACREP accreditation rather than COAMFTE. The Nevada Board does accept CACREP-accredited programs, though CACREP is traditionally associated with counselor preparation rather than MFT-specific training. Programs in this category include Walden University's M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a marriage, couple, and family specialization and Colorado Christian University's M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an MFT emphasis. Because these are accredited under the clinical mental health counseling umbrella rather than as standalone MFT programs, it is especially important to verify with the Board that the coursework meets all MFT-specific requirements before you enroll.
Programs that lack both COAMFTE and CACREP accreditation, even from well-known institutions, carry higher risk during the Board's review. Liberty University's M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy, for example, holds regional accreditation through SACSCOC but does not carry COAMFTE or CACREP accreditation for its MFT program, which may complicate the licensure process.
The biggest logistical hurdle for online students in Nevada is securing clinical practicum placements. Most distance programs require you to arrange your own supervised clinical hours at a site in your area. In a state with a relatively small MFT workforce, approved practicum sites can be limited, particularly outside the Las Vegas and Reno metro areas. Start identifying potential sites early, ideally before your first semester, and ask your program's clinical placement coordinator whether they have existing relationships with Nevada agencies. For a deeper look at the supervised experience process, review what to expect from an MFT clinical internship.
Both accreditations are accepted, but they serve different professional tracks. COAMFTE is the accreditor specifically designed for marriage and family therapy education and is overseen by the AAMFT. CACREP accredits broader counseling programs. If your goal is a clean, uncomplicated path to Nevada LMFT licensure, a COAMFTE-accredited program gives you the most direct alignment with what the Board is looking for. If you choose a CACREP-accredited program with an MFT specialization, plan on providing additional documentation to demonstrate that your coursework covers the required MFT competencies.
Understanding total program costs before you apply helps you compare options realistically and avoid surprise debt. Below is a breakdown of tuition at Nevada's two in-state MFT programs, along with financial aid pathways that can sharply reduce what you actually pay.
UNLV's graduate tuition for its Couple and Family Therapy program runs approximately $7,413 per year for in-state students and $25,555 per year for out-of-state students. The estimated net price for undergraduates at UNLV is roughly $10,359, though graduate-level net costs vary depending on assistantship awards and scholarships.
UNR's Master of Arts in Counseling with a Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling concentration comes in slightly lower, at about $7,032 per year for Nevada residents and $25,174 per year for non-residents. The institution-wide net price estimate sits around $15,927.
To estimate total degree cost, multiply annual tuition by program length. A typical 60-credit master's program completed over two to three years can place total in-state tuition somewhere between roughly $14,000 and $22,000, while out-of-state students may face totals exceeding $50,000 before aid. Median debt at completion across all programs at these universities hovers near $19,450 at UNLV and $18,922 at UNR, giving you a practical sense of how much graduates typically borrow. For broader context, you can review our list of cheapest MFT programs nationwide.
Graduate assistantships are one of the most powerful ways to cut costs. UNLV MFT students are eligible for assistantships that provide a minimum stipend of $17,000 per year, a tuition waiver covering up to nine credits per semester, a full health-insurance premium waiver, and an out-of-state tuition waiver for non-residents.1 You need to be enrolled in at least six credits per semester to qualify.1 These benefits can effectively eliminate tuition for most of your degree.
UNR also advertises graduate assistantship opportunities within its counseling program, though specific stipend amounts and waiver details should be confirmed directly with the department.
Several external funding sources deserve your attention:
If you secure a graduate assistantship at UNLV, your out-of-pocket tuition could drop to near zero, making the degree remarkably affordable. Without an assistantship, in-state students at either university can still expect total tuition well below the national average for graduate therapy programs. Pair that with federal loan repayment eligibility after graduation, and the return on investment becomes even more compelling. Start your financial aid research early, apply to every assistantship and scholarship you qualify for, and factor these opportunities into your program decision from the outset. If you are still weighing your overall path, our guide to becoming an MFT walks through each step from degree selection to licensure.
Earning your Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) credential in Nevada follows a structured path that typically takes two to four years after completing your master's degree. You will need to accumulate 3,000 total supervised clinical hours, including at least 1,500 hours of direct client contact and 300 hours of clinical supervision (with a minimum of 160 hours from a primary supervisor and 40 from a secondary supervisor). The remaining 1,200 hours may come from other professional work activities. Nevada requires at least two years of postgraduate experience, passage of the AMFTRB National Marriage and Family Therapy Exam, and successful completion of an additional oral examination administered by the Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists. Once you clear both exams and submit your application with a $75 fee, the Board reviews your credentials and issues your LMFT license. Your license expires on January 1 of every other year, requiring biennial renewal at $450 along with 40 hours of continuing education, which must include at least 6 hours in ethics, 4 hours in suicide prevention, and 6 hours in cultural competency (no more than 20 hours may come from non-interactive formats).
Nevada offers competitive compensation for licensed marriage and family therapists, though detailed statewide wage percentiles specifically for MFTs are limited in the latest available data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports metro-level figures for related behavioral health occupations in the state's two major metropolitan areas. Program-level earnings data for Nevada MFT graduates one year and four years after completion are not yet published by the federal College Scorecard, so prospective students should check back as newer cohort data become available.
| Metro Area | Total Employment | Mean Annual Wage | 25th Percentile | Median Annual Wage | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas | 90 | $83,660 | $63,120 | $82,370 | $106,500 |
| Reno | 90 | $81,050 | $65,020 | $80,230 | $80,230 |
Choosing the right counseling credential in Nevada means understanding how the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and Clinical Professional Counselor (CPC, sometimes referred to as LCPC) differ in practice scope, training requirements, and career flexibility. All three are governed under NRS 641A, but each license opens slightly different doors.1 For a broader look at how these two credential families compare nationwide, see our LMFT vs LPC guide.
All three credentials require a master's or doctoral degree and 3,000 hours of post-degree supervised clinical experience.2 What separates them is coursework emphasis and the qualifying exam:
Because both tracks demand 3,000 supervised hours, the time to full licensure is roughly equivalent. The real distinction lies in the clinical lens your training develops.
Under Nevada law, LMFTs are authorized to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders with a relational emphasis, centering assessment and intervention on the family system and interpersonal dynamics.2 CPCs hold a generalist mental health focus and can also treat couples and families, though their training tends to prioritize individual psychopathology and evidence-based individual interventions. In practice, the overlap is significant: both can diagnose, develop treatment plans, and provide psychotherapy to individuals, couples, and families.
Recent legislative proposals have sought to expand the scope for certain mental health professionals in Nevada, which could further narrow the practical gap between the two licenses over time.4
For clinicians building a private practice, panel acceptance matters. In Nevada, both the LMFT and CPC credentials are widely recognized by major insurance carriers, Medicare, and Nevada Medicaid.4 Neither license carries a clear reimbursement advantage over the other at this time. Employers such as community mental health agencies, hospitals, and integrated care settings in the Las Vegas and Reno metro areas generally accept either credential, though job postings occasionally specify one over the other depending on the population served.
Some Nevada clinicians pursue both the LMFT and CPC to maximize flexibility, and the coursework overlap between marriage and family therapy vs clinical counseling programs is substantial. Core classes in psychopathology, ethics, human development, and research methods typically count toward either track. The primary gaps are in specialized family systems coursework (for the LMFT) and advanced individual treatment modalities (for the CPC). Adding a second license usually requires supplemental coursework and passing the other national exam rather than completing an entirely new degree.
Dual licensure is not strictly necessary for most practitioners in Nevada, but it can broaden your referral base and make you a more competitive candidate in multidisciplinary settings. If your MFT program already includes significant clinical mental health counseling content, the additional investment to earn both credentials may be relatively modest.
If your passion is working with couples, families, and relational dynamics, the LMFT is the most direct path. If you want a broader generalist foundation with the flexibility to specialize later, the CPC route may suit you better. Either way, Nevada treats both licenses as fully independent clinical credentials with comparable insurance acceptance, so the best choice ultimately depends on how you want to practice rather than which license pays more or opens more doors.
Below are answers to the most common questions prospective students ask about pursuing a marriage and family therapy degree in Nevada. Each response draws on program, licensing, and salary details covered throughout this guide.
