Master of Art – Marriage & Family Therapy –
American Family Therapy Regulatory Board (AMFTRB) Practice Exam
Beginning in the Fall 2023 session, students who are enrolled in the Marriage & Family Therapy degree program must successfully pass the American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy Regulatory Board practice exam (AMFTRB). The main purpose for this change is to give students the opportunity to take a practice exam while enrolled in the program to increase the likelihood of successfully passing the actual MFT exam on their initial attempt. The Counseling Portfolio currently submitted to the faculty in the CSL6839 Pre-Practicum course will be replaced by the AMFTB Practice Exam.
AMFTRB Practice Exam Information
The AMFTRB was developed and is sponsored by the American Marriage & Family Therapy Regulatory Board. The practice exam will assess a student’s knowledge of Marriage & Family Therapy to ensure minimum competence before advancing to the Clinical Practicum Program. Taking this practice exam will give students the opportunity to become familiar with the format of the test questions and will provide an indication of their readiness for the actual MFT exam.
Students may register and take the exam after completing a minimum of 30 hours with a 3.0 grade point average and good standing in their program. Specific courses that must be completed prior to taking the exams are listed below, along with the Six Domains for the AMFTRB practice exam. Results of the AMFTRB practice exam are available immediately after completing the exam. Students must secure a copy of the results and submit them to the Dr. Ken Johnson, the Campus Coordinator at: kjohnson@amberton.edu. The minimum passing score of 66% on the exam has been set by the Counseling Faculty and Administration of Amberton University.
Students may take the exams as often as necessary to achieve a passing score. It is imperative that students sign up for the exams during the sign-up period. The cost of the exam is $60.00. This fee is not set by, or paid to, Amberton University. Failure to register and pay the appropriate could result in NOT being able to sit for the exam during a desired timeframe. Students should be aware that the sign-up dates for this exam will be strictly enforced. Students will use the sign-up form located on the Amberton University website to request approval to take the practice exam. Unless otherwise noted, the deadline to sign-up for the exam will be:
- June 27, 2024
- September 26, 2024
- December 19, 2024
- March 27, 2025.
The AMFTRB Practice exam contains 100 questions and covers six different domains as shown below. Students will take the exam online from their personal computers. Students that need special accommodations must inform the American Marriage & Family Therapy Regulatory Board. Students will receive an overall score on the practice examination, as well as a breakdown by domain at the end of the practice exam. Answers to the practice examination items are not made available.
Marriage & Family Degree Requirements
- All students must take and pass the AMFTRB practice exam and earn a score of 65% prior to enrolling in CSL6839 Pre-Practicum.
- Students can take the exam after successfully completing 30 hours of required curriculum. Please see below for details.
- The cost of the exam is $ 60.00. This fee is not set by, or paid to, Amberton University
- Students may take the exam as often as necessary to achieve a passing score. However, a student will be charged the full practice examination fee of $60.00 for each attempt.
- The Counseling Faculty will develop a remediation plan for students who have difficulty passing the AMFTRB Practice Exam.
- To enroll for the practice test, please must complete the MFT Practice Exam Application Request Form and be approved by the University by the above deadline. Once approved, you will receive an enrollment link.
- Results of the AMFTRB practice exam are available immediately after completing the exam. Students must secure a copy of the results and submit them to the Dr. Ken Johnson, the Campus Coordinator at: kjohnson@amberton.edu.
- If you have questions concerning the AMFTRB practice exam, please contact the Campus Coordinator at KJohnson@Amberton.edu.
Six Domains and Required Courses for Exam Eligibility
- Domain 1 – The Practice of Systemic Therapy
- Marriage & Family Therapy CSL6825
- Couples Therapy CSL6792
- This domain focuses on systemic theory and perspective, and how you will incorporate it into practice activities.
- Domain 2 – Assessing, Hypothesizing, and Diagnosing
- Adult Geriatric Psychopathology & Treatment CSL6796
- Child Adolescent Psychopathology & Treatment CSL6798
- Life Span Development CSL6801
- This domain focuses on assessing, formulating hypotheses, and diagnosing the client system.
- Domain 3 – Designing and Conducting Treatment
- Advanced Counseling Skills & Techniques CSL6830
- Theories & Methods of Counseling CSL6782
- This domain focuses on developing and enforcing interventions with the client system.
- Domain 4 – Evaluating Ongoing Process and Terminating Treatment
- Counseling Assessment Techniques CSL6800
- This domain focuses on the continuous evaluation of the treatment plan, as well as planning for termination.
- Domain 5 – Managing Crisis Situations
- Addiction Counseling CSL6760
- Focuses on assessing and managing emergency situations.
- Domain 6 – Maintaining Ethical, Legal, and Professional Standards
- Counseling Ethics CSL6740
- This domain focuses on legal and ethical codes, as well as professionalism.
AMFTRB Practice Exam Preparation
Students should begin to prepare for the AMFTRB exam by participating in classes and reviewing class notes. Students are encouraged to use a study guide for the National MFT exam. It is recommended that students begin reviewing their course materials and preparing for the exam at least two to three months before they plan to take the exam.
Preparation material (study guides) will be available in various places, e.g., CSL course material, Marriage & Family Therapy Handbook, Moodle site, etc. Students are responsible for securing their own study guides for the exams. There is no official study guide for the AMFTRB practice exam. Candidates generally use a study guide for the National MFT exam. Some recommendations for study guides for the exams are listed below: