Detailed Overview of the Examination in Marital and Family Therapy

The Purpose of the Examination

The Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Board’s (AMFTRB) Examination in Marital and Family Therapy is provided to assist state boards of examiners in evaluating applicants’ knowledge for licensure or certification. There is a wide range of educational backgrounds among applicants seeking licensure or certification in marital and family therapy. AMFTRB offers a standardized examination for its member boards to determine whether applicants have attained the knowledge considered essential for entry‑level professional practice and to provide a common element in the evaluation of candidates from one state to another.

Initial Eligibility

The MFT National Examination is only part of the overall evaluation used by the member boards. AMFTRB expects that candidates will be allowed to sit for the examination only after their credentials have been examined and found to meet the education and experience requirements for licensure or certification in their respective jurisdictions. Such candidates are expected to have attained a broad basic knowledge of marital and family therapy, regardless of their individual backgrounds. The examination is designed to assess this knowledge through questions focused on the tasks an entry‑level marital and family therapist should be able to perform, as well as the knowledge required to perform them successfully.

Initial Preparation

Applicants who have completed the required academic and experiential preparation and who have developed the level of competence necessary for entry‑level professional practice in marital and family therapy should be able to pass the test. Neither AMFTRB, PTC, nor the member boards can send copies of past examinations to applicants. There isn’t a list of recommended books or other materials to prepare for the examination. However, a content outline of the national exam, including the practice domains, task statements, and knowledge statements upon which the examination is based, is published in the Handbook for Candidates, and may be helpful for candidates preparing for the examination.

Security Agreement

You must agree to the Candidate Agreement, which outlines the security provisions for taking the exam.

Test Content    top

Each year, four different forms of the exam are given. Each form is scored and statistically equated so that all four forms are of equal difficulty. This may result in a change in the number of items a candidate must answer correctly to achieve a passing score. This is how the consistency of the difficulty level of the four forms is maintained.

The examination consists of objective multiple-choice questions covering knowledge essential to the professional practice of marital and family therapy. Each form of the examination contains 180 items and is constructed in accordance with the test specifications. All items are counted in computing the candidate’s score. Each item has four alternative answers, only one of which is correct. Candidates are allowed four hours to complete the examination.

See a detailed listing of the exam’s content in the Handbook for Candidates.

Scoring

A passing score is established by a panel of expert judges on an “anchor examination.” The technique used is called a modified Angoff Method. The Angoff Method — Each panel member estimates, for each test item, whether a just-qualified therapist would get it correct. Their responses are examined and analyzed by psychometric experts, and the Examination Advisory Committee can make minor adjustments. The anchor examination becomes the standard of knowledge to which all future forms of an examination are compared. Some forms of the examination will contain individual items that may differ in difficulty from items on other forms. To compensate for these variations, test forms are compared using a psychometric process called equating. This equating process accounts for differences in item difficulty and adjusts the passing score accordingly. As a result, the required standard of knowledge for passing the examination remains consistent from test form to test form.

Other Considerations:

The reported score equals the total number of correct responses; there is no additional penalty for incorrect answers. It is to the candidate’s advantage to answer each item even when uncertain of the correct response. The candidate should choose the single best answer to each item. No credit is given for items in which more than one response is selected. Sample items similar to those found on the examination are included in the Handbook for Candidates.

Exam Score Verification

Candidates who fail the examination may request a hand-score verification of their data file. Hand score verification is the testing service’s manual review of the data file to determine whether any errors occurred during scoring. The probability of such an error is extremely remote. Requests for hand-score verification must be submitted to and received by PTC no later than 90 days after the examination date.

Exam Integrity:

Candidates who fail the examination will not be permitted to see the examination questions. For test security reasons, no candidate may review the examination or any of its items directly.

Administration

The examination is administered through Prometric and scored by PTC, which reports scores and relevant normative data to the administering boards and to candidates. All procedures and decisions regarding licensure are the responsibility of the individual boards. Any questions about these procedures should be directed to the appropriate jurisdiction. The Marital and Family Therapy Examination is offered online, allowing candidates to take it once per week per month. All candidates taking the Marital and Family Therapy examination will receive instructions concerning fees, deadlines, and applications from their participating jurisdiction.

Rules for the Examination

Please read the information below carefully. You are responsible for adhering to the examination rules while at the testing center.

• You must present your current driver’s license, passport, or US Military ID at the testing center.
• Candidates without a valid ID will NOT be permitted to test (names on IDs must match the application). Temporary or paper copies of your ID will not be accepted.
• No electronic devices that can be used to record, transmit, receive, or playback audio, photographic, text, or video content, including but not limited to, cell phones, laptop computers, tablets, Bluetooth devices; wearable technology (such as smartwatches), MP3 players (such as iPods), smart glasses, cameras, and voice recorders are not permitted to be used and cannot be taken in the examination room. Prometric provides lockers for your personal items.
• No papers, books, or reference materials may be taken into or removed from the testing room.
• No questions concerning the content of the examination may be asked during the examination session. The candidate should read the on-screen directions carefully at the beginning of the examination session.
• Candidates are prohibited from leaving the testing room during their examination, except to use the restroom.
• Bulky clothing, such as sweatshirts (hoodies), jackets, coats, and hats (except hats worn for religious reasons), and most types of worn accessories may be examined. Proctors may ask you to remove such items and place them in your locker. Please see Prometric’s Security Regulations for more information.
• All watches and “Fitbit” type devices cannot be worn during the examination.
• No food/beverages are permitted inside the testing room. Leave these items in your assigned locker.

Contact PTC at (212) 356-0660 or www.ptcny.com/contact with any questions about the Examination Rules.

Test Construction    top

The Examination in Marital and Family Therapy is developed by the Examination Advisory Committee of AMFTRB and the PTC. The development process is designed to maximize the content validity of the examination. A brief outline of the process follows:

1. Items are written at workshops held periodically throughout the country. These workshops, attended by subject-matter experts, are led by psychometrics experts who guide the development of new items. Additional items may be solicited individually from marital and family therapists with expertise in specific areas.
2. All items are reviewed by subject matter experts for accuracy and validity.
3. Items, which have been approved by these experts, are reviewed by the Examination Advisory Committee for accuracy, validity, and overall quality, and revised as necessary.
4. If accepted by the Examination Advisory Committee, items are entered into the AMFTRB item bank.
5. Draft examination forms, constructed from the item bank based on validated test specifications derived from a role delineation study, are reviewed and revised by the Examination Advisory Committee.
6. The draft examination forms are reviewed by psychometricians and PTC staff editors.
7. The Examination Advisory Committee reviews and approves the final forms of the examination.
8. The approved examination is uploaded to Prometric for computer-based exam administration. Four examinations are created each year.
9. After the examination has been administered, the statistical performance of each item is reviewed by the PTC and the Examination Advisory Committee prior to scoring.

Validation of the Examination    top

Every effort has been made to ensure the validity of the AMFTRB Examination in Marital and Family Therapy. The meticulous test construction process constitutes one major facet of the validation effort aimed at ensuring content validity.

Another major facet is the role delineation study, performed in 2025 to develop practice-relevant test specifications for the examination. First, the Examination Advisory Committee convened to define the performance domains, tasks, and knowledge required for entry-level practice in marital and family therapy. This role delineation was then validated by a representative sample of licensed marital and family therapists nationwide. Task statements were rated for performance frequency and relation to clinical competence; knowledge statements were rated for contribution to public protection and appropriateness for entry-level practice. The test specifications now in use are based on the findings of this role delineation study.

Official Score Transfer Request and Duplicate Score Report Application   top

To request a Score Transfer and Duplicate Score Report, candidates must complete a Score Transfer Request and Duplicate Score Report Application. The fee charged for each official transfer (See the Handbook for Candidates. The expedited transfer is available for an additional fee (see the Handbook) for each jurisdiction transfer per examination. A Duplicate Score Report is available for an additional fee (see the Handbook) for each jurisdiction transfer per examination. Candidates must have their Candidate ID Number to complete either application.

Practice Exam    top

Two practice exams featuring retired test items are available at AMFTRB.org. Visit the website to schedule the practice exam.

Score reporting

See the Handbook for Candidates

Exam Dates

Go to exam dates.

Exam Preparation

Because AMFTRB authors the exam, it would be a conflict of interest to provide or recommend any study guides, preparation programs, workshops, books, or other programs beyond those listed below.

1. Read the Handbook for Candidates
2. There are online resources. Do some searching. Workshops, coaching, etc.
3. Check if you qualify for an ADA accommodation.
4. Talk/work with your supervisor. Focus on the exam content outline in the Handbook for Candidates. Focus on systemic thinking, ethical decision-making, and clinical skills.
5. Check with your professional association. AAMFT offers training programs. Also, check your state/commonwealth/territory/jurisdiction’s professional associations for programs.  
6. Check if your state allows for an ELL Special Arrangement.