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Commission
on Accreditation
for
Marriage and Family Therapy Education
(COAMFTE)
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AAMFT's Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and
Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) is a specialized accrediting
body that accredits master's degree, doctoral degree,
and post-graduate degree clinical training programs in
marriage and family therapy throughout the United States
and Canada. Since 1978, the COAMFTE has been recognized
by the United States Department of Education (USDE) as
the national accrediting body for the field of marriage
and family therapy. In addition, the Council for Higher
Education Accreditation or (CHEA) officially recognizes
the COAMFTE. CHEA is a non-governmental organization
that works to foster and facilitate the role of
accrediting bodies in promoting and insuring the quality
and diversity of American post-secondary education. The
USDE and CHEA regularly review the policies and
practices of the COAMFTE for continued recognition. |
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COAMFTE Organization |
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The
COAMFTE is made up of nine (9) Commissioners -- seven
(7) professional members and two (2) public members.
Professional Commission members must be senior marriage
and family therapy educators or clinicians. Public
members represent the interests of the general public
and are not professional marriage and family therapy
educators, supervisors or practitioners. In selecting
Commission members, every effort is made to maintain a
balance with regard to race, ethnicity, gender, and
geographic location. The Commission must also reflect a
balance regarding academicians and practitioners as well
as training contexts (master's, doctoral, and
post-degree). |
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Purpose of Accreditation |
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Specialized accreditation
of marriage and family therapy programs is a public service that aims to:
This specialized
accreditation is both a process and a condition. The process, or the act
of accrediting, entails assessing a program's operations through
compliance with specified professional standards developed by a national
consensus of professionals in the field. The condition, or the state of
being accredited, provides a credential to the public which attests that a
program has accepted and is fulfilling its commitment to educational
quality.
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The
COAMFTE works cooperatively with its parent
organization, the American Association for Marriage and
Family Therapy (AAMFT), state licensing and
certification boards, and the Association of Marital and
Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB). The COAMFTE
program educational standards often serve as the
foundation for the development of individual
credentialing requirements. The accreditation process is
a voluntary process that requires self-study by the
program, an on-site review by a selected group of peers,
and a review and decision by the COAMFTE to determine
compliance with accreditation standards. Once a program
has become accredited, it is required to submit annual
reports demonstrating continued compliance with
standards. Accredited programs are reviewed at least
every six years. |
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Benefits of Accreditation |
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In fostering quality
assurance and program improvement, the COAMFTE's accreditation process
benefits the public, programs, students, and the profession.
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To the public and consumers,
accreditation provides assurance that the program has undertaken
extensive external evaluation, and meets standards established by the
profession.
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Accreditation serves programs
by providing a stimulus for self-evaluation and a cost-effective
review mechanism which strengthens the reputation and credibility of a
program because of the public regard for accreditation.
Accredited programs become eligible for funding under several Federal
grant programs. Click
here for listing of current grant opportunities.
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Students
can be assured that the appropriate knowledge and skill areas will be
included in the course of study that are necessary for entry into a
chosen field and that the program demonstrates financial stability. An
accredited degree assures a prospective employer that the student has
undertaken a superior course of professional preparation. An
accredited degree also allows students to apply for Clinical
Membership in AAMFT through the accelerated Accredited Program Track
in the absence of state licensure.
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The MFT Profession
benefits because specialized accreditation contributes to the unity of
the profession. It brings together practitioners, teachers, and
students in the vital activity of setting standards for the education
of entry level professionals, and of continually improving
professional preparation, education, research, scholarship, and
clinical practice.
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Scope
of Accreditation |
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The COAMFTE's scope of
accreditation includes three types of programs:
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Master's Degree
Programs provide students with broad areas of theory and
practice in marriage and family therapy. These programs provide entry
level educational requirements for independent clinical practice in
the profession. They are designed to prepare individuals for beginning
a career in marriage and family therapy by providing basic didactic
and clinical skills, as well as professional development and
socialization.
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Doctoral Degree
Programs prepare students for academic careers, research,
advanced clinical practice and supervision. The doctoral curriculum
includes advanced instruction in marriage and family therapy research,
theory construction and supervision.
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Post-Graduate
Degree Clinical Training Programs
provide clinical education in marriage and family therapy to trainees
with a master's or doctoral degree in MFT, or in a closely related
field. A program may allow for specialized training in a particular
modality or treatment population.
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Overview
of COAMFTE Standards
(Click here for a
copy of the
Standards of Accreditation
11.0) |
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Accredited
Programs |
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Click here
for a list of accredited and candidacy programs |
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How to Contact COAMFTE |
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Commission
on Accreditation of Marriage and Family Therapy
Education
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
112 South Alfred Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: (703) 838-9808 - Fax: (703)
838-9805
E-mail: coamfte@aamft.org |
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