Home About Store Books
About Contact

A Free CE Series for MFTs in all 50 States

 

The MFT Licensing Exam:

Essential Preparation for Students

and

Practical Guidance for Educators

 

with Dr. Diane Gehart

 

Save Your Seat

A Misunderstood Exam

The MFT Licensing Exam is no joke. Good therapists sometimes fail it multiple times. But it does not need to be that way.

The key is knowing what to expect and how to prepare.

Most MFT programs focus on developing strong clinicians. But the licensing exam requires a different skill set: interpreting hypothetical scenarios and applying textbook-pure applications of theory.

My upcoming Free CE Trainings are designed to help both students and educators know how to navigate this difficult exam.

  • Join me live or watch the reply at your convenience
  • Replay & CE Access: Access for 90 days
  • Earn CE credit whether you attend live or watch the replay by completing the required quiz and course evaluation

Choose Your Free CE

For Students Only

Demystifying the MFT Exam

Live Event: Sunday, November 8, 2026
10:00–11:30 PM Pacific | 1:00–2:30 PM Eastern | 8:00–9:30 AM Hawaiʻi

Educators & Supervisors Only

MFT Licensing Exam for Educators

 Live Event: Friday, November 6, 2026
12:00–1:30 PM Pacific | 3:00–4:30 PM Eastern | 10:00–11:30 AM Hawaiʻi

Course Details

Course for Students

Demystifying the MFT Licensing Exam:

What Every Candidate Wishes They'd Known Sooner

1.5 Hours of Continuing Education

Course Description: This course walks you through a proven 5-step system to create a study plan that works—so you can pass the MFT licensing exam on your first attempt. Discover the #1 reason most candidates fail and how to avoid it, and get clarity on the four major content areas of the exam. Additionally, you will receive our signature “MFT Family Tree” that maps and organizes the 16 theories on the exam. By the end, you’ll know when to start studying and how to create a simple, straightforward path to pass!

*California Students: CA is scheduled to transition to the National Exam in 2027

Instructor: Dr. Diane Gehart, Founder of the Therapy that Works Institute and Professor Emerita at California State University, Northridge. She has authored numerous titles, including Mindfulness for Chocolate Lovers: A Lighthearted Way to Stress Less and Savor More Each Day, Mindfulness and Acceptance in Couple and Family Therapy, Mastering Competencies in Family Therapy, and Theory and Treatment Planning in Counseling and Psychotherapy.

Access: Participants can watch the video and earn Free CEs for 90 Days after the live event.

Course Goal: In this workshop, you will understand the scope of the MFT licensing exam and how best to prepare to ensure you pass on the first attempt.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  1. Identify the 3 elements necessary to pass the exam.
  2. Track the 16+ different theories that are included on the MFT licensing exam. 
  3. Describe the 4 main areas of content covered on the MFT licensing exam.

 

 

 

 

Course for Educators

The National MFT Licensing Exam:

For Educators in All 50 States, Including California*

1.5 Hours of Continuing Education

Course Description: This course provides MFT educators and supervisors with an overview of the National MFT Licensing Exam, including age, race, and class disparities in pass rates. MFT trainers will learn easy-to-implement classroom strategies to better prepare their students and supervisees for the exam, thereby increasing equity for all candidates. Learn how to teach the necessary exam content, design effective classroom assignments, and incorporate exam prep naturally into clinical supervision.

*California Educators: CA is scheduled to transition to the National Exam in 2027

Instructor: Dr. Diane Gehart, Founder of the Therapy that Works Institute and Professor Emerita at California State University, Northridge. She has authored numerous titles, including Mindfulness for Chocolate Lovers: A Lighthearted Way to Stress Less and Savor More Each Day, Mindfulness and Acceptance in Couple and Family Therapy, Mastering Competencies in Family Therapy, and Theory and Treatment Planning in Counseling and Psychotherapy.

Access: Participants can watch the video and earn Free CEs for 90 Days after the live event.

Course Goal: In this workshop, MFT educators and supervisors will learn about scope and design of the MFT licensing exam and how best to prepare to ensure students and supervisees pass on the first attempt.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  1. Identify the 3 elements necessary to pass the exam and how to design MFT training to best prepare candidates.
  2. Track the 16+ different theories that are included on the MFT licensing exam. 
  3. Describe the 4 main areas of content covered on the MFT licensing exam and learn how to integrate these into educational and supervision contexts. 

 

About Dr. Diane Gehart

  • 30+ years as full-time MFT Educator and Clinician
  • Author of 14 MFT and counseling theory textbooks used globally
  • One of only two MFTs in the country selected as first APA-Approved Trainers for DSM-5
  • Served on AAMFT Code of Ethics Revisions Task Force
  • Maintains YouTube channel used by thousands for exam prep over the past 30 years
  • Numerous peer-reviewed publications, including research on MFT licensing exam pass rates
  • Professor emerita, California State University, Northridge
  • Founder, Therapy that Works Institute and the Laugh Your Way to Licensure Program

Program Policies

CE Approval: This course is approved for continuing education credit through the NBCC (National Board for Certified Counselors), CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists), and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners for licensed marriage and family therapists.

 Therapy that Works Institute programs are offered for NBCC credit (NBCC ACEP No. 7125). 

Therapy that Works Institute (Provider #1000141) is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs.

The Therapy that Works Institute is approved by New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists (#MFT-0146).

Therapy that Works Institute maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.

Course CE certificates will be awarded via email within 5 minutes upon completion of all course modules, course quiz, and course evaluation. 

Diversity Policy

The instructor and all participants agree to respect and not discriminate against any individual or group with respect to any service, program, or activity based on gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, ability, or other prohibited basis. Participants whose behavior is disruptive for any reason may be removed from the program/course without receiving CE credit.

Accommodations/Grievances: Requests for accommodations and/or grievances related to the course should be directed to [email protected]. These communications will be responded to within 2 working days.

Access: Participants can watch the video and earn Free CEs for 90 Days after the live event.

Refunds: NA

Sign Up

Choose Your Free CE

For Students Only

Demystifying the MFT Exam

Live Event: Sunday, November 8, 2026
10:00–11:30 PM Pacific | 1:00–2:30 PM Eastern | 8:00–9:30 AM Hawaiʻi

Educators & Supervisors Only

MFT Licensing Exam for Educators

 Live Event: Friday, November 6, 2026
12:00–1:30 PM Pacific | 3:00–4:30 PM Eastern | 10:00–11:30 AM Hawaiʻi