MFT Programs in California for Career Changers (No Psychology Degree Needed)

All 71 BBS-approved programs, sorted by admission prerequisites · Updated June 2026

California does not require any specific undergraduate major to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). The California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) asks only that your master's degree meet the coursework requirements of Business and Professions Code Section 4980.36, so your bachelor's can be in any field. That makes the LMFT path one of the most realistic graduate routes for career changers, including applicants who studied something unrelated or who have been out of school for years.

The real variable is prerequisites. Some programs admit any bachelor's holder with no extra coursework. Others admit you but ask you to complete a few foundational psychology courses before or during your first semester. A smaller group requires specific psychology courses, or even a psychology degree, before you can apply. A few also require prior work or volunteer experience. This page sorts all 71 BBS-approved California MFT programs by exactly that: what a career changer has to do before enrolling.

Programs are grouped into three tiers, and within each tier they are listed alphabetically. Two extra barriers, a required psychology degree and required experience hours, are flagged on the relevant cards. Admissions policies change, so always confirm current requirements with the program before you apply.

Editorial disclosure: This directory is maintained by Sentio University, which operates its own California MFT program. Sentio requires no prerequisite coursework and appears in the first group on the same terms as every other program. Schools cannot pay for inclusion, favorable placement, or removal.

Two extra barriers to watch for. A psychology degree or 30 units of psychology is required at only one program, San Jose State University. Prior work or volunteer experience is required at three programs: CSU San Francisco (about 2,000 hours), Sonoma State University (about one year full-time), and San Jose State University (100 hours). Everywhere else, your bachelor's field is not a barrier.
New to the whole process? Start with switching careers to become a therapist and becoming an MFT without a psychology degree, then compare the full California MFT Program Directory.

Programs listed: 71 · Sorted by admission prerequisites, fewest first · Updated June 2026 · Source: California BBS approved-program list

Open to any bachelor's: no required prerequisite coursework (39 programs)

These programs admit applicants from any undergraduate field with no prerequisite courses to complete first. The first 20 state this plainly; the rest publish no prerequisites, so confirm directly with the program. CSU San Francisco appears here because it requires no coursework, though it does require prior human-services experience.

CSU Fresno

CSU with in-house clinic and flexible entry terms.

Prerequisites
None clearly published (confirm with program)
Total Cost
~$18,000-$22,000
Timeline
2-3 years
Program Format
On-Campus
GRE
Not Required

Read the CSU Fresno program review

Open to career changers: a few leveling courses (17 programs)

These programs welcome non-psychology applicants but ask for a small number of foundational courses, usually completed before or during the first semester, and often waived if you already hold a psychology degree.

CSU East Bay

Affordable Bay Area public with social justice mission.

Prerequisites
Three leveling courses (not counted in the degree)
Total Cost
~$18,000-$22,000
Timeline
2 years
Program Format
On-Campus
GRE
Not Required

Read the CSU East Bay program review

CSU Long Beach

CACREP-accredited affordable program with dual licensure.

Prerequisites
Prereq courses, first year allowed at advisor discretion
Total Cost
~$18,000-$22,000
Timeline
2-3 years
Program Format
Hybrid in-person and online
GRE
Not Required

Read the CSU Long Beach program review

Plan ahead: prerequisites required before you apply or enroll (15 programs)

These programs expect specific psychology coursework, a psychology degree, or experience hours before admission or matriculation. They remain open to career changers who complete the required preparation first.

Cal Poly SLO

Selective small-cohort public program on Central Coast.

Prerequisites
Five psychology courses by July 31 before enrolling
Total Cost
~$18,000-$22,000
Timeline
2-3 years
Program Format
On-Campus
GRE
Not Required

Read the Cal Poly SLO program review

CSU Chico

Selective small-cohort public in Northern California.

Prerequisites
Four courses required or recommended
Total Cost
~$18,000-$22,000
Timeline
3+ years
Program Format
On-Campus
GRE
unknown

Read the CSU Chico program review

Frequently asked questions

Can you become a marriage and family therapist in California without a psychology degree?

Yes. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) does not require any specific undergraduate major to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist; your bachelor's can be in any field, as long as your master's degree meets the coursework requirements of Business and Professions Code Section 4980.36. Among the 71 BBS-approved programs in the California MFT Program Directory, only San Jose State University effectively requires a psychology degree or 30 units of psychology. The rest accept applicants from any academic background, though some ask you to complete a few foundational courses. If you might practice in another state someday, you may also weigh the COAMFTE-accredited programs, which can ease license portability.

Which California MFT programs have no prerequisites?

About 20 programs state plainly that they require no prerequisite coursework, including San Diego State University, Sentio University, Loma Linda University, National University, Palo Alto University, Pacifica Graduate Institute, Touro University Worldwide, and the University of Southern California. Another 19 publish no prerequisites but do not spell the policy out, so confirm directly with the program. The first group on this page lists all of them, and several are also among the most affordable, which you can check on the MFT program tuition comparison.

What prerequisite courses do MFT programs usually ask for?

When programs do require prerequisites, the most common courses are abnormal psychology or psychopathology, human or lifespan development, statistics or research methods, and counseling or personality theories. Some programs require these before you apply or enroll, while others let you complete them as leveling courses before or during your first semester. A few waive them if you already hold a psychology degree.

Do California MFT programs require the GRE?

Most do not. The GRE is not required for California LMFT licensure, and the large majority of BBS-approved programs do not require it for admission. A handful require or conditionally require it. See the No-GRE MFT Programs in California list for the full breakdown.

Are MFT programs a good fit for career changers?

Yes. The master's-level LMFT path does not require a psychology undergraduate degree, many programs offer evening, hybrid or fully online formats that fit around work, and several can be finished in about two years. Career changers often bring professional maturity and transferable interpersonal skills that strengthen their applications and their clinical work.

Do any California MFT programs require work experience before applying?

Yes, three do. CSU San Francisco requires about 2,000 hours of prior human-services experience before applying, Sonoma State University requires roughly one year of full-time human-services experience, and San Jose State University requires 100 hours of paid or volunteer applied clinical experience. These are separate from coursework prerequisites and are flagged on the relevant program cards.

How this directory is built and maintained

Source of the school list. Every program on the California Board of Behavioral Sciences approved-program list for the LMFT educational requirement is included, with no exceptions or omissions. All 71 are shown, grouped by prerequisite tier.

How prerequisite tiers are determined. Each program's own admissions and catalog pages were read by a person at Sentio University. A program is placed in the first group when it states no prerequisite coursework, the second when it admits non-psychology applicants but requires a small number of foundational courses, and the third when specific coursework, a psychology degree, or experience hours must be in place before applying or enrolling.

How unknown values are handled. Where a program does not publish a prerequisite policy, the card says so and advises confirming with the program. We do not assume "none" from silence, and we do not drop a school because data is missing.

Spot-check verification. A sample of programs across all three tiers was re-checked against each school's official admissions or catalog page in June 2026, including San Diego State, Antioch, University of San Diego, CSU Northridge, Pepperdine, San Jose State, CSU San Francisco, and Sentio. Sentio's prerequisite-free status is confirmed on its own admissions FAQ.

How corrections are handled. Any school, prospective student, current student, or faculty member can request a correction by emailing mabundez@sentio.org. We respond within five business days, and corrections supported by the school's own published materials are made immediately.

Order does not imply endorsement. Within each group, programs are listed alphabetically. The order is not a ranking, and contacting us for any reason has no effect on whether or where a program appears.

Independence. Sentio University, which maintains this directory, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates its own California MFT program. The directory contains no paid placements, no affiliate links, no sponsored entries, and no advertising of any kind.

Last verified: June 2026
Maintained by: Mikaela Abundez, Director of Student Services, Sentio University. Contact: mabundez@sentio.org

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About the Authors

Tony Rousmaniere, PsyD is the President of Sentio University and Executive Director of the Sentio Counseling Center. He is Past President of the psychotherapy division of the American Psychological Association and the author of over 20 books on deliberate practice and psychotherapy training, including The Essentials of Deliberate Practice book series (APA Books). He is a licensed psychologist in California and Washington. Learn more

Alexandre Vaz, PhD is the Chief Academic Officer of Sentio University and cofounder of the Deliberate Practice Institute. He is co-editor of The Essentials of Deliberate Practice book series (APA Books) and the author of over a dozen books on deliberate practice and psychotherapy training. Dr. Vaz is the founder and host of Psychotherapy Expert Talks. He is a licensed clinical psychologist in Portugal. Learn more