MFT Programs in California With No GRE Requirement

BBS-approved MFT programs that do not require the GRE · 61 programs · Updated June 2026

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is not required to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, and most California MFT programs do not ask for it. The GRE is an admissions test that individual graduate programs may choose to require, not a state licensing requirement. Of the 71 BBS-approved MFT programs in California, 61 do not require the GRE for admission, and this page lists those 61. Every program here is drawn from the same independent directory Sentio University maintains for all 71 California MFT programs, with no ads, affiliate links, or paid placements.

A program that does not require the GRE is not necessarily easier to get into, it simply weighs your application differently. You will still need a bachelor's degree, official transcripts, a statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation, and many programs also look for relevant coursework in psychology or human development, volunteer or work experience, and an admissions interview. Dropping the GRE removes one standardized test and its preparation cost, not the academic and clinical standards a program holds you to.

Sentio University does not require the GRE. A handful of California programs treat the test as conditional, meaning they may ask some applicants for scores while waiving them for others, and a few still require it for every applicant. Because admissions policies change from year to year, confirm a program's current GRE requirement on its own admissions page before you apply, and confirm its BBS approval on the BBS website, since regional accreditation is not the same as BBS approval for California licensure.

Use the cards below to compare each program on total cost, timeline, program format, and practicum model. The programs that require or conditionally require the GRE are listed in the note beneath the directory, so you can see the full picture.