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2-step progression from Licensed Professional Counselor to Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. Potential salary increase of 8% from entry to advanced level.
Entry Salary
$59,190
Licensed Professional Counselor
Top Salary
$63,780
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Total Steps
2
licenses
Median Salary
$59,190
Master's in counseling (60 credits) + NCE/NCMHCE
Avg. Licensing Cost
$539
Avg. Timeline
4.6 years – 5.0 years
Ready to start your Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist journey?
Compare approved training programs and find the best fit for your schedule and budget.
Median Salary
$63,780
Master's in MFT + 2-3 years supervised experience
Avg. Licensing Cost
$704
Avg. Timeline
4.6 years – 5.0 years
The counseling career ladder is a professional progression from Licensed Professional Counselor to Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. It includes 2 licensing levels, each with increasing education, responsibility, and earning potential.
Advancing from Licensed Professional Counselor ($59,190 median) to Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist ($63,780 median) represents a 8% salary increase based on BLS national median data.
Each step requires additional education and licensing. Licensed Professional Counselor: Master's in counseling (60 credits) + NCE/NCMHCE. Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist: Master's in MFT + 2-3 years supervised experience. The total time depends on the pace of your education and state-specific processing times.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 national medians. Licensing costs and timelines are averages across all US states derived from verified state licensing board data. Individual state requirements vary — see state-specific pages for details.