URMC / Psychiatry / Institute for the Family / Family Therapy Training Program / Post-degree Certificate Program / FAQ FAQ Post-degree Certificate Program in Marriage and Family Therapy Where is the training program located? Family Therapy Training Program Department of Psychiatry University of Rochester 300 Crittenden Boulevard Rochester, NY 14642 How does being housed in the Department of Psychiatry benefit the program? Our students are provided the unique opportunity to learn about mental health and families in a collaborative interdisciplinary context. How do you apply to the program? The PDC has rolling admission. The suggested program of study and prerequisites to enter the Post Degree Certificate program are determined by a review of the credentials of each trainee and an assessment of the courses previously taken. Apply Now What are the PDC program requirements? The FTTP PDC in Medical Therapy is a 30 credit program. Students can possibly transfer in up to nine of those credits of appropriate graduate-level course work. Is Federal financial aid available for the Post-Degree certificate? As the Post Degree Certificate Program is a non-matriculated program, you will not be eligible for federal financial aid for any of the classes, regardless of the program of study in which those classes reside. However, you still may be eligible for private (non-federal) student loans. Do you accept part-time students? Yes, we accept part-time and full-time students. How long does it take to complete the PDC program? Our program essentially runs on a trimester system—Fall, Spring and Summer. Students can do course work and clinical training during the fall and spring semesters as well as during the summer. The length of time depends on the individuals' background and if they are transferring any credits into the program. For Part-time students each class is typically 2-3 hours per week - worth 3 credit hours per class. To complete the Post-degree Certificate Program will take 2-5 years. How many students are enrolled in the program? The total number of students in the Post-degree certificate program can vary a great deal from year to year. Typically, there are between 4-10 students in the program. Is is possible to take course before applying to the program? Yes, many people take courses in an area they are interested in, without applying to the program. What careers are MFT graduates qualified for and what are some typical jobs that graduates obtain? Marriage and family therapists work in a variety of settings including: Sometimes MFTs work in teams with other health care professionals, such as family physicians. And some are involved in family research and public policy analysis from a family perspective. This Career description is from the AAMFT website. What types of skills or theory in family therapy does your program have? We follow an integrated approach—training our students in all the major approaches. Structural, bowen, narrative, multi-systemic, etc. as well as medical family therapy. We follow a biopsychosocial approach and focus on a family systems approach. Where do your students train their therapeutic skills? We have several clinical sites—some are located in the Medical Center along with our training program, such as Woman's Health, Family Medicine, Psychiatry. Others are in the community. View Clinical Settings How do I become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist? Our program is accredited by the AAMFT, and our program is also approved by NY State as a licensure qualifying program. After obtaining your MS MFT degree, there are other requirements you must meet before sitting for the licensing exam. For more information regarding licensure in NY State, please see the Office of the Professions with New York State Education Department as well as these informative links: Licensure qualifications vary from state to state. You should check the requirements for whatever state you are interested in becoming licensed in specifically. A good resource and place to start is the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards.