Join CACFT/ACTCF
CACFT aspires to promote excellence in the practice of Marriage/Couple and Family Therapy, while at the same time welcoming a diverse array of professionals who seek to integrate systemic perspective and practice in their work. We use the term “Marriage and Family Therapy” as a form of acknowledgment and respect for the pioneers of our field who brought our profession into being. We are an inclusive association that is open to and accepting of couples and families in all of their myriad permutations.
To this end, CACFT has created a variety of categories of membership, and is committed to being open to many approaches and varieties of experience and training.
While our standards of credentialing are rigorous, we strive also to make them accessible. Candidates are encouraged to enter into a process of dialogue and reflection which will enable them to identify the resources they bring to practice from diverse backgrounds and forms of training and experience, as well as the resources they may yet need to practice with autonomy and confidence, joining the ranks of those who promote excellence in the field.
Those who are members in good standing with AAMFT may apply for membership with CACFT, in the same (or related) category, if they meet CACFT requirements. If this applies to you please click here for more information and application form.
If you have a Masters in Social Work, CACFT welcomes your application for membership. We realize that you have worked hard to get your MSW licence. At the same time, the training you had may not have included all the courses we are looking for. The courses we accept are systemic in nature, and focused on interpersonal dynamics as well as larger systems. We will gladly review the courses you have taken if you send the syllabi to admin@camft.ca. We do need the syllabi, not a description, to make an accurate determination. As you will see when you read the ‘membership explained’ webpage RMFTs need all 11 of the required courses.
We know that your practicum would have included a lot of supervision. We are looking for supervision which is both systemic and focused on the dynamics of the family unit. If you feel your supervision contained these elements, and your supervisor is not an RMFT Supervisor, your Supervisor is welcome to apply to become an Approved Alternate Supervisor. That application can be found under the ‘Supervision’ tab on our website.
If you don’t have all 11 of the required courses or supervision to become an RMFT, you would be welcome to apply as an Associate member and work towards getting your courses and/or supervision. Associate members need only 5 of the required courses. You can review the applications on the applications page under the ‘Membership’ tab on our website.
If you have questions after reviewing all of the information on our website, please contact the CAMFT office at admin@camft.ca.
CACFT is not a regulatory body.
- As such, all CACFT members are required to be in compliance with the regulatory laws of the jurisdiction(s) in which they practice. In jurisdictions where there is provincial, state, or government regulation of the practice of psychotherapy, counselling therapy or couple/marriage & family therapy, members must provide CACFT with proof that they are in compliance with such regulation. It is each member's responsibility to be aware of, and to ensure that they are practicing within, the laws of the jurisdiction(s) in which they practice. It is incumbent on the member to notify CACFT of any changes to their regulatory status.
- Those who are members of other professional bodies may apply for membership in a category reflective of their training and experience.
- Those who hold provincial or state MFT licenses which are equivalent to CACFT/ACTCF membership categories may apply for membership in that category (such as the TCF license in Quebec). Applicants who are not residents in Canada may apply to be non-resident members in any category for which they are eligible.
Candidate demonstrates enrolment in a graduate level program of study to become a Marriage/Couple and Family Therapist, or to practice in a related field.
This includes:
- Candidates in graduate level programs which are specifically designed to train Marriage/Couple and Family Therapists.
- Candidates in graduate level programs which include sufficient courses to meet the criteria for Registered Marriage and Family Therapist credentialing.
- Candidates in programs which are pre-approved as COAMFTE programs by AAMFT or IFTA’s IACSTE approved programs.
- Candidates in a graduate level program of study to follow some other career path (e.g. nursing, medicine, occupational therapy, psychology, social work, clinical counselling), wanting to learn how to practice from a systemic perspective.
PRACTICUM REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS
The degree must include a supervised practicum (supervised client contact hours with individuals, couples, and families). A minimum of 150 supervised client contact hours is required. Applicants who did not complete the full 150 hours practicum during their graduate program may document the remaining hours with initial post graduate client contact hours supervised by an RMFT Supervisor, Supervisor Qualifying, or by an Alternate Supervisor pre-approved by CACFT specifically for that applicant.
Wondering what courses you should take? Have a look at the list of Required Coursework. Student Member annual dues are $55.00 plus tax. You may want to look at the requirements for Associate members, which is the category you will be be able to apply for after graduation. Applications can be found here.
Definition of Direct Client Contact Hours (DCC): Time spent in direct contact with the therapist and the client(s) in the active process of therapy.
Activities not considered Direct Client Contact hours: scheduling, case planning, observation of therapy, documentation, case consultation.
Definition of counting supervision hours: You can count 50 (fifty) minutes of supervision as 1 (one) hour of supervision.
ASSOCIATE MEMBER
Candidate has completed a Masters’ or Doctorate degree or equivalent in a helping profession, and is practicing as a Marriage/Couple and Family Therapist, or in a related profession, and is working from a systemic perspective and has completed 150 Direct Client Contact Hours.OR
Candidate has completed a qualifying graduate program in a helping profession and has completed five (or more) of the courses required to become an RMFT and has completed 150 hours of Direct Client Contact Hours.
Candidate is currently completing academic and/or practice requirements to become a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist as set out by CACFT: (see details following)
Wondering what courses you should take? Have a look at the list of Required Coursework. You need a minimum of 5 required courses to join as an Associate member. Associate Member annual dues are $121.00 plus tax. CACFT Student members please use the 'transfer' to Associate application. Applications can be found here.
PRACTICUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
The degree must include a supervised practicum (supervised client contact hours with individuals, couples, and families). A minimum of 150 supervised client contact hours is required. Please click here for full details on practicum requirements. You may wish to ensure ahead of time that your supervision can be recognized by CACFT/ACTCF.
REGISTERED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST (RMFT)
Educational Requirements:
- A qualifying degree will be defined as an integrated course of study which includes a minimum of five of the required courses and which is obtained at an educational institution that is affiliated/accredited with/by Universities Canada.
- A qualifying Master's or Doctorate degree from an accredited educational institution where the degree specifies that the graduate has graduated from a Marriage/Couple and Family Therapy program
- A qualifying Master's or Doctorate degree from an accredited educational institution that led them to possess a valid LMFT from an American state or a valid TCF license from the province of Quebec. If you have an LMFT license and wish to join CACFT please click here for an application.
- A qualifying Master's or Doctorate degree in an allied mental health field from a regionally accredited educational institution.
- The school must be affiliated with the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) or be affiliated with an AUCC accredited college or university. See Appendix A for more information.
- ***Note: Association of Theological Schools (ATS) who meet the educational requirements will be considered eligible
- **For Overseas Applicants: in order for a degree to be considered as a “qualifying graduate degree”, the program needs to be BOTH determined by a credentialing service (member of National Associaton of Credential Evaluation Services) to be equivalent to a Canadian graduate degree, and fulfill the educational requirements
- Curriculum Requirements: While the ideal is to complete these curriculum requirements within ten years of completing the relevant degree, it is recognized that many factors may impinge on this ideal. When this is not possible, application can be made for exceptions (e.g. illness, maternity leave, paternity leave, family situation and other extenuating circumstances, etc.)
- In total, eleven courses are required in five basic areas of study for a total of 33 semester credits. Please click here to see the Required Coursework form.
The equivalent of one course is defined as three semester credits, or 36 didactic contact hours (i.e.lecture/classroom hours).
RMFT applicants must have all 11 (eleven) of the Required Courses. Please click here for a list of the required courses. RMFT annual dues are $151.25 plus tax. Applications can be found here.
SUPERVISOR QUALIFYING
The candidate has practiced as an RMFT for at least two years, and has a minimum of three years of post graduate experience, with a minimum total of 1500 clinical hours (during and post-training). Please click here for an application.SUPERVISOR
The candidate has practiced as an RMFT for at least five years, and has a minimum of five years of post graduate experience, with a minimum total of 2000 clinical hours (during and post-training). A 30 hour graduate level course (or equivalent) in clinical supervision is required. Please click here for an application.SUPERVISOR MENTOR
The candidate has practiced as an RMFT Supervisor for at least two years and has provided a minimum of 75 hours of supervision to a minimum of five supervisees since becoming an RMFT Supervisor. Please click here for an application.SEMI-RETIRED MEMBER
RMFT and Associate members of CACFT who have made the decision to cut down their case load (clients and supervisees) to 200 hours or fewer a year are eligible for the retired member category. RMFTs and Associate members may apply for this category. Semi-Retired member annual dues are $90.75. Please click here for an application.RETIRED MEMBER
RMFT and Associate members of CACFT who have made the decision that they will no longer be practicing, but wish to continue to contribute and to be involved with CACFT as an ‘elder’ with the profession and the CACFT community are eligible to become a “Retired Member” with CACFT. Retired member annual dues are $90.75. Please click here for an application.Affiliate Membership is intended for professionals who are looking to be part of a community of systemic professionals and access related resources, though they do not meet the requirements for registration as RMFT or other categories on that path. These professionals have completed other relevant education and are in a professional career (e.g. nursing, medicine, occupational therapy, counselling, therapy, teaching, etc.). They are regulated through registration, certification, or licensure, as applicable and are working within their scope of practice, experience, and knowledge. Affiliate Members will have opportunities to network with other systemic practitioners, and stay up to date on research, best practice, and relational therapy in a Canadian context. **** This membership is a general membership category and does not constitute certification, registration, credentials. or licensure. Please click here for an application.
Truth and Reconciliation Reflection Requirement for RMFTs
Recognizing the gravity of Canada’s actions with First Nations/Indigenous cultures, families, and children, both past and present, all RMFT applicants, including AAMFT Clinical Fellows and LMFTs requesting grandparenting into RMFT membership, are expected to have an awareness of this history and the current issues as well as the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Applicants are required to submit a 6 – 8 page, double spaced Reflection Response, (i.e. personal rather than academic in focus) in which they outline and reflect on
- the impact of the historical and current issues and findings of the TRC on their own history and beliefs;
- the impact of the same on their own professional identity;
- how the historical and current issues and findings of the TRC can be understood through a systemic lens
- the impact of the same on their systemic practice and how it can be acknowledged and addressed in therapy.
- Applicants may want to reference the TRC findings, The Indian Act, current Indigenous authors and their works, and cultural experiences and teachings.
If you identify as Indigenous, we ask that you complete a reflection response regarding how your own experience and learning informs your therapeutic practice and professional identity, particularly with a systemic lens.
Please review the following rubric, questions, and material for your submission:
Please click here for more resources which may assist you with your response and your clinical practice.
Your response must accompany your RMFT application.
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