THE SHAPING OF FAMILY-THERAPY EDUCATION - AN UPDATE

The preparation and credentialing of marital and family therapists in the United States and Canada continues to be significantly affected by the role of accreditation in MFT graduate education. This report on a study of Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education accredited degree programs and non-accredited programs shows some significant differences between the two paths to preparation and credentialing. Accredited programs tend to have more faculty, lower f aculty-student ratios, more Approved Supervisors, more financial aid, more programs requiring practica and internships, and more emphasis on professional identification with marital and family therapy, Nonaccre dited programs provide more emphasis on psychopathology, psychodiagnos tic testing, and cognitive behavioral therapy.