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Mft Internship Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

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Mft Internship information

See Iowa salary details

$44.6K

$79.8K

$150.3K

How much do mft internship jobs pay per year?

As of May 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for mft internship in Iowa is $79,843.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $58,700.00 and $92,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Are the Qualifications to Get an MFT Internship?

To qualify for an MFT internship, you must be enrolled in a graduate program or be a recent graduate. You usually need a Board of Behavioral Sciences registration and an active registration number to complete an application for an internship. You may also need your fingerprints on file, a current physical, and an up-to-date tuberculosis skin test. Other qualifications include strong interpersonal, critical thinking, and crisis contact skills, as well as medical billing knowledge. Medical centers may have other specific requirements that you must meet to apply. Once you complete your internship and the required hours, you can take the MFT licensing examination.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an MFT Intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as an MFT Intern, you need foundational knowledge in marriage and family therapy principles, typically backed by enrollment in or completion of a graduate program and pre-licensure status. Familiarity with clinical documentation systems, case management software, and an understanding of evidence-based therapeutic models is important. Strong interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to build rapport are essential soft skills in this role. These competencies ensure effective client support, ethical practice, and successful progression toward full licensure.

What types of supervision and support can I expect during an MFT internship?

During an MFT internship, you will typically receive regular supervision from a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, often through weekly individual or group meetings. Supervisors provide guidance on case management, therapeutic techniques, and ethical issues to help you grow professionally and ensure client care quality. Many internships also offer peer consultation, professional development workshops, and opportunities to collaborate with other mental health professionals. This supportive environment is designed to help you gain confidence, refine your clinical skills, and prepare for licensure.

What are MFT internships?

MFT internships are supervised practical training experiences required for those pursuing licensure as Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs). During an MFT internship, interns work under the guidance of licensed professionals to gain hands-on experience in providing therapy to individuals, couples, and families. These internships are typically completed after earning a relevant graduate degree and are essential for meeting state licensing requirements. Interns learn to apply theoretical knowledge, develop clinical skills, and fulfill a specific number of supervised hours as mandated by their state. Completing an MFT internship is a crucial step toward becoming a fully licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

What is the difference between Mft Internship vs Marriage and Family Therapist?

AspectMft InternshipMarriage and Family Therapist
Required CredentialsGraduate degree in counseling or related field, supervised internshipMaster's in marriage and family therapy, state licensure
Work EnvironmentInternship sites, clinics, mental health facilitiesPrivate practice, clinics, hospitals
Industry UsageTraining phase, entry-level experienceLicensed professional providing therapy services

The Mft Internship is a training period for students pursuing a career in marriage and family therapy, focusing on gaining supervised clinical experience. In contrast, a Marriage and Family Therapist is a licensed professional who provides therapy to individuals, couples, and families. The internship prepares candidates for licensure, which is required to practice independently as a marriage and family therapist.

What are the most commonly searched types of Mft jobs in Iowa? The most popular types of Mft jobs in Iowa are:
What are popular job titles related to Mft Internship jobs in Iowa? For Mft Internship jobs in Iowa, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Mft Internship jobs in Iowa look for? The top searched job categories for Mft Internship jobs in Iowa are:
What cities in Iowa are hiring for Mft Internship jobs? Cities in Iowa with the most Mft Internship job openings:
Infographic showing various Mft Internship job openings in Iowa as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 35% Internship, 39% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 5% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 44% Physical, 26% Hybrid, and 30% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $79,843 per year, or $38.4 per hour.

Marriage and Family Therapist

SD Department of Veterans Affairs

Des Moines, IA • On-site

$75.28K/yr

Other

Posted yesterday


Job description

The Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) serves as a member of the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP). The BHIP is a multi-disciplinary team of mental health professionals which provides comprehensive, accessible, Veteran-centered mental health care. The MFT assigned to BHIP is responsible for coordinating and providing specialty mental and health therapy with a focus on couples, families, individuals, and groups utilizing systemic health theories.Qualifications:Basic Requirements:
1) United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
2) English Language Proficiency: Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3j.
3) Education: Candidates must meet one of the following:
  • Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a program approved by COAMFTE, OR
  • Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution, OR
  • Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in a comparable mental health degree (Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, and Psychiatry) that meets the current VA qualification standard of that profession.
4) Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to MFT positions in the GS-0182 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted MFT license to independently practice marriage and family therapy in a State.
May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
Marriage and Family Therapist, GS-11 (Full Performance Level) Grade Requirements:
1) Experience, Education and Licensure:
  • In addition to the basic requirements, the GS-11 full performance level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-master's degree experience in the field of marriage and family therapy work (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure in a State at the independent practice level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below. OR
  • In addition to the basic requirements, a doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy or comparable degree in mental health that meets the current VA qualification standard of that profession (Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, and Psychiatry) may be substituted for the required one year of marriage and family therapy experience in a clinical setting, and the candidate must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level and they must demonstrate the KSAs below.
2) Demonstrated KSAs: You must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:
  • Skill to independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members.
  • Ability to provide counseling and, or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups, couples and families that facilitates change through restructuring and reorganizing the client system.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Veterans and their families, colleagues, and other professionals in collaboration throughout treatment regarding clinical, ethical and legal issues and concerns.
  • Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes, regulations and VA policies affecting the practice of marriage and family therapy. This includes the ability to assist Veterans and their families in making informed decisions relevant to treatment to include limits of confidentiality.
  • Ability to provide orientation, training and consultation to new MFTs including clinical oversight of MFT graduate students, and/or provide clinical supervision to pre-licensure MFTs.
  • Skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, maintaining accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation, and tracking quality improvements.
All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.Education:IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.Employment Type: OTHER