The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education

What The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education does

The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) is a non-profit accreditation commission founded in 1978, operating as the accrediting arm of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. It is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) as the sole accrediting agency for graduate degree and clinical training programs in Marriage and Family Therapy in the United States and Canada. COAMFTE accredits three program categories: Master's Degree Programs, Doctoral Degree Programs, and Post-Graduate Degree Clinical Training Programs, evaluating them against its published Accreditation Standards (Version 12.5, August 2021) which emphasize outcome-based education and graduate achievement data.

COAMFTE's core offering is its accreditation program, supported by an EDvera digital platform for document submission, an Accreditation Manual, training resources, webinars, and an annual accreditation workshop. The commission reviews programs through a structured process involving Eligibility Criteria review, Self-Study submission, on-site evaluations, and annual reporting, holding biannual meetings (Spring and Fall) to make accreditation decisions. Programs interact with COAMFTE through the EDvera platform for self-serve submission, the public-facing website for information, and direct communications with commission staff.

Revenue is generated through tiered accreditation fees based on student enrollment, including annual sustaining fees ($3,350-$6,500+ in 2026), eligibility and branch review fees ($1,500), self-study fees ($2,500), site visit fees ($5,000 plus $4,000 per visitor), and additional charges for substantive changes, appeals, special reports, and late payments. The 2026-2028 fee schedule includes annual escalation. As of 2022 self-reported data, approximately 124 programs are accredited. COAMFTE is governed by professional commissioners and public members, holds CHEA recognition through 2024, and is a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA) since 1995.

Name

The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education

Legal name

The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education

Website

https://coamfte.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

COAMFTE is the sole CHEA-recognized accrediting agency for graduate Marriage and Family Therapy education programs in the United States and Canada, evaluating Master's, Doctoral, and Post-Graduate programs against outcome-based standards and generating revenue through tiered enrollment-based accreditation fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Accreditation

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAAEAD

Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Continuing Education (Noncredit) & Lifelong Learning Programs

SECONDARYEDAIAJAG

Diploma-to-Degree / Articulation & Credit-Transfer Pathways

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Overseas Pathway, Foundation & Bridging Programs

Keywords

• MFT program accreditation
• Higher education accreditation
• Marriage and family therapy
• Accreditation services
• Graduate program review

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Accreditation Fees: COAMFTE generates revenue through tiered accreditation fees charged to MFT programs. Fees include Annual Sustaining Fees (based on student enrollment tiers), Eligibility Criteria and Branch Review Fees, Self-Study Fees, Site Visit Fees, and additional charges for Substantive Changes, Appeals, Special Reports, and Late Payments. The fee structure is differentiated by student enrollment (1-25, 26-50, 51-200, 201-400, 401+ students) with escalating rates for 2026-2028.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

COAMFTE accredits graduate, post-graduate, and doctoral Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) education programs at colleges and universities, evaluating them against established standards of professional preparation. Operating under the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), it is the only CHEA-recognized accreditor of MFT programs in the United States and Canada and currently accredits 124 programs.

Product overview

The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) operates as the sole accrediting agency for marriage and family therapy education in the United States and Canada, recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). COAMFTE's primary offering is its accreditation program for three program types: Master's Degree Programs, Doctoral Degree Programs, and Post-Graduate Degree Clinical Training Programs. The accreditation service is supported by a suite of core products including the COAMFTE Accreditation Manual and Accreditation Standards Version 12.5 (published August 2021), which establish outcome-based education frameworks and student learning outcome requirements. Programs access COAMFTE services through the EDvera Platform for document submissions, the COAMFTE Program Directory for public visibility, and various training resources including webinars and the annual COAMFTE Accreditation Workshop. Additional products include the COAMFTE Program Demographic Data aggregate reports, Accreditation Forms, and the Notice of Actions documenting all accreditation decisions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accreditation of Graduate MFT Programs Voluntary accreditation of master's-level Marriage and Family Therapy programs at colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada, against CHEA-recognized COAMFTE standards covering curriculum, faculty, clinical training, and outcomes.
• Accreditation of Post-Graduate MFT Programs Accreditation of post-graduate (post-master's) Marriage and Family Therapy training programs for institutions seeking recognition beyond the master's level.
• Accreditation of Doctoral MFT Programs Accreditation of doctoral Marriage and Family Therapy programs at universities, evaluating research training, faculty scholarship, and advanced clinical preparation.

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Time2TrackcoreTechnology or IntegrationTime2Track is a partner platform that allows COAMFTE-accredited programs and students to track, verify, and manage clinical training experiences and competencies. The partnership enables programs to monitor student progress against COAMFTE competency requirements.
• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOAMFTE is the accrediting arm of AAMFT, the professional association for marriage and family therapists. The commission operates within the AAMFT organizational structure, sharing staff and facilities. AAMFT provides administrative support and infrastructure for COAMFTE operations.
• Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)coreOthersCHEA is a non-governmental organization that recognizes COAMFTE as the accrediting agency for graduate degree and clinical training programs in Marriage and Family Therapy. CHEA recognition provides external validation of COAMFTE's quality assurance role.
• Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA)minorOthersASPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing quality of higher education through specialized and professional accrediting agencies. COAMFTE membership ensures access to best practices in accreditation and fosters consistency and innovation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN): ACEN accredits nursing programs across all levels and is a CHEA-recognized specialized accreditor. ACEN's scale, tiered fee structure, and outcomes-based accreditation framework closely mirror COAMFTE's operating model, making it a relevant institutional benchmark.
• Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME): LCME accredits MD-granting medical schools and is the established gold-standard specialized accreditor in healthcare professional education. While much larger and better resourced, LCME shares COAMFTE's accreditation operating model (eligibility, self-study, site visit, annual reporting) and CHEA-recognized status.

Others

• Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA): CHEA is the non-governmental recognition body that recognizes COAMFTE as the MFT accreditor. CHEA provides the external legitimacy that underpins COAMFTE's pricing power and is the institutional authority governing the entire specialized accreditation ecosystem.
• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT): AAMFT is COAMFTE's parent professional association and primary operational host. While not a competitor, AAMFT's licensure advocacy, training resources, and member services directly shape the demand environment for COAMFTE accreditation.
• Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA): ASPA is the membership body of which COAMFTE has been a member since 1995. ASPA represents the broader ecosystem of specialized and professional accreditors and provides best-practice frameworks relevant to COAMFTE's operations.

Direct peers

• Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA): ARC-PA accredits PA programs nationally and operates a comparable CHEA-recognized specialized accreditation framework with site visits and self-study requirements. The size and discipline breadth of ARC-PA's program portfolio make it a strong structural comparable to COAMFTE.
• Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP): CACREP accredits master's and doctoral programs in counseling and related educational programs, the closest discipline-level peer to COAMFTE. Both organizations operate as CHEA-recognized specialized accreditors for graduate-level mental health professional programs using tiered fees and similar self-study/site visit processes.
• American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (APA-CoA): APA-CoA accredits doctoral programs in psychology and clinical training, the most analogous mental health discipline accreditation regime to COAMFTE's. Both organizations serve a small number of graduate-level professional programs under CHEA recognition and operate non-profit specialized accreditation models.
• Council on Social Work Education (CSWE): CSWE accredits bachelor's, master's, and doctoral social work programs through a similarly structured accreditation process. As an adjacent mental and behavioral health accreditor with CHEA recognition, CSWE is a direct functional peer despite its broader discipline scope.

Regional players

• Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT): JRCERT accredits radiologic technology programs nationally and operates a comparable CHEA-recognized specialized accreditation framework. While in a different health discipline, JRCERT is a relevant structural peer due to similar size and operational model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coamfte

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education