Types of Membership
Certified Members who hold recognised qualifications and are certified by HKMFTA. These are the Certified Clinical Supervisors (CCS), Certified Marriage and Family Therapists (CMFT) and Pre-certified Marriage and Family Therapists (PCMFT).
Non-certified Members are not professional membership. These are the Affiliate Members and Student Members.
Certified Membership
These members meet HKMFTA’s professional standards and are formally recognised.
Key characteristics
- Hold accredited qualifications required by HKMFTA (e.g., degrees & other academic courses, client contact hours, supervision hours licences, supervised practice hours).
- Certified by HKMFTA according to academic, competency, ethics, and training requirements.
- Bound by a code of ethics, and disciplinary procedures.
- Eligible for professional privileges, such as:
- Eligibility to hold office or serve on committees.
- Use of professional tiles or designations.
- Use of HKMFTA logo as promotional materials for professional practice.
- Access to professional development pathways (Pre-certified Marriageand Family Therapist to Certified Marriage and Family Therapist toCertified Clinical Supervisor).
- Listing in HKMFTA’s public professional directory.
- Access to social or educational activities, which are:
- Exclusive to members.
- Prioritised to members over the general public.
- Available to members at discount prices.
Purpose
- To maintain professional standards
- To ensure public trust in the organisation’s certified practitioners
- To regulate practice and uphold accountability
Non-certified Membership
These members participate in the community but are not recognised as qualified professionals.
Key characteristics
- Do not hold the required professional qualifications for certification. May include:
- Students
- Supporters
- Retired practitioners
- Allied professionals
- General public interested in the field
- Limited privileges, typically:
- Cannot hold positions requiring professional status
- Cannot use professional tiles or designations
- Not listed in HKMFTA’s public professional directory.
- Access to social or educational activities, which are:
- Exclusive to members.
- Prioritised to members over the general public.
- Available to members at discount prices.
Purpose
- To build community engagement
- To support the Association’s mission
- To provide pathways for future professional membership
Candidates who can demonstrate extensive marriage and family therapy experience may be granted an exemption from any or all of the stages of the membership requirements. A request for exemption must be made in writing and accompanied by all relevant supporting documentation. The applicant must pay, in advance, an administration fee equal to the application fee for the membership level in which the exemption is sought. All decisions regarding exemptions are subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
EITHER
- has been a Certified Marriage and Family Therapist member for 5 years or more, or holding a master degree of Marriage and Family Therapy for 5 years or more;
- has completed 1,000 or more client contact hours; and has received 200 or more group or individual supervision provided by either HKMFTA or AAMFT approved supervisors.
- has provided 100 or more group or individual supervision hours to various marriage and family therapy practitioners or students with proven documentation;
- has taken not less than 18 hours’ relevant Supervisory Courses; and
- has received not less than 20 hours’ supervision on supervision by either HKMFTA or AAMFT approved supervisors.
OR
- has attained equivalent professional credentials from a Marriage and Family Therapy Association outside Hong Kong which is recognized by the Board of Directors.
(SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS should be provided on application. Documents include credentials from recognized non-HK marriage and family therapy associations, records for client contact hours & supervision hours and any other relevant documents.)
- holds a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy or related fields such as social work, counselling, social science, family education, nursing, etc. run by universities worldwide with the following courses or the equivalent:
- 9 semester credits in Family Studies;
- 9 semester credits in Family Therapy;
- 9 semester credits in Human Development;
- 3 semester credits in Professional Growth & Ethics;
- has completed 500 or more supervised client contact hours; and
- has received 100 or more group or individual supervision hours.
(SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS should be provided on application. Documents include graduation certification, transcripts, course outlines/syllabus and any other relevant documents.)
Note: If a member’s membership has been inactive for over two years, they are required to submit a fresh membership application.
- holds a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy or related fields with the completion of at least 15 semester credits in the following courses or the equivalents:
- 9 semester credits in Family Studies;
- 9 semester credits in Family Therapy;
- 9 semester credits in Human Development;
- 3 semester credits in Professional Growth & Ethics;
- has completed 100 or more client contact hours.
(SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS should be provided on application. Documents include graduation certification, transcripts, course outlines/syllabus and any other relevant documents.)
- has not yet fulfill all the criteria to be Certified Marriage and Family Therapist members; and
- is not a Student Member.
(Supporting documents should be provided on application. Documents include professional proof and/or academic qualification certificate.)
- holds a bachelor’s degree, or above, in human services related field such as social work, counselling, social science, family education, nursing, etc.
- holds a bachelor’s degree and is undertaking a master’s programme in related disciplines, including but not limited to family education and social work.
(SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS should be provided on application. Documents include non-expired student cards, course admission documents and any other relevant documents.)