Core Curriculum
Our core curriculum training program provides top-tier clinical experience and classroom learning to give you the skills you need to succeed as a couple and family therapist.
Ackerman’s most comprehensive family therapy training program is the Core Curriculum sequence, involving a progression from the Foundations of Family Therapy course to the Live Clinical Supervision, to the Clinical Externship in Family Therapy. Trainees move sequentially through this curriculum. However, some trainees may wish to take the Foundations and/or Live Clinical Supervision courses only.
Our core curriculum training program provides top-tier clinical experience and classroom learning to give you the skills you need to succeed as a couple and family therapist today. Applications will be available in the spring of 2024 for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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- Questions? Contact us: admissions@ackerman.org
Ackerman Core Courses
Foundations of Family Therapy
This 30-week introductory course is for those who wish to learn about family systems theory and technique. This course provides the foundation for more advanced training in family therapy.
The Dual Program
This 12-month program includes Foundations of Family Therapy and Live Clinical Supervision taken in the same year. The Dual Program is the fastest way to become eligible for our Clinical Externship.
Live Clinical Supervision
This 30-week course offers the opportunity for hands-on supervision. Trainees work with families with live observation and collaborate as a consultation team to evaluate and plan clinical treatment. Prerequisite: Foundations of Family Therapy
Clinical Externship in Family Therapy
A rigorous clinical and supervisory experience for trainees interested in attaining broad-based expertise in relational family therapy as it applies to couples and families. We offer a day program and an evening program. Prerequisite: Foundations of Family Therapy and Live Clinical Supervision
For More Information:
FAQs: Core Curriculum Training Program
Core Curriculum applications will be available in the spring of 2024 for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Ackerman core curriculum courses are currently held online.
Pending the Institute’s reopening due to COVID-19, our programs may be offered as a hybrid learning model with both online and in-person classes at our Flatiron District location in New York City. Applicants will indicate their preferred learning model: online-only, or hybrid, at the time of application.
While the Institute is eager to return to in-person training, applicants understand that their course may remain online indefinitely. Our standard refund policy applies.
A limited amount of need-based financial aid is available for Foundations of Family Therapy, Live Clinical Supervision, the Dual Program, and the Clinical Externship. Applicants must submit financial documentation and a personal essay. The deadline to apply for financial aid for the 2023-2024 training year is April 1, 2022.
The Ackerman Institute offers Core Curriculum trainees a 10-month interest-free payment plan. Applicants must request enrollment at the time of their admissions confirmation. View our financial policies.
Applicants will be notified of their acceptance via email in the spring.
You will receive a confirmation email after submitting the online application with fee and supporting documents. Check your spam folder for this message. To ensure delivery, add admissions@ackerman.org to your email contacts.
Yes, Ackerman’s Live Clinical Supervision program offers up to 10 contact hours toward licensure. Trainees who complete Live Clinical Supervision are eligible to apply for our Clinical Externship in Family Therapy, which provides 250 hours toward licensure.
We understand that some of our applicants will be completing their master’s program during Ackerman’s admissions season. We will consider applications with proof of a pending master’s degree.
If you have not yet received your master’s degree, you may upload one of the following to the Core Curriculum online application:
- A copy of your official transcript
OR - A certificate of graduation letter from your master’s program.
A master’s degree is required to enroll in the Core Curriculum program and must be provided at the time of enrollment.
Each Core Curriculum instructor sets class attendance policies. Trainees are responsible for coursework missed due to absence, and must speak with their course instructor regarding class material. Ackerman does not offer make up classes or refunds for absences.
The Ackerman Institute is closed in observance of several federal holidays. View the Academic Calendar.
Trainees are required to attend online classes from a Mac or PC computer in good working condition with a strong WiFi connection. Headphones must be worn in all remote meetings.
Therapists in Live Clinical and the Clinical Externship Program will hold clinical teletherapy sessions with the Microsoft Teams desktop application. Review the system requirements for Microsoft Teams.
Most questions can be answered by referring to our Core Curriculum Admissions Policies Page.
We host online informational sessions throughout the year. View our calendar of upcoming events.
If you have more questions about applying to the Core Curriculum, contact the Ackerman Admissions Department: admissions@ackerman.org.
