MFT National Exam 2027 Changes: Pretest Items, Two-Week Windows and New Fees

What changes on the MFT National Exam in 2027

AMFTRB published two handbooks: the 2026 edition (revised April 30, 2026), whose testing periods run through December 2026, and the 2027 edition (last revised August 24, 2026), whose testing periods start with January 2–16, 2027. Comparing them section by section, as of October 27, 2026:

A few smaller rules are new or newly spelled out. The 2027 handbook adds that only one application per calendar quarter is permitted, that a transfer request is due by the application deadline of the new window, that digital IDs aren't accepted, and that Meta glasses and other recording devices are prohibited items.

The 25 pretest items, explained

The 2027 handbook says the pretest items are "randomly distributed throughout the examination" and "do not count towards a candidate's score." AMFTRB uses them to test new questions before they can become scored items on a future exam. You won't know which ones they are, so the habit to build is simple: answer every question as if it counts.

The scored items keep the same domain weights:

AMFTRB's Exam Reference page still said "all items are counted" and AMFTRB's roadmap still described one-week windows when checked on October 27, 2026. For a 2027 window, follow the 2027 handbook. The format guide covers pacing and question types.

What stays the same on the MFT exam in 2027

• The content. Both handbooks print the same blueprint, titled "Exam Blueprint Updated for 2026 Examinations," based on a 2024–2025 job task analysis. Passy compared the two content outlines word for word: the 82 task statements and 75 knowledge areas are identical apart from formatting.
• The AI material isn't new. The outline's references to artificial intelligence, in the descriptions of Domains 2, 3, 4 and 6 and in knowledge areas 71 to 74, already appear in the 2026 handbook. Some summaries present them as a 2027 change; they aren't.
• The scoring method. A modified Angoff standard set on an anchor exam, with equating across forms. There's still no single published passing score.
• Retake limits. Once per calendar quarter (AMFTRB's FAQ also says no more than three attempts in any 12 months), a new application and state approval code (except New York and Texas), and the full fee; after three failures, AMFTRB recommends waiting at least a year.
• Delivery. Prometric test centers only, Monday through Saturday within each window, and the timer keeps running during any break.
• Accommodations. ADA and ELL requests still need at least 8 weeks before the window starts.
• The practice exam. Still 90 questions for $70 per attempt.

Because the content is unchanged, study materials built on the 2026 blueprint stay relevant for 2027. Materials written for the blueprint used before 2026 may not match either year. Full prep is planned on the 2027 handbook's blueprint, with the six domains weighted the same way.

Which MFT exam rules apply to your window

The MFT exam dates guide lists every 2027 window with its deadlines.

What the two-week windows mean in practice

A 2027 window spans 15 calendar days, Saturday to Saturday, instead of 8. That gives you more appointment days to choose from once your Scheduling Authorization arrives. It doesn't change the application deadline (the 1st of the month before) or the quarterly limit.

Results still wait for the whole window to close, so a longer window can mean a longer wait if you test early in it. Someone testing on January 4, 2027, for example, waits for the January 16 close plus about four weeks, so roughly six weeks in all (Passy's arithmetic from the 2027 handbook). If you need results fast, testing late in the window shortens the wait without delaying the result date. Either way, the weeks before your appointment matter more than the day you pick; you can see the planned question counts for each domain to size your study by domain.

The updated candidate agreement

Every candidate signs a candidate agreement at the test center. The 2027 handbook prints a version marked effective July 20, 2026, which adds two attestations to the earlier text: that everything in your application is true, and that you won't alter, falsify or misrepresent your score to an employer, school or licensing body. AMFTRB's Security page still showed the version effective November 12, 2024 when checked on October 27, 2026. Both versions keep the core rules: no copying or sharing items, no electronic devices, no generative AI tools, and no restarting a session once you exit.

Planning a 2027 attempt

1. Choose your window from the 2027 calendar and note both deadlines.
2. Get your approval code early; your board's timing is the part you control least.
3. Budget $389, plus $70 if you'll use AMFTRB's practice exam.
4. Study the current outline, which is the same in both editions.
5. Rehearse a full sitting at least once. Full prep at launch includes a timed 180-question mock planned to mirror the four-hour sitting.

Start building the plan now with the free MFT study planner, which weights your weeks by the six domains, and check your starting point with the 20 free practice questions.