Mental health counselors assist those with drug and other personal problems. As a skills-based profession, states typically require a license for independent mental health counseling. Qualifications include a counseling education, training, and exam.
There is no national license for mental health counselors. Instead, each state has its own board dedicated to counseling licenses and other professional rules and regulations. Qualified individuals must meet the licensing standards of a state board to work independently in mental health counseling.
While there is not one specific set of requirements to get a state license (rules vary), all states use a similar process in awarding a license. However, there are key differences that need to be addressed.
First, a high degree of education is generally necessary to get a mental health counselor license. This is usually a master’s degree in a counseling field. There are a variety of counseling graduate degree programs. Rather than requiring a specific degree, though, state counseling boards usually require a master’s degree in any subject related to counseling that includes a specific list of graduate courses related to mental health counseling. The actual degree program might have the phrase “mental health” in it. But the subjects required of the school or chosen by the student must cover the required mental-health topics.
To find out exactly what degree or classes you need to qualify for a mental health counseling license in a particular state, head over to the “State Board Directory” page on the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) website. You can click on any state on the map and then find contact information for that board.
States do not necessarily have a board solely for mental health counseling. They usually have a professional counseling board that may include marriage and family therapy. The counseling license required by the state usually encompasses the work of mental health counselors as part of the overall functions of the general counseling license. The term “licensed professional counselor” is commonly used to describe the occupation and corresponding professional license. You will have to check with each state to determine whether mental health counseling falls under the gamut of the board’s licensing requirements.
States also typically require a certain amount of supervised counseling experience. When you go to school, you will get assistance in locating an internship for this purpose. For example, you may need 2000 hours of supervised counseling experience to get a license in a particular state.
The last major requirement is the licensing exam. The National Board for Certified Counselors has national certification exams that are commonly used by state licensing boards. Most mental health counselors will take either the National Counselor Examination or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination. Which exam you have to take depends on the rules of the state where you are seeking a mental health license. Use the “State Board Directory” link below to find your state’s board and see which exam you have to take to get licensed in this field.
Resources:
National Board for Certified Counselors: State Board Directory