Licensure and Certification for Counselors
To work as a counselor, you generally need to be licensed by the state where you practice. Certification, on the other hand, is voluntary, but many states require certification as part of their licensure process.
State Licensing for Counselors
Licensing for counselors varies broadly by the state where you practice, your specialty, and your job setting. For example:
- All U.S. states have a licensure requirement for marriage and family therapists.
- Career counselors in college or university settings may not need to be licensed at all.
- School counselors are required in some states to have a state school counseling certification, to possess a teaching certificate as well as counseling degree, and to have prior teaching experience.
Before you graduate, make sure that you are fully aware of how to obtain licensure in the state where you plan to practice counseling. The National Board for Certified Counselors website has an online directory that provides credential requirements particular to each state, along with appropriate state agency contact information.
The Licensure Process for Counselors
Although the licensure process and requirements varies by state, there are some general similarities for attaining your counselor license. These requirements may include the following:
- Accruing a specified amount of hours of supervised clinical experience in an approved setting.
- Passing a state-approved exam.
- Taking continuing education classes one-time or annually. For example, applicants for LMHC certification in Washington State must complete four hours of AIDS education.
Certification for Counselors
Certification is a separate process from state licensing, and unlike state licensing, it is voluntary. Requirements for counselor certification will vary according to your educational background and work history. Certification strengthens your job chances in that your peers will know that you are a competent counselor and perhaps more importantly, some states require certification for licensure. Getting certified will improve your work opportunities, professional standing, and chances for advancement in your workplace.
You can obtain national certification from The National Board for Certified Counselors, which offers counseling certification in general practice, school counseling, clinical mental health, and addiction counseling.
To retain your certification, you must retake an approved examination or complete approved continuing education courses every five years. Note that if you graduate from a program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP), you are immediately qualified to acquire national certification from the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) upon passing the National Counselor Examination (NCE).