Mental Health Counselor

Exam

Third-party exam

Education

Degree

Experience

Experience

Background check

None

Individuals must have a master's or doctoral degree in mental health counseling from an approved school. Individuals must have a minimum of 2 calendar years of full-time marriage and family therapy, 1,000 hours of which must be direct client contact. Either a counseling practicum or internship or both must be included in the core of study. Individual must have a minimum of 36 months of full-time counseling or 3,000 hours of post graduate mental health counseling under the supervision of an approved licensed mental health counselor. At least 1,200 hours must be direct counseling with individuals, families, groups or couples. Individual must pass either the National Counselor Examination or the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination. Individual must submit application and pay required fee.