Are you interested in how to become an LPC in New York?
The state of New York offers a plethora of opportunities for working as a counselor. Sometimes individuals can pursue these careers without a formal Master’s degree. Most of the reputable jobs in counseling will, however, require a minimum of a Master’s degree. Additionally, one will want to pursue the appropriate state licensing in order to properly work as a counselor.
For more information on mental health organizations, please click here.
Future LPC: For Student in New York High School or New York High School Graduate
Your First Step:
Gain experience either as a paid worker or a volunteer in order to enhance your candidacy for graduate schools.
Your Second Step:
We recommend that you choose an undergraduate major in the social sciences in an area that is relevant to counseling, one such as Psychology or Social Work.
Bachelor’s Degree College Graduates
(
CACREP– The Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs). Rehabilitation counseling programs are usually accredited by
CORE (The Council on Rehabilitation Education).
First:
Begin the application process with plenty of time to spare. Anticipate the need to submit essays describing your character and your personality.
Second:
Aspiring school counselors will enter a program that has New York State Education Department approval. A Master’s program will adequately provide you all the coursework you need for a permanent certificate as opposed to simply a provisional certificate.
A candidate must establish fingerprint clearance, as well.
Third:
Mental health counseling programs involve sixty semester hours of coursework, as well as field work.
Fourth:
To become licensed as “professional counselor” requires an amount of time for practice that is supervised under Board mandates. You must procure a limited permit before starting your practice that is supervised.
When applying for your permit, the expectation is to accomplish three thousand hours of work experience that should be properly supervised. The permit is active for 24 month, but an extension is possible.
In order to transition from provisional school counseling certification to permanent certification, full-time work experience of two years is needed.
Fifth:
Make sure that you successfully pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination.
For more information on licensing in New York, please click here.
New York Counseling Agencies
Office of the Professions-Mental Health Practitioners
New York State Education Department
We wish you the best of success in your pursuit of becoming a counselor in New York.
