New Mexico Counselor Licensing Requirements
There are multiple levels of licensing that a counselor can obtain in New Mexico. You may become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) by completing the proper educational and examination criteria.
Additionally, you can become a Licensed Professional Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LPCC), but only after satisfying the supervised work experience requirements and have passed the additional exam.
The information below gives you a guideline to acquire a counseling license in New Mexico. If at any time you have inquiries or wish to ensure that you remain on the correct path toward licensure, please contact the New Mexico Counseling and Therapy Practice Board. Their number is (505)-476-4622.
New Mexico Counselor Credential Titles
Licensed Professional Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LPCC) Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) – Individuals who are pursuing the LPCC license but still need to complete the supervised experience requirements.New Mexico Counselor Educational Requirements
Master’s degree or higher in counseling or a counseling-related field with no less than 48 graduate hours from an accredited institution.
Related field degrees must meet the clinical core curriculum.
Counseling-related field is mental health, community counseling, agency counseling, psychology, clinical psychology, family studies, art therapy, or education.
6 hours in ethics. Supervisors need to take 3 hours in supervision.
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New Mexico Counselor Experiential Requirements
2 years of postgraduate professional clinical counseling experience, with 3,000 hours of clinical client contact and a minimum of 100 hours of face-to-face supervision. 1,000 hours of clinical client contact may come from the applicant’s internship/practicum. Supervision must come from an LPCC or licensed MFT, professional art therapist, psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, or independent social worker.New Mexico Requirements for Clinical Supervisors
Licensed Professional Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LPCC) – Licensed as a professional clinical counselor, marriage and family therapist, art therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or independent social worker and must have education and experience in a clinical mental health setting. 3 CEUs in supervision are required for each licensure renewal period.
New Mexico Exams Required
LPCC, NCE, NCMHCE, LMHC, NCENew Mexico Scope of Practice
“PRACTICE OF PROFESSIONAL CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING” means the application of mental health, psychotherapeutic, and human development principles through a therapeutic relationship to: a. achieve the mental, emotional, physical, social, moral, educational, spiritual, or career-related development and adjustment of the client throughout the client’s life; b. diagnose, evaluate, prevent, and treat mental, emotional or behavioral disorders and associated distresses that interfere with mental health; c. conduct appraisals, assessments and evaluations to establish treatment goals and objectives; and d. plan, implement, and evaluate treatment plans using counseling treatment interventions and strategies. License Maintenance You must complete 40 contact hours of continuing education every two years to maintain your professional license. You will also need to submit documentation when you renew your license.Salary Outlook for New Mexico Counselors
In the state of New Mexico, those who choose to go into the field of counseling find their career to be satisfying on multiple levels, and part of that has to do with their salary. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average counselor in New Mexico earns between $28,440 and $52,540 per year. Now that you are familiar with the counselor licensing requirements in New Mexico, visit our How to Become a Counselor in New Mexico page for a more detailed look into the steps you will need to take to make your dream of becoming a counselor a reality.Additional Information about Counseling Requirements in New Mexico
NM Counseling and Therapy Practice Board 2550 Cerrillos Road Santa Fe, NM 87504-5101 505-476-4610 http://www.rld.state.nm.us/boards/Counseling_and_Therapy_Practice.aspx Application fee: $75 Board Administrative fee: $25 LPCC License: $220 LPC Renewal fee: $150 LMHC License: $75 References: New Mexico Administrative CodeSource: http://www.rld.state.nm.us/boards/Counseling_and_Therapy_Practice.aspx