Ohio Counselor Licensing Requirements
Counselor Licensing Requirements in Ohio are specific, but with the right dedication and focus, you can get it done. We are here to detail for you the major steps to be taken. The following information outlines the steps that can be taken toward satisfying licensing requirements to work as a counselor in Ohio.
Ohio certifies counselors at several levels. When you’ve completed all of the requirements, including your supervised practice, you’ll have achieved the highest possible level of licensing, which is the Clinical Professional Counselor. Meanwhile, while you’re finishing up your post-graduate supervised practice requirements, you are considered to be a Professional Counselor.
If your initial education is with the state, chances are, you will be asked to register as a Counselor Trainee.
All credentials require a formal background check. Any credential beyond trainee will necessitate a graduate degree and an examination process.
All the information that follows is intended to be a reference guide. If you have questions, please contact the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage & Family Therapist Board. Their number is 614-466-0912.
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Ohio Counselor Credential Titles
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) Professional Counselor/Clinical Resident (CR) Title used while completing the 3,000 hours of supervised experience required for the LPCC license. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Title used after completing coursework including practicum and internship. Registered Counselor Trainee (RCT) Title used while enrolled in a practicum or internship in a counselor education program.Ohio Counselor Educational Requirements
Master’s degree or higher in counseling from a CACREP-accredited program, Graduates of a Non-CACREP program must submit their transcripts for evaluation and approval by the Counselor Professional Standards Committee. Beginning 1/1/18, all in-state applicants must hold a degree from a CACREP-accredited program; out-of-state applicants with Non-CACREP degrees may continue to submit transcripts for evaluation and approval.100 hour practicum and 600 hour internship required.
Ohio Counselor Experiential Requirements
LPCC – Must already possess the 1st-level LPC credential; and 2 years/3,000 hours of post-master’s clinical counseling experience under the supervision of an LPCC holding the supervision credential. 50% must be clinical experience. The supervision must include the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders; 50% of the time must be face-to-face contact delivering clinical counseling services. Supervisor will fill out an evaluation to evaluate competence to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders.Ohio Counseling Exams Required
LPCC – NCMHCE LPC – NCE And OH jurisprudence examOhio Requirements for Out of State Applicants
(A) An applicant requesting licensure as a professional counselor or professional clinical counselor via endorsement shall submit to the board all of the following: 1.) A completed licensure application for the level of licensure for which the applicant is seeking licensure; 2.) The required fee; 3.) An official statement, which indicates applicant is currently licensed, certified, registered, or otherwise authorized to practice as a professional counselor or professional clinical counselor in another jurisdiction; 4.) An official statement from any and all jurisdictions where the applicant is currently or has been previously licensed, certified, registered, or otherwise authorized to practice as a professional counselor or professional clinical counselor indicating whether the applicant is in good standing and whether disciplinary action has been taken or is pending against the applicant; 5.) All transcripts of undergraduate and graduate education, if any; 6.) If the applicant has taken another jurisdiction’s professional counselor or professional clinical counselor licensure exam, documentation of whether the applicant passed that exam; and 7.) Any additional documentation requested by the board that would assist the board in making a determination based on paragraphs (B)(1) to (B)(7) of this rule. (B) The counselor professional standards committee may consider the following factors to determine whether to grant the applicant a license via endorsement: 1.) Whether the applicant possesses a degree in counseling awarded by an appropriately accredited institution whose program is clearly identified as a counseling program that confers a counseling degree; 2.) Whether the applicant’s coursework is substantially similar to Ohio’s requirement for licensure; 3.) Whether the hourly amount of applicant’s degree coursework is substantially similar to Ohio’s requirement for licensure; 4.) Whether the applicant has passed a state professional counselor or professional clinical counselor licensure exam that is substantially similar to Ohio’s examination; 5.) Whether the applicant for professional clinical counselor has substantially equivalent supervised experience required by Ohio for licensure; 6.) Whether the applicant’s license is in good standing in another jurisdiction and whether applicant has been disciplined in another jurisdiction; and 7.) The number of years the applicant has practiced as a professional counselor or professional clinical counselor in another jurisdiction.Ohio Scope of Practice
“SCOPE OF PRACTICE FOR A PROFESSIONAL CLINICAL COUNSELOR” A professional clinical counselor may for a fee, salary, or other considerations: a. Engage in all practices, principles, methods, and procedures permitted under the scope of practice for a Professional Counselor. b. Engage, as a private practitioner, in the unsupervised diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders as defined in division (F) of section 4757.01 of the Revised Code. c. Independently, as an employee of an agency, without supervision, perform or approve a diagnosis and/or develop or approve a treatment plan as required for record keeping, insurance purposes, accreditation, or governmental requirements. d. Provide work supervision for professional counselors, social workers, social worker temporaries, assistant social workers, and marriage and family therapists; and supervision of chemical dependency counselors and prevention specialists as specified in chapter 4758 of the Revised Code; and training supervision for students, registered counselor trainees and registered clinical residents. “CLINICAL COUNSELING PRINCIPLES, METHODS, OR PROCEDURES” means an approach to counseling that emphasizes the counselor’s role in systematically assisting clients through all of the following: assessing and analyzing background and current information, diagnosing mental and emotional disorders, exploring possible solutions, and developing and providing a treatment plan for mental and emotional adjustment or development. “Clinical counseling principles, methods, or procedures” includes at least counseling, appraisal, consulting, and referral. “SCOPE OF PRACTICE FOR A PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR” A professional counselor as a private practitioner or an employee of an agency may for a fee, or salary, or other considerations: a. “Engage in the practice of professional counseling,” means to render to individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public counseling services involving the application of clinical counseling principles, methods, or procedures to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, or career development and adjustment. The practice of professional counseling does not include the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders unless the individual is licensed as a professional clinical counselor or is supervised by a professional clinical counselor, a psychologist, psychiatrist, or an independent social worker. b. “Apply clinical counseling principles, methods, and procedures,” means an approach to counseling that emphasizes the counselor’s role in systematically assisting clients through all of the following: Assessing and analyzing emotional conditions, exploring possible solutions, and developing and providing a treatment plan for mental and emotional adjustment or development. It may include counseling, appraisal, consulting, supervision, administration and referral. c. Provide diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional conditions not attributable to mental and emotional disorders as defined in division (F) of section 4757.01 of the Revised Code. d. Engage in the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders as the employee of a private practitioner or an agency when under the supervision of a professional clinical counselor, psychologist, psychiatrist, or independent social worker. e. Provide training supervision for students and registered counselor trainees when services are within their scope of practice, which does not include supervision of the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.Salary Range for Counselors in Ohio
In the state of Ohio, being a counselor can be both mentally and fiscally satisfying. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a counselor in the state of Ohio will earn between $40,200 and $64,990 per year, in addition to changing the lives of individuals in their communities. Now that you are familiar with the counselor licensing requirements in Ohio, visit our How to Become a Counselor in Ohio 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 Counselor Licensure in Ohio
OH Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage & Family Therapist Board 77 South High St. 24th Floor Room 2468 Columbus, OH 43215-6171 614-466-0912 http://cswmft.ohio.gov/Source: http://codes.ohio.gov