Counselor Licensing Requirements in Rhode Island
Counselor Licensing Requirements in Rhode Island will involve following the right path toward your professional counseling career. We have provided information on this page to assist you in the process.
In the state of Rhode Island, mental health counseling is classified as a separate field of counseling, and for that reason, it is licensed separately from all other mental health-related fields. In order to become a licensed counselor, you must have a graduate education that meets the unique criteria. You will need to complete the pre and post-degree supervised experience, as well as take the clinical mental health licensing examination.
The information below is a guide to the counseling licensure procedure in the state of Rhode Island. If you have any questions, contact the Rhode Island Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists. They can be reached at (401) 222-2828.
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Rhode Island Counselor Credential Titles
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)Rhode Island Counselor Educational Requirements
Master’s degree or higher specializing in counseling/therapy from a college/university accredited by the New England Association of Schools & Colleges or an equivalent regional accrediting agency. OR Master’s degree, certificate in advanced graduate studies, or doctoral degree in mental health counseling or allied field from a recognized educational institution. AND for both:Completion of 60 semester hours (or 90 quarter hours) (Master’s must be 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours) within the graduate counseling/therapy program, coursework in 8 core areas, a supervised practicum (12 semester hours), and one calendar year of a supervised internship consisting of 20 hours per week in counseling.
Rhode Island Counselor Experiential Requirements
2 years/2,000 hours of post-master’s direct client contact offering clinical or counseling or therapy services with emphasis in mental health counseling. To include 100 hours of post-master’s supervised case work spread over a 2 year period. Supervision must be under a board approved supervisor.Counseling Exams Required
NCMHCERequirements for Clinical Supervisors in Rhode Island
Licensed as a clinical mental health counselor, marriage and family therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist, or independent clinical social worker, with 5 years of clinical experience and successful completion of a graduate course in supervision in counseling OR is certified as a supervisor within their discipline OR has two years’ experience supervising staff in a clinical mental health setting.Requirements for Out of State Applicants
Licensure by endorsement: A license as a clinical mental health counselor may be issued, at the discretion of the board, without examination, to an applicant who is a clinical mental health counselor where the applicant is licensed or certified in another state, whose requirements are equivalent to or exceed the requirements established pursuant to this Act.Scope of Practice
“THE PRACTICE OF CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING” means the rendering of professional services to individuals, families or groups for monetary compensation. These professional services would include: a. Applying the principals, methods and theories of counseling and/or psycho-therapeutic techniques to define goals and develop a treatment plan of action aimed toward the prevention, treatment and resolution of social, mental, and emotional dysfunction and intra- or interpersonal disorders in persons diagnosed at intake as non-psychotic and not presenting medical problems; and b. Engaging in psychotherapy of a non-medical nature utilizing supervision when appropriate and making referrals to other psychiatric, psychological or medical resources when the person is diagnosed as psychotic or presenting a medical problem.Salary Outlook for Counselors in Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island offers a great environment for counselors to learn and grow. On top of that, the average counselor in the state takes home between $34,020 and $61,460 per year. Now that you are familiar with the counselor licensing requirements in Rhode Island, visit our How to Become a Counselor in Rhode Island 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 Licensing Requirements Rhode Island
RI Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage & Family Therapists 3 Capitol Hill Room 104 Providence, RI 02908-5097 401-222-2828 http://health.ri.gov/licenses/detail.php?id=228 If you have questions about the application process, you may call (401) 222-2828 or visit The Department of Health.Source: http://sos.ri.gov/