POST GRADUATION PLAN:
To secure licensure as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor after graduation, I will need to complete the following:
Educational Requirements for PC Licensure in Georgia
The applicant must have earned a master’s degree from an institution which, at the time the degree was awarded, was accredited by a regional body recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. The applicant must document graduate level coursework from such an accredited institution in order to demonstrate that the degree program is primarily counseling in content. However, Richmont Graduate University holds a CACREP accreditation, which ensures licensure upon completion of the master's program and a required NCE passing score.
Required Examinations for PC Licensure in Georgia
The applicant must present evidence of four (4) years of post-master’s directed experience under supervision in the practice of Professional Counseling in a work setting acceptable to the Board OR three (3) years of post-master’s directed experience under supervision in the practice of Professional Counseling in a work setting acceptable to the Board and a supervised counseling practicum or internship of at least 300 hours which was part of the graduate degree program.
In Georgia, the NCE (National Counselor Examination) is required for licensure. This exam is offered to students in their final spring semester at Richmont. Taking the exam while at Richmont gives students the opportunity to take the exam while academic content is fresh in their minds. This exam can also be taken after graduation by individual arrangement with the NBCC and the licensure board.
Board certified counselors must complete 3,000 hours of counseling experience and 100 hours of supervision both over a two year post-master’s time period unless they graduate from a CACREP accredited program.
Post Masters Required Experience - CMHC
After graduation, the applicant for licensure is required to obtain supervised experience as follows:
1800 hours of supervised experience
600 hours per year
90 hours of supervision
30 hours per year
Two years of this supervision must be by an LPC Supervisor with an LPC needs 3 years of post-licensure experience
Supervisor with a specialist degree must have 2 years of post-licensure experience
Supervisor with a doctoral degree must have 1 year of post-licensure experience
Post-Graduation Requirements for AMFT Licensure:
(a)Education. The applicant must have earned a master's degree from a program in marriage and family therapy, from a program equivalent to a marriage and family therapy degree program, or from any program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. Such program shall be in an educational institution which, at the time the degree was awarded, was accredited by a regional body recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.
(b)Practicum. The applicant must have completed a one year practicum in the practice of marriage and family therapy before or after the granting of the master's degree.
1. Such practicum shall include a minimum of 500 hours of direct clinical experience.
2. Such practicum shall include 100 hours of supervision provided by a licensed marriage and family therapist, professional counselor, clinical social worker, psychiatrist or psychologist, who was also an American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Approved Supervisor, a Georgia Board Approved Marriage and Family Therapy Supervisor, or a person who was receiving supervision-of-supervision in order to qualify for either designation.
(c)Contract. The applicant must register an acceptable contract for post-graduate experience and supervision with the Board.
1.Applicants who have not yet secured employment or begun supervision at the time of their application for licensure may indicate on the contract form that their plan for obtaining experience or supervision is not complete, provided that they submit a completed contract to the Board upon securing employment or beginning supervision
2. Once registered, any proposed change in the contract must be submitted to the Board for approval.
3. The Board, at its discretion, may request an update of the contract.
Post-Graduation Requirements for LMFT Licensure
A) The applicant must document two years of full-time post-master’s experience or its equivalent, under direction and supervision:
1. Such experience shall have been in the practice of marriage and family therapy and shall include a minimum of 2,000 hours of direct clinical experience.
2. For applicants who have worked less than full-time, equivalent experience may be accrued over a total of not less than two years and not more than five years.
B) The applicant must have obtained 100 hours of supervision; concurrent with his/her documented experience:
1. Such supervision shall have been provided by a licensed marriage and family therapist, professional counselor, clinical social worker, psychiatrist or psychologist;
2. A minimum of 50 of these 100 hours must have been in individual supervision and a maximum of 50 of these 100 hours may have been in group supervision.
C) The applicant is not required to re-take the Examination in Marriage and Family Therapy following Board approval of his/her application for licensure as a marriage and family therapist.