Steps To Becoming A Licensed Mental Health Counselor In Florida

1 5 learn how to become a counselor and the different processes for counseling licensure in florida below.

Steps to becoming a licensed mental health counselor in florida.

The steps to becoming a mental health counselor require a lot of schooling many hours of clinical experience testing licensure and optional board certification. Once you ve become licensed you ll still need to complete continuing education requirements to keep your license valid. Most likely your degree would be a bachelor of arts ba or bachelor of science bs in psychology or a related field. You must complete the nce and receive a score that meets florida state requirements.

The first step in becoming a licensed mental health counselor is to obtain your bachelor s degree. You will need to apply with florida department of health to take your national counselor examination nce as administered by the national board of certified counselors nbcc. Five 5 years of clinical experience two 2 years of which can be earned during a post master s clinical internship with the remaining three 3 years of experience earned post licensure. The licensed mental health counselor credential is granted on the basis of education and examination that is specific to the mental health counseling discipline.

Apply for your license the final step is to apply for your license. Supervised practice is also required. Complete a master s degree including at least 1 000 hours of pre master s supervised clinical practicum and internship and at least 60 credit hours in the 12 required content areas. Minimum of an earned master s degree from a mental health counseling program accredited by the council for the accreditation of counseling and related educational programs cacrep that consists of at least 60 semester hours or 80 quarter hours of clinical and didactic instruction including the courses listed below.

Register with the florida board as an registered mhc intern. Earn your bachelor s degree. This is earned while registered as a registered mental health counselor intern. In florida over 36 000 individuals were employed as counselors as of may 2018 with over three quarters working as educational guidance school and vocational counselors or substance abuse behavioral disorder and mental health counselors.

The florida board of clinical social work marriage family therapy and mental health counseling was legislatively established to ensure that every clinical social worker marriage and family therapist and mental health counselor practicing in this state meet minimum requirements for safe practice the florida board of clinical social work marriage family therapy and mental health. Get an undergraduate degree.