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Psychology from ABD to Licensure
copyright 1999, 2000 Shoshana D. Kerewsky, Psy.D.
may be reproduced with this attribution only
"Counselor" is a broad and indeterminate category. In your state or province, there may be no general master's level licensure (but there may be educational requirements, degrees and titles that are required or restricted to practice without a license); or some master's degrees (but not others) may be eligible for license. You may not need a degree at all! Even if no license or degree is required, there are terms (such as "psychotherapist") and activities (such as "diagnosis") that may be restricted or fall under scope-of-practice limitations.
Since requirements are so variable, it is essential that you investigate your state or province's licensure law. Do not assume that these laws are similar across states!
Tarleton's site is a good entry point for counselors ("counselors," "personal counselors," "LPCs," "Certified Mental Health Counselors," etc.). Their list of professional organizations may be useful.
National Board for Certified Counselors has an extensive site that is useful for NCCs (National Certified Counselors). Please note that "NCC" is a credential, not a license. An NCC still needs a license if state/provincial law requires it. It also includes links to state boards, the exam(s) required by each state, and exam preparation resources. You might try this site as well (tell me if it's good, please). The NBCC Ethics are also available here.
Click on the links for
Tarleton's Marriage & Family Therapist Licensure page includes links on licensure and exams. Family Solutions Institute provides regulations by state.
AAMFT - American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
Exam prep and information may be found at AATBS.
Family Solutions Institute also provides exam materials.
Tarleton's Social Work Licensure page includes links on licensure and exams.
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) site includes
American Association of State Social Work Boards (AASSWB) has links to
Exam prep and information may be found at AATBS.
Exam prep and information may also be found at SWES and at Licensure Exams, Inc.
These may be specialty areas within another degree or certification.
AATA - American Art Therapy Association
ACA - American Counseling Association
AMHCA - American Mental Health Counselors Association (note: this page has a loop that makes it impossible to leave by using your back browser. Instead, leave by using a bookmark or pull-down list of sites visited recently).
CACREP - Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
Practice under some credentials may adhere to APA standards.
Please send me your comments, suggestions, and other Master's practitioner and specialty area resources. I'll review them for possible inclusion on this site. Thanks!