Overview
In this career, your responsibilities may include:
- Providing support to individuals who have psychological, emotional, behavioral, or interpersonal issues
- Making diagnoses and developing treatment plans
- Listening to clients and offering guidance
- Specializing in certain therapeutic techniques or in treating certain populations
Job Titles
In your job search, you may find listings for this career under different titles. You can find some examples of these, as well as more information about this career, at CareerOneStop.
Academic Requirements
Typically requires a master’s degree.
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Certification
Certification is not required, but could make employers more likely to hire you or offer you a higher salary.
If you have a graduate degree or other qualifying advanced education, you may be eligible for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential from the National Board for Certified Counselors.
- The National Counselor Examination (NCE), one of the exam options for NCC certification, is also required for licensure in many states.
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Licensure
Licensure is required to work as a Mental Health Counselor. This licensure may be called by different names in different states, such as Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Specific requirements vary by state but typically include a period of supervised clinical experience and passing a licensure exam.
Contact us with any questions you might have.