The Path to Licensed Behavioral Health Careers

CAREER EDUCATION PROGRAMS REQUIRED HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATE’S BACHELOR’S MEDICAL/ POST-GRADUATE SPECIALIZATIONS LICENSE DIPLOMA DEGREE DEGREE GRADUATE SCHOOL TRAINING

4 years 4 years of medical • Residency: 4 years • Addiction • UNMC1 (M.D., D.O.) Medical License school • Fellowship: 1 to 2 • Child & adolescent • Creighton years (optional) • Forensic University • Geriatric (residency) • Psychosomatic PSYCHIATRIST

4 years 2-3 years • Fellowship: • UNMC (Omaha & Physician Assistant (Includes clerkship/ 1 year (optional) Kearney) License rotation) • • PHYSICIAN

ASSISTANT PRESCRIBERS 4-year bachelor’s 2- to 3-year master’s • Child & adolescent • UNMC (MSN, Nurse Practitioner degree (BSN, RN) degree (MSN) mental health DNP) License nursing • Creighton OR OR • Gerontological- University (DNP) 12-month 3- to 4-year psychiatric nursing accelerated BSN doctorate (DNP) • Substance use PSYCHIATRIC if already hold disorders NURSE bachelor’s degree (Both include PRACTITIONER practicum)

4 years • 5-6 years (Ph.D. • Fellowship: • Clinical • UNL2 (Ph.D. in • Psychology License or Psy.D. 1 year • Counseling clinical, (required for professional • School counseling, practice of school) school, and Ed.S.) psychology) • School • UNO3 (psych MA, • Certification with psychologists can school psych State Department also complete a Ed.S.) of Education LICENSED 3-year Ed.S. • UNK4 (school (required for PSYCHOLOGIST (Both include psych Ed.S.) school psychology, internship) Ed.S.)

4 years 2-3 years • Individuals Master’s programs: • LMHP*/LIMHP* (Includes • Families • UNK • Optional: LADC*, practicum and • Children • UNO CPC* internship) • Couples • UNL • Group • Wayne State5 PROFESSIONAL • Chadron State6 MENTAL • HEALTH • COUNSELOR •

4 years 2 years • Rural mental • UNL Available licenses: (Includes health CMFT*, LMHP, practicum) • Tele-mental health LIMHP

MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPIST

4 years 2-3 years • Micro – individuals, • UNO (MSW) • LMHP (Includes families, children, • UNK (off-campus • Optional: LCSW*, practicum) couples, group, program) LADC, LIMHP etc. • Macro – policy, CLINICAL administration SOCIAL WORKER All of the following: OR all of the OR all of the OR all of the • Dual disorder (if Substance disorder LADC • High school following: following: following: also hold education programs: diploma • Associate’s • Bachelor’s degree • Master’s degree LMHP/LIMHP) • Bellevue University • 270 hrs. degree • 270 hrs. • 270 hrs. • CCC7 substance • 270 hrs. substance substance • MCC8 disorder substance disorder disorder • NCC9 education disorder education education • PSC10 11 SUBSTANCE • 6,000 hrs. education • 4,000 hrs. • 2,000 hrs. • SCC USE DISORDER supervised • 5,000 hrs. supervised supervised • UNO practice supervised practice practice • UNK COUNSELOR practice • Training for Addiction Professionals (TAP), Lincoln, NE

1 University of Medical Center * LMHP: Licensed Mental Health Practitioner 2 University of Nebraska–Lincoln * LIMHP: Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner 3 University of Nebraska–Omaha * LADC: Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor 4 University of Nebraska–Kearney * CPC: Certified Professional Counselor 5 * CMFT: Certified Marriage & Family Therapist 6 * LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker 7 Central Community College 8 Metropolitan Community College 9 Northeast Community College 10 unmc.edu/bhecn/career-pathways 11 Southeast Community College