COMPARISON OF MINIMUM CLINICAL AND LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS IN NEW YORK STATE Prepared by the New York Counselors Association (NYMHCA.ORG)

FIRST LEVEL ADVANCED LEVEL MINIMUM MENTAL HEALTH LICENSED MASTER LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH LICENSED CLINICAL REQUIREMENTS COUNSELOR WITH SOCIAL WORKER COUNSELOR SOCIAL WORKER LIMITED PERMIT EDUCATION Masters degree in Mental Health Masters degree in Social Masters degree in Mental Health Masters degree in Social (completed) Counseling – 60 credit hours in Work – 60 credit hours in Counseling – 60 credit hours in SED- Work – 60 credit hours in SED-approved program or SED-approved program approved program or equivalent SED-approved program or equivalent equivalent or equivalent

Specific content areas must No required clinical Majority of 60 credit hour program Minimum of 12 hours of include assessment, education or clinical is required to be focused on clinical clinical coursework including psychopathology, group skill practice education and preparation assessment and diagnosis, dynamics, counseling theory treatment and and skill practice, career practice development No additional clinical internship required beyond original Master’s INTERNSHIP 600 clock hours of supervised 900 clock hours of degree No additional clinical internship (completed) internship and clinical instruction supervised internship in required beyond original – with mental health counseling social work practice - masters degree as required focus. clinical mental health No longer needed - permit is replaced focus is NOT required by license after experience and exam LIMITED PERMIT Required – work site must be requirements are met Not required. approved by SED/OP prior to N/A counting hours toward licensure. Permit granted only to persons who meet all but additional experience beyond masters degree and LMHC exam EXPERIENCE Minimum of 600 clock hours No clinical mental health 3,000 clock hours (not including 2,000 client contact hours over (completed) during internship must have had experience necessary internship hours) over 2 years of 3 – 6 years of supervised mental health counseling as supervised experience in a SED- experience in SED-approved focus. approved setting. Supervision by setting. Supervision by LCSW, LMHC, LCSW, licensed , licensed psychologist or , psychiatric nurse or psychiatrist physician’s assistant EXAMINATION Must pass comprehensive Must pass LMSW exam - Must pass LMHC exam – National Must pass LCSW exam – Assn. exam within masters Assn. of Social Work Boards Clinical Mental Health Counselor of Social Work Boards degree program (ASWB) Exam (NCMHCE) (ASWB) ADDITIONAL Child Abuse Reporting Training Child Abuse Reporting Child Abuse Reporting Training Child Abuse Reporting Training REQUIREMENT Training To view these requirements on the New York State Education Department’s website go to: www.op.nysed.gov rev. 4/11 (k)