Conquering the Licensure Exam
This type exam is required for state licensure in many states and is multiple choice with questions covering eight content areas to test competency.
What is the National Counselor Exam (NCE)
This is a proposed agreement between states designed to allow licensed counselors to practice across state lines more easily.
What is known as the Counseling Compact
This item is a helpful resource as it outlines field experience policies, procedures, services, information and requirements for students in the clinical mental health, school counseling, and marriage, couple, and family tracks.
What is the Graduate Program in Counseling Practicum and Internship Handbook
After completing your graduate counseling degree at Messiah university, you will need to accumulate these under the supervision of a licensed professional as this will assist you with working towards independent licensure.
What are Post-Graduate Hours
This manual is one that counselors should be familiar with and be skilled at using as it will assist them with properly diagnosing mental health disorders in clinical practice.
What is the DSM-5-TR
This is the organization that prospective counselors would need to visit to sign up for a national counselor licensure exam.
What is the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
If a counseling professional is applying for a counseling license in a state where you haven't been licensed previously or don’t qualify for endorsement, the individual will need to go this route in order to become licensed in the state they desire.
What is Licensure by Examination (i.e., passing a state-recognized licensure exam)
Students must complete this document within the designated period to declare their intent to complete any field experience course, and once this document is submitted, a seat will be saved for you in the course.
What is a Pre-Registration Form
These type of hours allow you to provide counseling services to clients and are required by each state as you accrue hours after earning your counseling degree.
What are Direct Hours
This practice, which involves taking intentional breaks and engaging in activities that promote mental health, is essential to avoid counselor burnout.
What is Self-care
This examination is unique as it is case study based and used to test competency of clinical mental health counselors; however, not every state requires this exam.
What is the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination
This process allows counselors who are already licensed in another state to apply for licensure in a new state without having to repeat the entire licensure process.
What is Licensure by Endorsement
These two important individuals at Messiah University are important to know as they are the best resources for inquiring about field experience (i.e., Practicum, Internship 1, and Internship 2).
Who are Amy Cook (The Practicum and Internship Coordinator), and Rebecca Yohe (The Administrative Assistant to Practicum & Internship)
This is a critical component and a requirement while accruing hours after you obtain your degree. During this time you are provided guidance, feedback, and this activity helps with ensuring you are practicing ethically and effectively.
What is Supervision
This is a professional relationship in which a more experienced counselor provides guidance and support to a less experienced one, often focused on improving skills, navigating cases, and addressing ethical dilemmas.
What is a Supervisory Relationship
This is a helpful resource to assist counselors-in-training or prospective counselors with preparation for the NCE and that could increase their potential for passing the exam.
What is the Encyclopedia of Counseling by Howard Rosenthal
This type of licensure process will automatically accept your out-of-state license if it meets certain criteria.
What is Reciprocity
This particular course is extremely helpful as it helps students with understanding field experience, and completing all the required documentation to move forward with their field experience.
What is the Pre-Practicum course
While accruing hours after earning your degree, counseling professionals are required to engage in this special activity to remain current with best practices, to be aware of prevalent issues impacting the counseling profession, and may be required to renew your credentials at the state and/or national level.
What is Continuing Education
When counseling minors, this approach uses play, art, and other creative modalities to help children express themselves and work through emotional challenges.
What is Play Therapy
Some states allow counseling students to take this licensure exam before graduation, but they generally must have completed a certain amount of their counseling coursework (often around 48-60 semester hours). However, this exam requires that candidates have a completed degree in counseling or a related field although they may allow students to take it shortly before graduation, but the degree must be conferred before they officially sit for the exam.
What is the NCE, and then the NCMHCE
Many states have specialty licenses, such as LMFT, LMHC, LPC, LPCC, and so forth. When exploring these licenses and other specialties, professionals should look at this specific place first.
What is the State Licensure Board
While going to your field experience site, it is required that students are enrolled in these courses.
What are the field experience courses (i.e., there are sections for each specialty area)
Although states vary in the number of hours required to obtain your independent license, the number of hours can range anywhere between 3,000 to 4,000 hours, and may take approximately this long to complete.
What are 2-3 years
These are professional events where counselors gather to exchange knowledge, learn new skills, and develop connections with others in the field.
What are Conferences, Trainings, and/or Workshops