Advanced Certificate in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

The Advanced Certificate in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a “licensure-qualifying” bridge program approved by the New York State Education Department (NYSED). In order to be admitted to the program, students must have a master's degree in counseling and specified core educational content areas as delineated in the state regulations for mental health counselor licensure. Students’ graduate transcript in counseling must reflect coursework in professional issues and ethics, counseling theories, human development, counseling skills, group work, assessment, and career development. Individuals must have a minimum of 60 graduate credits and in designated curriculum areas to qualify for licensure. All grades must be a B or better to be accepted. Depending on the number of credits in their master's degree program candidates may be required to take additional coursework from 18-24 credits to ensure meeting the state requirements of a minimum of 60 graduate credits. Upon candidates will have their transcript(s) reviewed by the department to ascertain the needed number of graduate credits required for the advanced certificate.Upon completion of the advanced certificate the individual will automatically meet the educational requirements for licensure as a mental health counselor in New York State. They will then be eligible to file for a “limited permit” and begin accruing the 3000 post master’s experiential hours required for licensure. They will also be eligible to file to take the licensure examination designated by the State. There is also the possibility that the Office of the Professions may accept experiential hours gained after the receipt of the individual’s master’s degree if the experience was in an approved setting under the supervision of a recognized licensed mental health professional.