M.A. in Counseling Psychology
Licensure
Licensure is important for professional practice as a mental health professional and the Counseling Psychology Program is designed to prepare graduates to meet the educational requirements for licensure as a Mental Health Counselor in Massachusetts and most other states. The legislature in each state establishes the requirements for licensure and the licensing board determines if an individual’s education and supervised experience meets their requirements. In addition to specific educational requirements, the licensing regulations require that individuals complete a minimum of two years post-masters degree supervised clinical experience and pass a licensing exam.
Licensing standards continue to evolve and a state’s licensing regulations change from time-to-time. Even though the Counseling Psychology Program offers coursework and supervised practicum and internship experiences that allow students to compile a licensable portfolio, the program cannot guarantee licensure. Ultimately, the state licensing board determines whether an individual satisfies the licensure requirements.
The faculty in the Counseling Psychology Program will assist students in planning their graduate plan of study to meet the current educational requirements for licensure and will provide information and guidance about the current licensing regulations. However, as noted above, these regulations change sometimes or the licensing board may change its interpretation of these regulations if the board’s membership changes. As a result, students should be aware of the requirements stated in the most current version of Massachusetts 262 CMR 2.00 requirements for licensure as a Mental Health Counselor. Students interested in eventually applying for licensure should select courses in a manner that is consistent not only with the Department program requirements, but also the content areas required by the Licensing Board. Copies of Massachusetts 262 CMR 2.00 Requirements can be downloaded from the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health Professionals web site at www.mass.gov/dpl/ boards/mh/cmr/26202.htm.
For students who are interested in applying for licensure in other states, the Counseling Psychology Program faculty will provide assistance in locating and understanding the licensing regulations for those states. The faculty also will provide assistance in developing an educational plan of study that will allow students to compile a portfolio that can be submitted to the licensing board in other states.