The requirements for becoming a crisis counselor will be determined by your location. If you live in the United States, you must meet the American Institute of Health Care Professionals (AIHCP) criteria and apply for certification. Although the minimum educational requirements differ by state, experts recommend obtaining a master’s degree in counseling before becoming certified. After becoming certified, you must recertify every three years in order to continue working as a crisis counselor.
A course with at least 257 hours of instruction or study with an approved institution is the minimum educational requirement to become a crisis counselor. The AIHCP maintains a list of approved courses, but each application is reviewed on its own merits. The course must have been completed within the last five years before applying for certification, and proof of completion will be required. As long as the subject matter is related to counseling or human services, university or college courses, retreats, and distance study are all listed as acceptable.
You must also be a registered nurse, licensed social worker, health care professional, or a registered counselor or psychologist to work as a crisis counselor. Ministers and clergy, police officers, and emergency responders are all eligible to apply. If you have a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field, you are also eligible to apply. Although you may not need a degree to become certified, you should check the requirements of the state where you live.
After becoming certified, you must apply for re-certification every three years. For re-certification, the AIHCP requires a minimum of 50 hours of continuing education over a three-year period. You should contact the AIHCP for more information on the various requirements and fees.
If you want to work as a crisis counselor, you should think about whether this is a good fit for you. Working in this field entails dealing with people who have experienced traumatic events on a daily basis, and you’ll need good interpersonal and communication skills to help them. You should be able to remain calm in stressful situations and cope well with them. Most importantly, a crisis counselor should be able to listen well and assess the level of assistance required in each case.