When people talk about a counseling license, they usually mean a mental health counselor’s license. Other types of counselors may or may not be required to be licensed. Genetic counselors, academic counselors, vocational counselors, addiction (alcohol and drug) counselors, and a variety of other professionals fall into this category. Because the other counseling fields are so broad, and training and/or licensing for each of them varies greatly, this explanation will focus primarily on the licensing required for mental health counseling.
The main requirements for a counseling license can also differ from state to state and country to country. People seeking licensure in a specific state or country should always check with the licensing board in that state or country. Anyone seeking a counseling license in the United States should check both state and national licensing boards, as there can be slight differences.
In places like the United States, getting a counseling license usually starts with a bachelor’s degree in psychology or social work. It is not always necessary to major in one of these fields, and some people with different majors may be accepted into master’s level counseling programs. If they haven’t studied psychology or counseling as part of their bachelor’s degree, they may need to take a few introductory courses their first semester in a master’s program.
Students usually pursue a master’s degree in one of the following fields: psychology, marriage and family therapy, or social work. Some students pursue a doctorate in social work or psychology, which can help them become licensed as a counselor. Students usually complete 100 or more hours of supervised practical training as part of graduate school, and after graduation, many students must complete a lengthy internship under the supervision of licensed counselors. A minimum of 3000 practice hours is required for this internship, though psychologists may have a shorter internship.
The part that gets confusing is that once a degree is earned and internship hours are completed, different degrees in counseling typically mean people are licensed different boards. In California, for example, someone with a marriage and family therapist degree or a masters in social work is licensed the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. In California, however, a psychologist must obtain a counseling license from the California Board of Psychology. The various degrees that lead to licensure may result in very different licensing boards. The best way to figure out which board will require licensing is to speak with the graduate school where you are currently enrolled. Graduate programs are usually well-versed in responding to these inquiries.
Most counseling license requirements include a large number of supervised training hours and, in most cases, exams. These will require students to prepare. In order to complete their supervised training, some students must also take exams and obtain a temporary license. The best source for this information is a person’s graduate school.
A few types of counselors are permitted to practice without a “counseling license.” Psychiatrists do not need one, but they do need to be licensed to practice medicine, and they must usually pass board exams to be certified as a trained psychiatrist. A number of ministers also work as religious counselors or counselors in general. They may or may not be trained for this, though many are, but since it is a part of their job, they usually do not require a license.