• A minimum of 60 semester hours of graduate level academic courses in counseling or a related field (can include 48 hour MA with CAGS, a second MA degree, or a Ph.D.)

• A practicum (minimum of 100 hours) - must include 40 direct client contact hours and 25 hours of supervision. The requirement for the practicum is met in the first semester (practicum semester) of the Fieldwork Placement.
  

  25 hours of supervision break down as follows:
  - 10 hours individual supervision (on site)
  - 5 hours group supervision (CP111 meets this requirement)
  - 10 hours either individual or group supervision (7 hrs met by CP111)

• An internship (minimum of 600 hours) - must include 240 direct client contact hours and 45 hours of supervision.

  45 hours of supervision break down as follows:
  - 15 hours individual supervision (on site)
  - 15 hours group supervision (CP111 meets this requirement)
  - 15 hours either individual or group supervision (7 hrs met by CP111)

• One 3 semester hour or 4 quarter hour graduate-level course in the following ten areas:
  1. Counseling Theories, Practice, and Techniques
  2. Human Psychology; Development; Behavior & Learning, and Personality Theory
  3. Psychopathology; Abnormal Psychology; Abnormal Behavior; Etiology; Dynamics and Treatment of Abnormal Behavior
  4. Social Cultural Foundations; Issues and Trends of a Multicultural & Diverse Society; Working with Minority Populations
  5. Helping Relationships; Counseling Skills, Procedures and Techniques
  6. Group Work, Dynamics, and Processes
  7. Special Treatment Issues (e.g. Pharmacology; Substance Abuse; School; Career Issues; Marriage and Family Treatment; Sexuality and Lifestyle Choices; Treating Special Populations)
  8. Appraisal; Psychological Assessment and Techniques
  9. Research and Evaluation
  10. Professional Orientation: Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling
  11. One or more elective courses in areas relevant to the knowledge and skills relevant to the practice of mental health counseling
  BGSP Coursework and Clinical Experience Meeting LMHC Requirements

• 3,360 Hours of Supervised, Post-Master’s Work Experience - 960 must be direct client contact hours and 130 must be hours of supervision. (Academic school counseling, vocational guidance services, industrial or organizational consulting services, teaching, and conducting research are excluded and will not count toward the post-master’s experience requirement)

• Passing Grade on the National Clinical Mental Health Examination (NCMHE)

Application for Licensure

The Exam

10 Clinical Mental Health Counseling Cases
+ Divided in 5-8 Sections
The exam will cover the following areas:

1. Evaluation and Assessment
2. Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
3. Clinical Practice

For more specific information on the exam and scoring, visit www.nbcc.org/ncmhce

Study Materials

http://www.nbcc.org/study

• AATBS: NCMHCE Independent Study Program (Simulated Practice Vignettes, Two CDs. Live Online Workshop and Free 1 hour Strategies Workshop also available.)

1. Website:  www.aatbs.com
2. (800) 472-1931

• Counselor Exam Review

1. http://www.ncereview.com/id33.html
2. 330-947-9330

• Arthur-Brende Scenario Simulator for the NCMHCE

1. http://www.counselorexams.com/
2. 888-326-9229

• Dr. Linton’s Online Study Prep for the NCMHCE

1. http://counselingexam.com/ncmhce/index.shtml

• NBCC’s Official Preparation Guide for the NCMHCE

1. http://www.nbcc.org/ncmhceprepform

• Psychotherapists Training Institute

1. Discover ExamAce: PTI’s on-line Practice Simulations
2. http://www.psychotherapiststraininginst.com/handbook.php

Free Study Materials Online

Question of the Day:  http://www.counselingexam.com/ncmhce/dayquestion/dayquestion.html
Sample Exam: http://www.counselingexam.com/ncmhce/exammail/exchange.html
Practice Questions: http://www.nbcc.org/sampquest
Sample Questions: http://www.psychotherapiststraininginst.com/examaceov.php

Workshops/Trainings

MaMHCA: Presented by the Professional Training Institute: http://www.mamhca.org/licprep.htm

1. LMHC Exam content review with topics such as: Diagnosis, Treatment Planning, Evaluation, Professional Practice, Counseling Theory, Human Growth and Development, etc. The workshop also focuses on test taking techniques and strategies. In addition, participants will receive the PTI Clinical Mental Health Counselor Handbook and Study Guide.
2. Fees: $400 for members of MaMHCA, $450 for non-members
3. Takes place on Thursday Evening, and all day on Friday and Saturday
4. Held at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA
5. Registration Deadline: 10 days before workshop, but workshops are limited to 30 participants*
6. Next workshop: March 12 - 14, 2009
   Upcoming workshops: June 4 - 6 2009, September 17 - 19, 2009
7. Register Online or call Deborah Bergstrom at 508-698-0010.

Other PTI Trainings (Not Exam-Specific!):

1. Working with the DSM-IVR
2. Essentials of Treatment Planning
3. Advanced Treatment Planning
4. Creating a Successful Professional Practice

http://www.psychotherapiststraininginst.com/ws.php

Test Registration

What’s Needed for Registration?

1. Completed Original Ink Registration Form
2. $185 Examination Fee (Check or Money Order Payable to NBCC, or Fill out Credit Card section on Registration form)
3. Official Sealed Transcript with Conferral Date of Master’s Degree (no faxes!)
4. Approximately Two Weeks of Patience as Paperwork is Processed by NBCC Assessment Dept

Submission Address:

Once Your Paperwork is Processed and You Receive Confirmation from NBCC:ted Orig

Licensure Examination Registration

1. You can register for an exam through AMP's website at www.goAMP.com or by phone at 888-519-9901.
2. Fees are good for 6 months

Test Registration Questions? Tel: 336-547-0607; E-mail: nbcc@nbcc.org; Web site: www.nbcc.org/stateboardmap
Test Locations in MA: Boston and Holyoke

Computer Based Examination Schedule for 2008/2009:

December ’08  12/01 – 12/06
January ’09      01/05 – 01/10
February ’09     02/02 – 02/07
March ’09         03/02 – 03/07
April ’09           04/13 – 04/18
May ’09            05/04 – 05/09
June ’09           06/01 – 06/06
July ’09            07/06 – 07/11
August ’09       08/03 – 08/08
September ’09 09/14 – 09/26
October ’09     10/05 – 10/10
November ’09 11/02 – 11/07
December ’09 12/07 – 12/12