Post-Master’s Certificate in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Foster strong interpersonal bonds.

This Post-Master’s Certificate in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) is open to those who already hold a master’s degree in Counseling yet do not meet the current educational requirements for licensure as a clinical mental health counselor or licensed professional counselor in their state. This certificate allows counselors with specializations in other areas (e.g., school, career, vocational rehabilitation counseling) to gain the additional specialized academic courses currently required for professional counseling licensure. The certificate is 9-15 credits, depending on the number of courses the student needs for licensure.  Students can choose from among the following:

This certificate is offered by AU New England

Program Overview

Enrollment in this certificate program begins with a review of prior graduate transcripts and professional goals outlined in the essay. As required in the essay, students must demonstrate knowledge about their state’s licensing board requirements and the courses needed. Depending on professional, educational, and clinical backgrounds, credit requirements will vary for enrolled certificate students (e.g., certificate may be anywhere from 9-15 credits).  Students will be enrolled based on current availability for the semester and provided with a certificate program plan outlining course and credit requirement upon admission. Those needing more than 15 credits for licensure are encouraged to apply to the CMHC’s 60 credit hour CACREP accredited master’s Program. All Post-Master’s Certificate students completing more than 9 credits are required to complete the program’s orientation within or before the first semester, this is a 0 credit, 0 cost orientation that has vital information about the program. While this certificate may provide the academic requirements for licensure, completing the certificate does not guarantee licensure. Graduates of this certificate program may still need to meet additional state requirements that include passing a licensure exam, background checks, completion of post-master’s clinical supervision requirements, etc. Students will need to work with their state licensure board for specific requirements. Total Credits for the Post-Master’s Certificate in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – 9 to 15 credits.

Certificate Requirements

Plan of Study Students can choose from among the following (minimum of 9 credits):

• COUN-5222  Career Counseling Development (3)
• COUN-6062  Social/Cultural Diversity (3)
• COUN-6902  Research & Evaluation in Counseling (3)
• COUN-5502  Diagnosis and Treatment (3)
• COUN-6122  Addictions Counseling (3)
• COUN-6422  Couple and Family Counseling (3)
• COUN-5262  Human Growth and Development (3)
• COUN-5142  Assessment and Testing (3)
• COUN-6032  Professional Orientation and Ethics (3)
• COUN-5502  Diagnosis and Treatment (3)

Those admitted to the Post-Master’s Certificate in CMHC are eligible to take any electives offered by the CMHC Program at AUNE.