AUNE Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Department of Clinical Mental Health Counseling

The Department of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) has a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited program preparing students to become licensed clinical mental health counselors. The program promotes the development of professional identity by encouraging an active and continuous examination of one’s self as an individual, one’s self as a professional counselor, and one’s self as a social justice advocate. The program is devoted to training students from diverse backgrounds, endorsing the principles of social justice by confronting oppression and injustice, and working with underserved populations. Students are prepared, as professional counselors, to work with individuals, groups, and social systems within a multicultural global community to promote mental health and well-being for all.

There are also several concentrations available within this Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree, and Post-Masters Certificates for practicing professionals in the field. These counseling programs intertwine rigorous academic coursework and experiential learning opportunities.

Students are required to fulfill the set of course, competency area, and internship/practicum requirements in effect for the semester and year they enrolled as a degree student. Please be sure to refer to the correct academic year when consulting these pages. If students have any questions as to which requirements they are governed by, please contact the Student Services office.

Special Requirements

Because these are programs of professional preparation, students must meet professional as well as academic standards. The Department of CMHC adheres to the code of ethics of the American Counseling Association and the American Mental Health Counselors Association. Students are required to maintain the ability to function in a professional capacity and seek help, when necessary, in managing their personal issues. Questions about personal/professional competence or ethical conduct will be discussed with students before any administrative action is taken. If resolution is not possible at the departmental level, the issues may be referred for more formal resolution through the Student Grievance Procedure. Policies and procedures employed by the programs in the Department of CMHC for evaluating academic, clinical, interpersonal effectiveness, and professional behavior can be found in the individual program handbooks.

Certification and Licensing

Graduates of the Department of CMHC may apply for professional credentials that recognize their level of training and experience. Credentials may be granted by national professional boards/organizations or by the regulatory boards of individual states. Generally, there are three levels:

Licensure

Licensure is a legislatively established form of regulation granted and administered by individual states. It may protect the practice of an occupation as well as regulate the use of a professional title. This makes it the most desirable credential, both for public protection (its primary purpose) as well as for members of that profession. Only states may grant licenses. State licensure establishes standards for insurance payers to use in identifying qualified practitioners. Examples of titles under current usage are licensed clinical mental health counselor, professional counselor, or licensed alcohol and drug addictions counselor.

Certification

Certification is a process of verifying one’s professional qualifications. State laws may establish certification; national professional organizations/boards may also certify. Most often this includes a written examination of one’s knowledge in the field. The National Board of Certified Counselors offers certification as a National Certified Counselor and several specialty certifications. Certification for drug and alcohol counselors is available both through professional organizations and through state certifying bodies. Certifications, memberships, and registries are not generally recognized by insurance payers, but are useful to the public in assessing a practitioner’s qualifications.

Registry or Roster

Registry or roster usually refers to a listing of those using a title or providing a service. Registries can be maintained by the profession or by the state. Some states require rostering in order to practice. The legislature in each state establishes the criteria for licensure and an appointed board determines an individual’s eligibility for licensure.

The Department of CMHC has designed its programs to be consistent with the standards of the representative professional organizations. Individual states, many of which base their legislation on professional organization standards, vary as to specific coursework, number of hours of supervised practice, supervisor qualification, and other required criteria. The Department recognizes the importance of licensing and certification as part of the preparation for professional practice and offers coursework and internships that allow students to achieve a licensable portfolio. However, because licensure is the sole province of the state regulating bodies, the Department cannot guarantee that students will be licensed or certified. It is the students’ responsibility to obtain their state’s regulations and to meet specific state requirements. This is especially important since some states require that all coursework be completed within the graduate degree program, and will not allow courses to be added at a later date. Additionally, board membership changes and new legislation may alter licensure requirements or interpretation of these requirements during a student’s program. It is the students’ responsibility to be aware of and to meet these requirements. The cost of any coursework over and above that required for the students’ program is the responsibility of the students including the cost of meeting any future changing regulations. Membership in state professional organizations and ongoing contact with licensing boards in their respective states will assist students in assuring their own eligibility for professional licensure. Core faculty members in the Department are available for advice and counsel on licensing matters but are not responsible for ensuring students’ readiness for licensure.

Changing State Licensing Requirements

AUNE, while not responsible for actions of external licensing agencies, does support both current master’s and doctoral degree students and graduates in meeting changing requirements. In doing so, we strive to be fair and consistent to all students. Therefore, if licensing requirements enacted by an external agency exceed the current degree requirements, the following options are available:

1. For current master’s or doctoral degree students: additional coursework to satisfy licensing requirements (either existing courses or SIS’s). Current students may use elective credits, or if necessary, study an additional semester at the current per-credit rate.
2. For graduates of master’s or doctoral degree programs: the opportunity to enroll as a non-matriculated student in either the appropriate course or, as an exception, in an SIS, at the following rate: 50% of the non-matriculated student master’s per credit tuition. This charge is less than the current per credit fee for matriculated master’s students.

Admission Requirements

Masters and Certificate Admissions Requirements

• Application
• Resume
• Essay
• 2 letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts from degree granting institution
• Interview

Current Tuition and Fees

University Tuition and Fees