Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Certificate (Post-Master’s)

Certificate in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Location: AU New England
Credits for Certificate: 9-15 semester credits
Standard Mode of Instruction: Distance
Standard time to completion: 24 months

This program is not designed to lead to state licensure.

Program Overview

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.  

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.

Current Tuition and Fees

University Tuition and Fees