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Certifications and Licensure for Counselors: Types, Requirements, Salary, Skills

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Ahana Bhaduri

Senior Content Specialist

Today, the world needs more people to hear each other out than to be there. That’s what a counselor does. A counsellor is a qualified professional who hears you out, analyzes your issues related to maybe your career, your mental health, or your marriage, and then advises you on solutions that can improve your overall conditions.

For becoming a counselor, you, yourself must be mentally healthy and should have a stable support system of your own to advise someone else about whatever he/she is going through. A counselor has a great responsibility toward his / her client as one bad piece of advice can lead to dramatic results and can create irreversible circumstances. 

Psychology courses are the go-to subjects that one should pursue in order to become a Counsellor. As per their choice, they can pursue both Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses in Psychology, or even can pursue a Ph.D. degree in Psychology. India is home to several top-ranking Psychology Colleges, that can be chosen from to pursue the course.

Who are Counselors

In simple words, a counselor is someone whose job is to listen and give advice to a person, couple, family, or group of an organization. Especially advice for those who are unable to deal with current ongoing situations or childhood fears and can’t maintain their mental well-being. Well, after getting a bachelor’s in sociology, psychology, social work, medical science, or nursing you may pursue a master’s or diploma in counseling in mental health or career counseling, or marriage counseling.

Types of Counselors

There are basically 5 broad classifications of Counselors. They are listed below for your reference,

  1. Licensed Professional Psychologist: A LPP is someone who is a professional, one with a doctoral or master's in mental health services providers, who practices and studies different normal and abnormal states of individuals including mental, emotional, and behavioral conditions related to one environment by using defined ways, observing the responses and interpreting them without adhering to his predictions of oneself.
  2. Licensed Guidance Counselor: A LGC works in the field of education guiding students with problems on the career level or family or personal issues. They may help students gain knowledge about different career paths and in selecting college and counseling. The LGC should know government education policies, foreign policies, and different career scopes.
  3. Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor: A LCAC works for a person, along with their family who is addicted to drugs, alcohol, or smoking, by analyzing and creating strategies and plans specific to that person to help that person recover. The counselor should understand, care, and be non-judgmental in helping an addict. They suggest ongoing therapy, assist improvement and provide necessary guidance.
  4. Marriage Counselor License: A counselor that helps couples, and families to improve their relationships and resolve conflicts by listening, observing, and communicating. They enable couples to speak to themselves and listen to others, help understand each other's feelings and normalize communication. They highlight the relationship’s difficulties and direct ways to turn an unhealthy relationship into a healthier one.
  5. Licensed Rehabilitation Counselor: LRC works on an individual who may have recently had an accident and is facing difficulties in getting back his life on a normal track. They work on various disabilities that one has and use different defined ways to rehab oneself to his old life. They try to create a bridge between a disabled person and a normal life that he may lead shortly.

Certifications and Licensure of Counselors

Some of the main licensure requirements for Counselors are listed below,

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

The requirements to become an LPC include:

  • · A graduate and master's degree in counseling (or one with a major in counseling) from an accredited Institute. 
  • · Must have passed the National Counselor Exam (NCE) and National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE).

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

  • First, of first, Earn a relevant graduate and master's degree in Counseling Psychology.
  • The candidate should have passed the required examination of the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Exam (NCMHCE) or the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE).

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

  • They must have a master’s degree in psychology or nursing and obtain a certain amount of training under a professional counselor. 
  • Must have passed the counseling exam; The National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Exam (NCMHCE) or the National Counselor Examination (NCE)

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor of Mental Health (LPCC)

  • Applicants who have a relevant graduate, master's, and doctorate in Mental health Counseling from an authorized University. 
  • The candidate must have passed the counseling exam; The National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Exam (NCMHCE) or the National Counselor Examination (NCE) by NBCC.

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)

  • The Candidate must have completed graduation and postgraduate degree with internship experience.
  • The candidate passed the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). Also, can pursue NBCC (National Board of Certified) certification. 

Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP)

  • The Candidate must have completed graduation and postgraduate degree with internship experience.
  • The applicant has passed licenses such as NCE or NCMHCE.

Read More: Certification and Licensure for Counselors Revision Notes pdf

Counseling Certification Requirements

Some of the major requirements for the above-mentioned Certifications are mentioned below,

  • The applicant should be an Undergraduate in psychology, social science, or medical and nursing fields.
  • Master's degree from an authorized University in the field you are interested to pursue further.
  • The applicant must have specific certifications from National or state bodies.
  • Internship experience of respected Counseling Certifications and Licensure. 

Counseling Certification Salary

The average salary for Counseling Certifications has been tabulated below for your reference,

Counselor type Average Monthly Salary (INR)
Licensed Professional Psychologist 40,000 
Licensed Guidance Counselor 33,051 
Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor 42,394 
Marriage Counselor License 49,586 
Licensed Rehabilitation Counselor 42438 

Certifications and Licensure For Counselors: FAQs

Ques. What certifications should a counselor have?

Ans. Bachelor in psychology and relevant field with a master’s in counseling and experience in counseling under professional supervision for definite hours. A passing score in the National or board exam for specializations.

Ques. What’s the difference between a therapist and a counselor?

Ans. The therapist is a regulated practice while counseling is not. The main difference lies in education, training, and licensing.

Ques. Can I be a counselor without a degree?

Ans. Mental health specialists must have a degree before practicing. However, some degrees in counseling do not require a degree. It includes alcohol and drug counselors, peer counselors, career counselors, etc.

Ques. What types of counselors get paid the most?

Ans. School counselors are the most paid counselors followed by career counselors, marriage counselors, and family and mental health counselors.

Ques. How many years does it take to become a counselor?

Ans. It depends on different specialties; however, it takes three to five years on average.

Ques. Are counselors high in demand?

Ans. The demand for mental health counselors is supposed to be raised by 25% by 2029; the reason being aware of mental health.

Ques. Can I get a counseling degree online?

Ans. At the bachelor's level, you can have an online degree but at the post-graduation level, it’s better to have on-site work experience.

Ques. How long is PWP training?

Ans. It typically consists of 45 days of training alongside supervised practice for certain hours.

Ques. Which is better: a therapist or a counselor?

Ans. The counselor is involved in short-term treatment while the counselor is involved in planning strategies that are indeed for a longer period.

Ques. What are some examples of certifications an LPC can get?

Ans. Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Clinical Professional, Counselor, and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor are some examples.

Ask your question

Answered Questions

AG

Arshita Goyal

07 Oct 22

Delhi University provides a wide range of courses in all disciplines, as well as top-tier faculty and infrastructure. B.A. (Honors) in Psychology ranked highly on the list of best Art courses at Delhi University. The programme includes in-depth study in Psychology with Research, as well as practical papers and workshops.

The following is a list of the top ten DU Colleges for Psychology (Honors)

  1. Lady Shri Ram College For Women- Lady Shri Ram College for Women provides courses in all disciplines. LSR is the best art college in the country, and it is consistently ranked first for its faculty and educational excellence.

  2. Jesus And Mary College- JMC is a prestigious educational institute affiliated with the University of Delhi. For a long time, the college has been ranked as a top college for Art courses.

  3. Mata Sundari College For Women- It is a supreme institute for girls to obtain degrees in graduate and postgraduate studies. This college provides the most assistance in Psychology (Hons).

  4. Indraprastha College For Women - Indraprastha College for Women is a women's college that is ranked among the top colleges in the country for Psychology (Hons) and has the best faculty in the field.

  5. Kamla Nehru College- Kamla Nehru College is located on the south campus. This is the best college for courses in Arts, Commerce, and Science, and it is ranked first in the country for Art courses.

  6. Gargi College- This is an all-girls college in New Delhi's south. The college is best known for its outstanding faculty and departments.

  7. Zakir Husain College - This is a well-known Delhi University institution. The college has been ranked first in the nation for providing excellence in Psychology.

  8. Keshav Mahavidyalaya- It is an off-campus college that ranks first on the University's list of best colleges. The college has also received numerous awards for its educational and research programmes.

  9. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College- The college is ranked ninth on the list of best colleges for Psychology (Hons). It has also received numerous awards for its excellence in education and faculty.

  10. Daulat Ram College For Women - DRC is a women's college that offers courses in science, commerce, and the arts. This college is one of the best in the country for Psychology (honors).

For the PG courses, there are North and South campuses. North Campus offers an MA in Psychology, while South Campus offers an MA in Applied Psychology. 

Every year, entrance exams for these courses are held, and the competition is fierce. The exam is of the objective variety. They call you for an interview if you pass the entrance exam, i.e. score the minimum qualifying marks (75% this time). Following the interview, a merit list is created. Because Psychology is the most sought-after course at DU, the bar is set fairly high.

...Show More

SV

Sarita Varshney,

01 Nov 21

No, it is not a good university for B.Sc. in Psychology. For this course, you should apply to a central or state university which will be better than a private university. 

The university is very expensive, you will know this after you get admission because there are many recurring charges which are later revealed. 

Go for a government university in Jaipur or in your area where you will get proper exposure which is important for your growth and future prospects. They will also have good faculties and your education cost will be minimal.

...Show More

AG

Aditi Ghose

30 Nov 21

Loreto is a better option for doing a B.Sc degree in Psychology. Loreto offers great academics. The faculties are well-qualified and helpful. They will help you with your doubts even after class. However, you should know that Loreto is quite strict regarding its rules and regulations. If you don’t have any issues with their rules, you can easily fit in. 

...Show More

RC

Reeti Chakraborty,

18 Nov 21

Yes, you can get admission in B.Sc Psychology at Bethune College as a number of students leave their seats for better colleges. You can then try to get a seat during the second, third or fourth cut-off list.

Bethune College has highly qualified faculty members but the classes are not conducted regularly. Sometimes they even fail to complete the syllabus. But if we ignore these flaws, they are quite brilliant as educators.

If you're joining this college, make sure you can study by yourself because you will not get constant attention from teachers. Bethune College will provide you with a better experience. In Bethune, you will develop both academically and holistically. Overall it is a great institution to be a part of.

...Show More

JT

Jayant Thakur

31 Dec 22

What truly distinguishes universities such as DU, JNU, and BHU is their brand value and large alumni base. It's as if they've created a brand, particularly for social science courses. A degree from it is valuable in and of itself. Second, while faculty may be similar in some ways, exposure at DU is unparalleled. You will learn a lot.

MSU Baroda is a great university with a vibrant past and a strong alumni base, but in the current scenario, good colleges of DU stand out. But, yes, you must work hard and take the initiative to learn and gain knowledge wherever you study because, in the end, it is the knowledge you acquire that counts.

...Show More

LD

Lagnajita Dasgupta

28 Feb 22

Yes, if you have a background in Psychology, you can easily apply for BSc in Psychology. Economics is one of the electives offered for this course. You can opt for other electives as well, such as Education Human Rights Sociology, English, Hindi, Bengali, Political Science, Mathematics. 

...Show More

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