Wash. Admin. Code § 246-809-220 - Education requirements
(1) To meet the
education requirement for licensure as a mental health counselor or mental
health counselor associate, an applicant must have a master's or doctoral
degree in mental health counseling or a master's or doctoral degree in a
behavioral science field relating to mental health counseling from an approved
school. Fields recognized as relating to mental health counseling include
counseling, psychology, social work, nursing, education, pastoral counseling,
rehabilitation counseling, or social sciences. Any field of study qualifying as
related to mental health counseling must satisfy course work equivalency
requirements included in WAC
246-809-221. An official
transcript must be provided as evidence of fulfillment of the course work
required.
(2) Any supplemental
course work must be from an approved school.
(3) An applicant who holds a behavioral
science master's or doctoral degree in a related field may complete
supplemental course work through an approved educational program to satisfy any
missing program equivalencies. Postgraduate experience hours acquired
concurrently with the additional course work counts toward the supervised
postgraduate experience under WAC
246-809-230.
(4) A person who is a Nationally Certified
Counselor (NCC) or a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) through
the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) is considered to have met the
education requirements of this chapter. Verification must be received by the
department directly from NBCC.
(5)
An applicant is considered to have met the counseling practicum component of
the educational requirements if they:
(a) Have
held an agency affiliated counselor credential for the past year in good
standing; and
(b) Have used this
credential to complete at least 600 hours of supervised clinical experience
under a mental health professional. This experience must demonstrate competency
in applying principles of human development, learning theory, psychotherapy,
group dynamics, or dysfunctional behavior in the delivery of direct clinical
care.
Notes
Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.225 RCW. 09-15-039, § 246-809-220, filed 7/8/09, effective 7/8/09. Statutory Authority: 2001 c 251, RCW 43.70.250. 01-17-113, § 246-809-220, filed 8/22/01, effective 9/22/01.
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(1) To meet the education requirement for licensure as a mental health counselor or mental health counselor associate , an applicant must have a master's or doctoral degree in mental health counseling or a master's or doctoral degree in a behavioral science field relating to mental health counseling from an approved school. Fields recognized as relating to mental health counseling include counseling, psychology, social work, nursing, education, pastoral counseling, rehabilitation counseling, or social sciences. Any field of study qualifying as related to mental health counseling must satisfy course work equivalency requirements included in WAC 246-809-221. An official transcript must be provided as evidence of fulfillment of the course work required.
(2)Any supplemental course work must be from an approved school.
(3) Applicants who hold a behavioral science master's or doctoral degree in a related field may complete supplemental course work through an approved educational program to satisfy any missing program equivalencies . Postgraduate experience hours acquired concurrently with the additional course work counts toward the supervised postgraduate experience under WAC 246-809-230.
(4) A person who is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) or a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) through the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) is considered to have met the education requirements of this chapter. Verification must be received by the department directly from NBCC.
Notes
Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.225 RCW. 09-15-039, § 246-809-220, filed 7/8/09, effective 7/8/09. Statutory Authority: 2001 c 251, RCW 43.70.250. 01-17-113, § 246-809-220, filed 8/22/01, effective 9/22/01.