Counseling Degrees & Licenses in Rhode Island

Mental health counselors in Rhode Island can be licensed as Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (LCMHC).

The requirements are:

• A passing NCMHCE exam score
• A completed application
• $70 application fee
• A completed CACREP accredited (or the equivalent) program. Non-CACREP approved programs must meet core course requirements. The program must be 60 semester credits and include a 12 semester credit hour practicum and a one-year internship of at least 20 hours of supervised practice per week.
• Proof of two years (2,000 hours) of supervised post-graduate work experience, including 100 hours of supervised casework

In Rhode Island, LMHC licenses expire on the first of July of even-numbered years.

Renewals cost $50 and must be accompanied by 40 continuing education hours, 20 of which must be formal courses.

The Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (RIDE) issues Support Professional Certificates to School Counselors.

For an initial certificate, candidates must:

• Have an advanced degree from a regionally accredited institution
• Complete a state-approved school counselor preparation program that includes a 300-hour internship
• Demonstrate that the education completed meets CACREP standards
• Pass the Praxis Professional School Counselor test
• Submit a completed application
• Pay $100 application fee

Upon completing three years of work experience in a Rhode Island public school, school counselors may apply for a professional certificate. They must submit an application and pay a $200 application fee.

Initial school counselor certificates issued by RIDE are only valid for three years and cost $100 to renew.

Professional certificates are valid for five years and cost $200 to renew.

Initial certificates must convert to a professional certificate or, if progress towards a five-year certificate is being made, may be extended for a year. They are also required to complete 30 professional learning units (PLUs) annually.

Professional certificate-holders are required to complete 20 PLUs annually, for a total of 100 per renewal cycle.

Rhode Island Certification Board (RICB)

The Rhode Island Certification Board (RICB) certifies Provisional Alcohol and Drug Counselors (PADC), Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADC), and Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CAADC).

PADC certificate candidates must:

• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Be currently employed and supervised as an addiction counselor
• Supply a current job description
• Complete one year and at least 2,000 hours of supervised work experience
• Have at least 150 hours of supervision with at least ten hours in critical domains
• Complete 140 hours of education in substance abuse disorders (six hours each in ethics, communicable disease, confidentiality, and medication-assisted treatment)
• Pay $200 application fee

CADC certificate candidates must:

• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Be currently employed and supervised as an addiction counselor
• Supply a current job description
• Complete three years and at least 6,000 hours of supervised work experience, depending on education (an associate’s degree requires 2.5 years and 5,000 hours, a bachelor’s degree requires two years and 4,000 hours, and a master’s degree requires one year and 2,000 hours)
• Complete supervision hours with at least ten hours in each of the critical domains, depending on education (high school graduate and GED holders need 300 hours; those with associate’s degree need 250 hours; those with a bachelor’s need 200 hours; and those with a master’s only need 100 hours)
• Complete 300 hours of education, with at least 120 in substance abuse disorders (six hours each in ethics, communicable disease, confidentiality, and medication-assisted treatment)
• Pass the ADC exam from the IC&RC
• Pay $350 application fee

CAADC certificate candidates must:

• Pass the AADC exam from IC&RC
• Have earned a master’s degree in a relevant field
• Be currently employed and supervised as an addiction counselor
• Supply a current job description
• Complete one year and at least 2,000 hours of supervised work experience
• Have at least 100 hours of supervision, with at least 10 hours in critical domains
• Complete 180 hours of education in substance abuse disorders (six hours each in ethics, communicable disease, confidentiality, and medication-assisted treatment)
• Pay the $350 application fee

CADC and CAADC certificates issued by the RICB must be renewed every two years. PADC may not be renewed as they are intended to be a stepping stone to higher certification. Renewals cost $150.

Counselors must complete 40 hours of continuing education, of which 30 hours must be substance abuse specific and three hours must be in ethics.

Rhode Island Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage & Family Therapists

Rehabilitation counselors in Rhode Island can be licensed as Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (LCMHC).

The requirements are:

• A passing NCMHCE exam score
• A completed application
• $70 application fee
• A completed CACREP accredited (or the equivalent) program. Non-CACREP approved programs must meet core course requirements. The program must be 60 semester credits and include a 12 semester credit hour practicum and a one-year internship of at least 20 hours of supervised practice per week.
• Proof of two years (2,000 hours) of supervised post-graduate work experience, including 100 hours of supervised casework

In Rhode Island, LMHC licenses expire on the first of July of even-numbered years.

Renewals cost $50 and must be accompanied by 40 continuing education hours, 20 of which must be formal courses.

The State of Rhode Island Department of Health licenses Applied Behavioral Analysts (LBA) and Applied Behavioral Assistant Analysts (LABA).

Requirements for licensing are:

• A completed application
• A BCBA or BCaBA certification (or be a licensed Rhode Island psychologist)
• A $150 application fee
• Proof of supervision, if the applicant holds a BCaBA
• A fingerprint criminal records check

LBA and LABA licenses issued in Rhode Island expire on July 1st of even-numbered years. The cost to renew either license is $150.

Renewal applicants must submit proof of continued BACB certification. Current BACB certification meets state continuing education requirements.

Marriage and family therapists in Rhode Island can be licensed as Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT).

The requirements are:

• A passing AMFTRB exam score
• A completed application
• $130 application fee
• A master’s degree or higher in marriage and family therapy from a regionally accredited institution
• A supervised practicum of 12 semester or 18 quarter hours
• Two years (2,000 hours) of supervised post-graduate work experience, including 100 hours of supervised casework

In Rhode Island, LMFT licenses expire on the first of July of even-numbered years.

Renewals cost $50 and must be accompanied by 40 continuing education hours, 20 of which must be formal courses.

Rhode Island Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage & Family Therapists

Child therapists in Rhode Island can be licensed as Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (LCMHC).

The requirements are:

• A passing NCMHCE exam score
• A completed application
• $70 application fee
• A completed CACREP accredited (or the equivalent) program. Non-CACREP approved programs must meet core course requirements. The program must be 60 semester credits and include a 12 semester credit hour practicum and a one-year internship of at least 20 hours of supervised practice per week.
• Proof of two years (2,000 hours) of supervised post-graduate work experience, including 100 hours of supervised casework

In Rhode Island, LMHC licenses expire on the first of July of even-numbered years.

Renewals cost $50 and must be accompanied by 40 continuing education hours, 20 of which must be formal courses.