Licensure & Certification

Licensure

Certification

 

Licensure

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC):

All community counseling graduate students in the department complete a 60 hour master's degree and coursework required of Licensed Professional Counselors.   Licensure as a LPC demonstrates that Licensed Professional Counselors are legitimate mental health professionals.  Becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor also entitles counselors to establish private practices and to become eligible for 3rd party insurance payments.   Counselors employed in agency settings do not have to be licensed in order to practice.

Graduates must accumulate two years of supervised post-master's-degree work experience prior to applying to become a Licensed Professional Counselor. A passing score on the NCC examination also is required by the Mississippi LPC Board.  Often students prefer to take the NCC examination as soon as possible, while their course work is "fresh on their minds."  Graduating  students may be eligible to take the local administration of the NCC examination.  Contact the department for further information about the graduate student administration of the NCC examination.

Specific information about becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor may be obtained from:

MS State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors
419 East Broadway
Yazoo City, MS 39194
1-888-860-7001
1-662-716-3932
FAX:  (662) 751-4628

Licensed Psychologist

The practice of psychology is protected by state laws and regulations administered by each state's professional licensing board. Ph.D. Graduates of the School Psychology program who are interested in becoming licensed psychologists must request permission to take written and oral examinations administered by the Mississippi State Board of Psychological Examiners.   Two years of post doctoral supervision is required.

Additional information about becoming a Licensed Psychologist may be obtained from:

Mississippi Board of Psychology
419 East Broadway
Yazoo City, MS 39194
1-888-693-1416
662-716-3934
FAX:  (662) 751-4628

Standard Educator License:

School Guidance Counselor

School counseling graduate students who hold the standard educator license are required to complete a traditional 600 hour internship as part of their graduate studies. School counseling graduate students who do not hold the standard educator license are required to complete an academic year of field placement (a 600 hour [minimum] academic year practicum, and a 600 hour [minimum] academic year internship) and  as part of their graduate studies.
Mississippi Department of Education
Central High School
P.O. Box 771
359 North West Street
Jackson, MS 39205
(601) 359-3513 		 MDE Licensure Office
Central High School
P.O. Box 771
359 North West Street
Jackson, MS 39205
(601) 359-3483		 Mississippi Standard Educator License:
Application Procedures

School Psychometrist

In order to be licensed in psychometry, students should complete the M.S. program and pass examinations established by the Mississippi Department of Education.  The AA licensure in psychometry will allow students to work in the Counseling and School Psychology lab as they pursue their degree. Students who do not meet minimum test score requirements of the state department's requirements for AA licensure by their third year in the program will be advised to withdraw from the program.

The M.S. degree program in Psychometry
 

Mississippi Department of Education
Central High School
P.O. Box 771
359 North West Street
Jackson, MS 39205
(601) 359-3513 		 MDE Licensure Office
Central High School
P.O. Box 771
359 North West Street
Jackson, MS 39205
(601) 359-3483		 Mississippi Standard Educator License:
Application Procedures

School Psychologist

School psychologists must be licensed by the State of Mississippi to serve in a school system.  AAA Licensure students and Ph.D. students must pass a more rigorous examination. Ph.D. students and AAA Licensure students must apply for licensure as they meet the requirements. 

Class AAA School Psychology Program Requirements
Class AAAA School Psychology Program Requirements

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Certification

Certified Rehabilitation Counselor:

Students who graduate in Rehabilitation Counseling may sit for the national examination for Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRC). The examination is offered in April and October of each year. If students investigate the requirements and inform themselves of various credentials while they are still in graduate school, they can select electives and sites for practicum and internship that will meet credential requirements.

Specific information about the CRC may be found at:

Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification
1835 Rohlwing Road, Suite E
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
1-847-2104

NASP Certified School Psychologist

School Psychologists with Mississippi AAA licensure and Ph.D. students in School Psychology should apply for National Certification through NASP so that they may become Nationally Certified School Psychologists. National Certification allows for smoother certification/licensure in other states. Ph.D. students should apply for licensure as a psychologist in the State of Mississippi. School psychology students will be eligible for licensure as a psychologist in Mississippi since the program at MSU is an APA approved programs.

 

Specific information about NASP certification may be found at:

National Association of School Psychologists
4340 East West Highway, Suite 402
Bethesda, MD 20814
1-301-657-0275
FAX: (301) 657-0275
 

National Certified Counselor

The community counseling, school counseling, and student affairs in higher education programs are CACREP accredited,  graduates of these programs are eligible to seek the national credential, the National Certified Counselor (NCC).  A special administration of the examination for this credential may be taken during the last semester of graduate studies.  Regular administration of the examination may be taken after the graduate has acquired two years of post-masters experience. 

Detailed  information about the requirements for the National Certified Counselor may be found at:

National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc.
3 Terrace Way, Suite D
Greensboro, NC 27403-3660 USA
336-547-0607

Specialty credentials offered by the National Board for Certified Counselors and affiliates include:

Approved Clinical Supervisor

The Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) credential is a result of the joint effort of the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) and the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). The ACS credential attests to the educational background, knowledge, skills, and competencies of the approved supervisor.  The purposes of the ACS credential are to:
 

  • Identify to the mental health profession and to the public those mental health professionals who have met national professional supervision standards.
  • Promote the professional identity, visibility, and accountability of approved supervisors.
  • Encourage the professional growth of supervisors.

Specific information about the Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) may be found at:

Center for Credentialing & Education, Inc. (CCE)
3 Terrace Way, Suite B
Greensboro, NC 27403
336-482-2856
336-482-2852 (fax) 
cce@cce-global.org 

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