Post-Master's Clinical Mental Health Counseling Licensure Pathway

Program Description

The Department of Counseling offers a Post-Master’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program* which allows for licensure eligibility. This post-master’s program is designed to meet the academic requirements of the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board for the licenses of Professional Counselor (PC) and Professional Clinical Counselor (PCC). The program is designed to meet the needs of the part-time student while also accommodating full-time study. Counselors licensed as PCCs function at an independent practice level, which allows them to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders without supervision. Additionally, with the supervision designation, they may supervise other counselors. Counselors licensed as PCCs may maintain a private practice. Students must bear in mind that academic requirements are only part of the overall licensure requirements, which also include an application procedure, state examinations, and verified clinical work experience. 

*In order to be considered for the clinical mental health counseling post-master’s program, applicants must hold a graduate degree in counseling (e.g., school counseling). The number of courses and credits required is based on previous courses completed by an applicant during their previous graduate program. 

Program Learning Goals

Students will:

1. Identify as a clinical mental health counselor who is knowledgeable about the history and development of the clinical mental health counseling profession, is aware of the challenges facing the profession, and is prepared to advocate for the profession.

2. Assess, evaluate, and diagnose clients using assessment instruments and the DSM.

3. Determine, based on the assessment and diagnosis, an appropriate treatment plan for clients.

4. Implement interventions and treatment plans, and continuously assess the effectiveness of the intervention.

See also the CACREP  Standards.

Note: The Graduate Studies Learning Outcomes also apply to students in this program.

Admission Criteria for Degree Programs

• A graduate degree in counseling (e.g., school counseling).

• A graduate cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale).

• Two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic work, professional work, vocational commitment, and suitability for the role of counselor are required. Ideally, these letters will come from former professors and/or employers who can comment on the suitability of the applicant for graduate study.

• A letter of intent from the applicant outlining career objectives and goals. The letter should be 400-600 words in length. It will be evaluated for content and grammatical and mechanical correctness. 

• Resume which includes both work and volunteer experience. 

• Applicants must participate in an interview process that may include: 

• A writing sample composed in response to a provided written prompt.

• An individual interview.

• A group interview.

On-campus group interviews may be scheduled during each semester. Applicants will be notified of the date when they apply. The letters of recommendation, letter of intention, and resume should be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies, College of Arts and Sciences.

No application will be evaluated until all of the materials listed above, along with a Graduate Application form and appropriate official transcripts, are submitted.

The Department of Counseling accepts applications on a rolling basis. For best consideration, applications should be received by May 1 for fall semester and February 1 for summer semester.

The application material will be evaluated by the admissions committee. Possessing the minimum admission requirements, e.g., a 2.75 GPA, does not guarantee admission.

Retention Criteria

The unique interpersonal nature of the counseling profession requires that counseling students should be evaluated for their fitness as counselors. This comprehensive evaluation focuses on assessing the student’s academic achievement, the student’s demonstration of the personal dispositions needed in order to be an effective counselor, and the student’s adherence to the ethical standards of the profession defined by either the ACA (American Counseling Association) or the ASCA (American School Counselor Association) code of ethics.

If a student is found to be deficient, a concern conference will be held with the student in order to implement a remediation plan. If, after attempts at remediation, the student is still demonstrating inappropriate behaviors, or not achieving at an appropriate academic level, the student will be asked to leave the program. More detailed information about the department’s retention criteria can be found in its Graduate Student Handbook. Students should also review the Policies and Procedures section of this Bulletin.

Assessing students in this way is a requirement of both the major counseling accreditation body, CACREP, and the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist Board.

Required Courses*

Core Sequence

Clinical Sequence

Field Experience Sequence

*Applicants looking to complete the post-master’s clinical mental health counseling program at John Carroll University must be able to demonstrate that they have taken all of the courses listed above in order for the university to be able to endorse a student for clinical mental health counseling licensure. Some of these courses may be ones that applicants have taken at a previous graduate program. In order for JCU to determine if an applicant does not need a specific course listed above, applicants may be asked to provide a course description for previous courses to be compared to the current JCU course descriptions.

**If applicants have completed a practicum in a previous counseling program, they do not have to complete a practicum in clinical mental health counseling.

Candidates who wish to become licensed as clinical mental health counselors must complete an internship (CG 596) at a site that is subject to university approval. The University will not approve site placements in situations that violate human rights, demean human dignity, or operate according to principles directly opposed to those for which the University as a Catholic institution must stand. The internship consists of 600 contact hours over a minimum of two semesters. At least 240 of the intern’s 600-hour requirement shall be in direct counseling service to individuals or groups at the internship site under the supervision of both a licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with a supervisory endorsement as well as a University internship instructor.

In order to complete the internship portion of the post-master’s program, the intern must complete CG 596, complete a detailed case study and presentation each semester, and demonstrate progressive attainment of skills and experience commensurate with what would be expected of a clinical mental health counselor.

Candidates are carefully reviewed in their work and evaluated during their entire internship experience. A successful final evaluation is a prerequisite for endorsement of the intern for licensure. The candidate must also successfully pass all applicable sections of the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board assessment for licensure as a clinical mental health counselor. Submission of logged contact hours during Practicum and/or Internship is required for completion of this program.

The post-master’s clinical mental health counseling program requires the satisfactory completion of the above courses. Students will then be eligible for licensure in the state of Ohio as a clinical mental health counselor.

Program Faculty