Mount Mary University's Master of Science in Professional Counseling Program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The program prepares you to meet the requirements for licensure.
Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) Accreditation
Mount Mary's Master of Science in Professional Counseling clinical mental health concentration is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Obtaining CACREP accreditation indicates that the program has been recognized for the high quality of the training it
CACREP is the national accrediting body for graduate-level programs in the counseling field. Graduates of CACREP accredited programs can more easily obtain state counseling licensure, will find greater portability between state licensing boards, and are eligible to complete work for the three federal agencies that have made graduation from a CACREP accredited program a requirement for independent practice in counseling ( See CACREP Federal Regulations). Students with a CACREP-accredited counseling degree are also more easily able to be accepted into doctoral programs.
Licensure & Certification Information
To practice counseling, you must have a license. Mount Mary's Master of Science in Counseling programs are approved by state licensing bodies and meet the educational requirements necessary for you to obtain the following licenses:
- Licensed Professional Counselor – Initial Training (LPC-IT): Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling students who successfully complete their program of study are eligible for this license. School counseling students who take additional courses may become eligible for this licensure as well. This is a license that you receive upon graduation from the program. This license is granted by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.
- Substance Abuse Counselor – Initial Training (SAC-IT): Clinical Mental Health students are eligible for this license while enrolled in the Master of Science in Counseling program. This license is granted by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.
- Early Childhood/Adolescence School Counselor License: School Counseling students who successfully complete their program of study meet the requirements for this license from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
- Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC): Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling students who complete a rehabilitation counseling emphasis and pass the CRCE are eligible for this national certification. Further national certification may also include Certificated Disability Management Specialist (CDMS), and Certified Case Manager (CCM).
To become a fully Licensed Professional Counselor, students in the clinical mental health concentration will need to complete 3,000 hours of
Mount Mary's Master of Science in Counseling programs also prepare you for further study if you seek a Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision.
National Board Certification
Clinical Mental Health graduate students are eligible to participate in the Graduate Student Application for the National Counselor Certification (GSA-NCC) credential offered through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). Satisfactory performance on the National Counselor Examination (NCE ®) is one of the criteria used by NBCC to identify professionals who may be eligible to become a National Certified Counselor (NCC). The National Certified Counselor credential is a voluntary designation that lets members of the public and prospective employers know that individuals have met national certification standards based on research conducted in the field. Mount Mary University's Master of Science in Professional Counseling Program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The program prepares you to meet the requirements for licensure.