Obtaining Licensure as a mental health counselor in Florida can become a complicated process for those individuals moving to the Sunshine State. In an effort to help you The Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (commonly referred to as the “491 Board”) maintains a very valuable page on their website (http://floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov/resources/). This online resource makes available links to applications, forms, statutes, rules and other important information.
To assist with the navigation of this process I offer a variety of licensure consultation services for your consideration.
Brief Consultations
A one-time 30 minute phone conversation regarding Florida licensure is free to you if you are a fellow member of the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association (FMHCA). The cost to nonmembers is $50.
Coaching Services
Florida has required a 60 hour degree for decades, however you may have obtained your license with a 48 hour degree. And/Or, you may have taken the National Counselor Examination (NCE) for state licensure and not the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) used in Florida. For you, a number of challenges exists in obtaining a Florida license. How will my coursework equate to Florida’s specific subject requirements? How does the NCE differ from the NCMHCE and how should I study for the test? Where should I go to get the extra coursework required by Florida? These are all likely questions for which you will need to have answers. And, once answered, they will become tasks that you will need to complete.
If you find these challenges daunting you might want to consider the services of a coach. As a leader in the profession at the national and state level, as a member of academia, and as an expert on the issue of licensure portability I posses a unique skill set well suited for your needs. In fact, I was a lead author on the AMHCA/ACES/NBCC Portability Proposal, that was later endorsed by CACREP. As a member of the ACA’s Governing Council I remained a leader and advocate for licensure portability. Coaching services are reasonably priced at a cost of $100/hr. (four hour minimum) for FMHCA members.
Proof of membership and/or payment of consultation/coaching services must be complete prior to the scheduled appointment.
Licensure Consultation Services