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Answers to Consumer Questions

Question 14: "COUNSELOR CREDENTIALS: I'm confused.  I hear a 2008 state law is eliminating the Registered Counselor (RC) category and creating eight (8) new credentials. What are all these credentials that counselors use? What do they mean and what's the difference?"


Consumer's Guide to Counselor Credentials
Washington State


The Registered Counselor category was formerly a catch-all category for counselors who were not licensed.  A 2008 law is eliminating many registered counselors and moving the rest into eight new categories based on college degree level, years of experience as a registered counselor, employment status, or other issues.  Registered counselors can continue practicing until July 1, 2010, and then the category will be eliminated.  Only those who qualify for a new counselor credential can continue to work and practice in the State of Washington after 7/1/10.  All counselor credentials are listed below, beginning with the licensed categories that existed before.  The new credentials are listed in roughly the difficulty of qualifying for the credential.

  
Highest Qualifications:  ________________________________
The previously existing licensed categories

LICSW = Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker:
Masters-level clinical social workers with advanced experience who have met state requirements for licensure.

LMFT = Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist: 
Masters-level marriage and family therapists with advanced experience who have met state requirements for licensure.

LMHC = Licensed Mental Health Counselor: 
Masters-level clinical mental health counselors with advanced experience who have met state requirements for licensure.

--------------------------------------- New Categories below  ↓  --------------------------------

High Qualifications--working toward licensure:  __________________

MHCA = Mental Health Counselor Associate:
Designates a Counselor who has completed the Masters Degree program and is working under approved supervision toward a mental health counselor license.

MFTA = Marriage and Family Therapist Associate:
Designates a Counselor who has completed the Masters Degree program and is working under approved supervision toward a marriage and family therapist license.

SWAA = Social Work Associate Advanced: 
Designates a Social Worker who has completed the Masters Degree program and is working under approved supervision toward a social work advanced license.

SWAIC = Social Work Associate Independent Clinical:
Designates a Social Worker who has completed the Masters Degree program and is working under approved supervision toward a social work independent clinical license.

Minimum Qualifications:  __________________________________

CC = Certified Counselor:
Persons "grand-fathered in" may have no degree.  New applicants must be a registered counselor in good standing or have a (four year) bachelor’s degree in a counseling-related field. [Washington State] Certified Counselors are authorized to do private practice counseling, but only within the limitations, restrictions and guidelines of RCW 18.19.200.

CDP = Chemical Dependency Professional:
New CDPs are required to have at least an (2 year) associate of arts degree and to have completed all the supervised counseling experience requirements.

CA = Certified Advisor:
New applicant are required to have a (two year) associate of arts degree, including a supervised internship, in a counseling-related field. [Washington State]   Certified Advisors are authorized to do private practice counseling, but only within the limitations, restrictions and guidelines of RCW 18.19.200

Absolutely No Minimum Requirements:  (The God-Only-Knows Categories)

CDPT = Chemical Dependency Professional Trainee: (bottom feeders).
Designates a counselor who is working under supervision in a state licensed chemical dependency treatment facility toward a chemical dependency professional certification.  To become a CDPT the applicant must only agree to this statement: "I declare I am obtaining the education and experience required to receive a chemical dependency professional credential." Unlike applicants for other types of credentials (above) who are working on their supervised internship, the applicant does not need to have the degree first. The trainee certification can be renewed four times. This means that the CDPT may work as a chemical dependency counselor for a total of five years without completing his/her associate of arts degree. This policy permits chemical dependency treatment facilities to lay off experienced Chemical Dependency Professional and stock the facility with trainees.

AAC = Agency Affiliated Counselor: (bottom feeders).
A counselor who is employed by or has an employment offer with an agency or facility that is licensed or certified by the State of Washington.  The agency or facility sets the degree and experience requirements for employment, if any.  No degree. experience, or scope of practice standards are established or required by the State of Washington.  [The Washington State Legislature wasn't going to raise the ire of the mental health treatment facilities who are free to reduce costs by keeping their employment standards as low as they wish.]  As a client of such a facility, it is your responsibility to inquire about the qualifications of each of the counselors who are assigned to your case and decide whether it is someone that you are willing to work with.  What kind of employment standards does the agency have?
       

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