The Requirements to Become a Licensed Therapist

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Making the Decision

Somewhere within your psychology studies, you’ve decided you’re on the right path. You have the desire to help people, are confident you have a good grasp on communication skills and feel you have the patience of an angel. You’ve made the decision to become a licensed therapist.

Becoming a licensed therapist could very well be one of the most important and rewarding decisions you will ever make. The ability to help people overcome obstacles in their lives whether the difficulties are physical, mental, or both is not only valuable to families and society as a whole, but can create personal satisfaction in your career choice.

Choosing a Specialized Field

There are many opportunities available at the bachelor’s degree level, but most therapists find it more fulfilling to either study more than one field, or to continue their education and obtain at least a master’s degree. Choosing this career takes a lot of careful thought into your own personality traits, as there are emotional factors to be considered. You must be able to deliver quality patient care without emotional responses interfering with your performance.

You must have exemplary communication skills as well as an abundance of patience in any field of therapy. This is the key to finding and exploring the root of underlying disabilities.

The first step to becoming a licensed therapist is to determine which field of therapy you wish to pursue. Licensed therapist requirements vary based on the field you choose to study and the degree you wish to pursue. However, most of the fields share the same core studies. You must have a master’s degree to become a licensed therapist in any field and although it is not required, the degree should be in psychology, psychology science or sociology.

Your Preparations

Licensed therapist requirements will often include an internship. For example, if you have chosen a field in family and internal medicine, you must also have a 1 to 3 year fellowship in the related field. The requirements for licensed clinical therapists are an undergraduate degree (4 to 5 years of college) plus a doctorate degree in psychology (4 to 7 years), whereas the requirements for a licensed marriage and family therapist with a master’s degree would only require two to three years of graduate study.

Licensed therapist requirements for mental health counselors vary significantly according to the state in which you wish to practice. Most states require you to pass a licensing exam along with your master’s degree and experience in clinics.

There are a few types of master degrees available such as Master of Education. These professionals work in academic settings as counselors and often continue their education to become licensed mental health therapists.

A Master of Social Work is probably the most popular since it is recognized in all 50 states and also allows graduates the opportunity to provide counseling. Master in Counseling Psychology is yet another option. In some states, a master’s in counseling psychology allows graduates to gain a limited licensure to practice psychology. However, most states require those with a master’s in counseling psychology to practice under the direct supervision of a licensed doctorate level psychologist.

Before making the final decision on the field you wish to receive licensing in, it is highly recommended that you check the state licensing requirements. This will help you prepare your study curriculum and fill all existing pre-requisites. Don’t feel discouraged if the licensing seems to be several years into the future. Many licensed therapists spend from seven to ten years, finishing their graduate studies and working in the field of psychology under the direction of a clinical psychologist or in a counseling center or organization.