Clinical Mental Health; Concentration in Holistic Counseling Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies
The CAGS program offers advanced mental health counseling education for someone with a counseling-related master’s degree of fewer than 60 credits. Consonant with the mission of the University, the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) in Clinical Mental Health: Concentration in Holistic Counseling offers a program that centers students’ professionalism, ethical awareness, and ever-evolving cultural competencies. This certificate provides professional counselors with a master’s degree the opportunity to combine the CAGS with a previous professional counseling master’s degree to reach the 60-credit requirement to be eligible to sit for various mental health counselor licensure exams.
To earn this certificate, students complete courses in holistic counseling that match licensure needs and their academic history, along with a full Fall/Spring internship (600-700 hours plus a University Seminar). Individual degree plans are created based on students’ past coursework and academic needs. Students must apply for the program to have their transcript audited for certificate eligibility.
As of 2023, the Rhode Island government approved a two-tier licensure system. Upon graduation, students can apply for provisional licensure (LMHC-Associate). To sit for the full Licensure in Mental Health Counseling (LMHC), the Rhode Island Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists requires a candidate to complete two years (2,000 hours) of relevant counseling experience in the workplace with 100 hours of clinical supervision from a board-approved supervisor before taking the Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) Examination. As of 2023, students can apply for their LMHC-Associates licensure upon completion.
Please note: Some states do not allow students to apply for Mental Health Counseling Licensure who have not completed a 60-credit program (i.e.: Massachusetts) by a specific date.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HLC-590 | Internship and Seminar I | 3 |
| HLC-591 | Internship and Seminar II | 3 |
| Students choose six or more additional credits in consultation with the program director | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
* Students should research the specific requirements for a licensed mental health counselor or professional counselor in the state where they intend to practice.
Current 42 or 48 credit counseling students interested in pursuing state licensure as a professional counselor may have the option to continue graduate studies for a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) to complete 12+ additional credits (60 credits). Some students will need more than 12 credits to meet state licensure requirements.