Clinical Mental Health; Concentration in Holistic Counseling Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies

This Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) program offers advanced mental health counseling training for someone with a counseling-related master’s degree of fewer than 60 credits. Consistent 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.

Individual degree plans are created based on students’ past coursework and academic needs. This certificate typically consists of 12 credits (4 courses) but currently allows up to 18 credits (6 courses). In some cases, students must take additional courses to meet updated standards and competencies. To earn this certificate, students complete courses within the Clinical Counseling Program that match licensure needs, their academic history, and clinical coursework (up to 700 clinical hours plus a University Seminar). Individual degree plans are created based on students’ past coursework and academic needs. Students should check with the state in which they intend to apply for mental health counseling licensure prior to applying to the program to ensure academic requirements for licensure can be met.

This CAGS does not lead to licensure without a previous Master’s Degree in an appropriate mental and behavioral health field. If you are looking for a program and do not have a previous master's degree, please visit our Clinical Counseling Program: https://salve.edu/graduate-and-professional-studies/clinical-counseling.

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 post-60 credit completion before taking the Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) Examination. Students can typically apply for their LMHC-Associates licensure upon certificate completion.

*Please note: Some states (e.g., Massachusetts) do not allow students who have graduated with a Master’s Degree + CAGS by a specific date to apply for mental health counseling licensure.

Required Courses

* Students should research the specific requirements for a licensed mental health counselor or professional counselor in the state where they intend to practice prior to applying for the Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling CAGS certificate. Students are responsible for knowing the licensing requirements in the state(s) where they are interested in practicing.

As noted above, the CAGS provides additional credit hours that allow the students to gain the knowledge and experience to apply for mental health counseling licensure in a variety of states. Traditionally, six of these credits include two clinical internship and seminar courses with 300 clinical hours totaling 600 hours. Based on licensure board requirements, a student may need to take the introductory 100-hour course in practicum. Additional classes (up to 18 credits) to expand the student’s counseling competencies may need to be taken with the approval of the Clinical Counseling Program Director.