Mental Health: Rehabilitation Counseling Concentration Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies

Aligned with the mission of the University, the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) in Clinical Mental Health: Concentration in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling offers a program of study that centers students’ professionalism, ethical awareness, and ever-evolving cultural competencies. This certificate should be combined with a previously earned professional counseling master’s degree to reach the 60-credit requirement to meet various mental health counseling licensure academic requirements, as well as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (with the appropriate supervision and academic coursework).

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 University Seminars). Students should check with the state where they intend to apply for mental health counseling licensure before applying to the program to ensure academic requirements 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.

Depending on the student’s prior degree, the following courses are most likely part of the CAGS plan of study.

Licensing laws and regulations vary across states; therefore, specific requirements may differ. 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 to expand the student’s counseling competencies may be taken with the approval of the Clinical Counseling Program Director.