Section 330-A:19 Clinical Mental Health Counselors. - New Hampshire Statutes

   I. The board shall issue a clinical mental health counselor license to any person who meets all of the following requirements or their equivalent:
      (a) Has a master's degree or a doctorate degree in counseling from a regionally accredited institution whose graduate program meets the guidelines set forth by the National Academy of Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselors or the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. or has a master's degree or doctorate degree with a concentration in the field of counseling or psychology from a regionally accredited institution. After July 1, 1995, the master's degree shall include at least a 2-year master's degree program with a minimum of 60 hours of graduate credit.
      (b) Has passed the clinical mental health counselor's examination of the National Board of Certified Counselors, Inc.
      (c) Has completed a minimum of 2 years of paid, post-master's experience in a mental health counseling setting, including completion of a minimum of 3,000 hours of supervised clinical work in no less than a 2-year period and in no more than a 5-year period, and was supervised by a nationally-certified or state-licensed mental health professional, including 100 hours of face-to-face supervision by a licensed mental health professional.
   II. The board shall, for a 6-month period after the board is initially appointed, issue a clinical mental health counselor license to an applicant if the board determines that the applicant has a master's degree or a doctorate degree in counseling or a closely-related field from a regionally accredited college or university and has such qualifications required for professional liability insurance coverage as a mental health counselor, and has at least 10 years of paid, post-master's experience in a mental health setting, including completion of at least 15,000 hours of supervised clinical work, has not received any disciplinary action or revocation of any previous certification or license, and was supervised by a nationally-certified or state-licensed mental health professional recognized as qualified to supervise mental health counselors, including 400 hours of face-to-face supervision by a state-certified or state-licensed mental health professional who will personally and professionally recommend the counselor as qualified to the board to be licensed.

Source. 1998, 234:1, eff. Oct. 31, 1998.