Behavioral Health Professional Licensure & Renewal

Behavioral health professionals play a crucial role in providing mental health services to individuals, families, and communities. To ensure that these professionals are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide quality care, most states require them to obtain and maintain a professional license.

What Is a Behavioral Health Professional?

Licensed behavioral health professionals are certified counselors or therapists who provide life-saving support for individuals struggling with mental illness and substance abuse.

Generally, the behavioral health field is divided into two categories:

• Addiction treatment professionals who specialize in substance abuse treatment.
• Mental health professionals who specialize in psychiatric care.

These professionals can work in various settings, including hospitals, private practices, clinics, or specialized treatment facilities.

Becoming a licensed therapist typically requires a master’s degree, building upon a bachelor’s degree. Beyond academic qualifications, candidates must fulfill specific clinical experience requirements, pass rigorous examinations, and commit to ongoing continuing education to maintain their licensure in their practicing state.

Educational Path for Behavioral Health Professionals

The path to becoming a licensed therapist requires dedication, and Aliya Academy is here to support you. While specific requirements vary by state, the typical educational journey includes:

• High School Diploma or GED: This is the foundational first step for any career in behavioral health.
• Bachelor’s Degree: You’ll need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Enrolling in a Bachelor of Science (BS) in psychology or a related field can help you meet the prerequisites for advanced studies.
• Master’s degree: Next, you’ll need to earn a master’s degree from an accredited institution. This degree should be in a field such as addiction studies, counseling, or addiction counseling, ideally from a program accredited by CACREP. Many programs will specify particular courses required to obtain a master’s degree that support addiction treatment and mental health professions.

Standards and criteria can vary significantly across programs and states. Therefore, it’s crucial to verify your state’s specific requirements for practice and licensure, ensuring your chosen program adequately prepares you to meet them.

Gaining Clinical Experience

Becoming a licensed addiction treatment professional requires completing a significant amount of supervised clinical practice in an approved facility. During this time, you’ll work under the guidance of an experienced supervisor who will mentor you and help you gain the hands-on experience needed for certification.

The required hours vary by state, but typically range from 4,000 to 6,000. For most, this equates to about two to three years of full-time work. Each state sets its own specific requirements for certification, so it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the regulations in your area to ensure you meet the necessary criteria to practice independently in the field of addiction treatment.

Behavioral Health Certification and Testing

Before you can be certified and start practicing, state medical boards require you to pass exams demonstrating your competency.

These exams may include:

• National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE): This exam is a requirement for counselor licensure in many states and is also necessary for the Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) certification. It can also be used for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) certification. The NCMHCE tests a broad range of competencies through 10 clinical simulations, and a passing score is required.
• National Counselor Examination (NCE): Required in most states for counselor licensure, the NCE is the second option for obtaining the NCC certification. This exam assesses your knowledge, skills, and abilities through 200 multiple-choice questions, and a passing score is required.

For specific certification requirements, consult your state’s medical board.

Optional Behavioral Health Certifications

There are several optional certifications available for professionals in the addiction treatment field, offering opportunities for career advancement and specialization. These certifications include:

• National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC I): Often referred to as the “basic level” SUD exam, this optional certification is one of the eligibility steps required to become certified as an NCAC I through the National Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC). In some states, this certification may also meet requirements for state board certification. It is a written exam, and achieving a passing score is mandatory.
• National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level II (NCAC II): Building on the NCAC I, this “advanced level” SUD exam represents the next step in professional certification. Like the Level I exam, it may fulfill state board certification requirements in certain states. This exam is also written, with a passing score required for certification.
• Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) Certification: Offered by the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP), the MAC is an optional, advanced certification. Successfully passing this exam is necessary to earn the MAC credential through NAADAC.

Professionals can also pursue further specialization by taking NCC AP exams in specific focus areas. These optional certifications not only enhance professional expertise but also open doors to greater career opportunities within the addiction treatment field.

State Licensing for Behavioral Health Professionals

To practice, you must be licensed by your state’s medical board. Requirements typically include your degrees, passing an exam, and completing supervised clinical hours. It’s important for graduates to meet these standards.

Given that specific licensing requirements vary considerably across states, direct consultation with your state medical board is essential to understand the exact process.

While specific mandates differ by jurisdiction, typical prerequisites for licensure commonly include:

• An accredited bachelor’s degree.
• A master’s degree in addiction counseling or a related behavioral health field.
• Successful completion of a qualifying examination.
• Several thousand hours of supervised clinical experience.

Maintaining your state licensure requires periodic renewal, typically on an annual or biennial basis. To ensure continued validity, professionals must adhere to continuing education requirements and other state-specific criteria within the designated timeframe.

Continuing Education Credits

Licenses require renewal, which involves completing continuing education (CE) credits. The National Association for Addiction Professionals, or NAADAC, provides a range of courses that qualify as a Continuing Education Unit (CEU), also known as a Continuing Education Credit (CEC), that are accepted by many organizations and state boards. There are also many online options as well as state, federal, and additional CE opportunities to ensure that you keep up with your CE hours to keep your certification current. 

As an NAADAC-approved provider, Aliya Academy offers a range of CE courses to help you maintain your license and stay current in the field, no matter where you practice. Our CEU training courses keep you up-to-date on relevant topics. By participating in our CE programs, you and your peers can learn and grow as behavioral health professionals, ensuring clients have access to the most current treatment advances.

Requirements for Continued Education

Maintaining your professional license requires fulfilling continuing education (CE) requirements, which, like licensure itself, vary significantly from state to state.

Typically, states mandate a specific number of CE-approved hours within a set timeframe to retain an active license. This can range broadly, from 20 to 50 hours annually or across a six-year period, depending on your state’s regulations.

Many states also prescribe particular types of CE within the total hours, often including:

• 3 to 6 hours in ethics
• 3 hours in cultural competency and/or diversity
• 3 hours in confidentiality
• 2 hours on services for veterans and mental health
• 3 hours in trauma counseling
• 6 hours in diagnosis and treatment
• 6 hours in suicide training, intervention, and prevention
• 3 hours of training in HIV/AIDS
• 2 hours on tobacco dependence and prevention

Approved formats for continuing education commonly encompass in-person classes, presentations, home study programs, professional development activities, and online courses. Crucially, there are often specific limits or requirements for how many hours can be obtained through each format. For precise requirements to maintain or renew your certification, always consult your state medical board.

Making a Difference as a Behavioral Healthcare Professional

Behavioral health professionals are instrumental in shaping the lives of millions of Americans. As substance abuse and mental health challenges increasingly affect individuals, families, and communities nationwide, their expertise has become more vital than ever.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the scale of this challenge is immense:

• Mental Illness or Substance Abuse: 86.6 million people struggled with a mental health or substance use disorder.
• Any Mental Illness (AMI): 61.5 million adults experienced AMI in the past year.
• Serious Mental Illness (SMI): 14.6 million adults had a serious mental illness in the past year. 
• Substance Use Disorder (SUD): 48.4 million individuals aged 12+ had an SUD in the past year.
• Co-occurring Disorders: 21.2 million adults had a co-occurring AMI and SUD. 6.8 million adults experienced co-occurring SMI and an SUD.

Given that millions of Americans are navigating these challenges, the need for skilled behavioral health professionals is undeniable. These dedicated experts are on the front lines, providing essential treatment, support, and resources.

By offering services like therapy, medication management, and case management, they foster healing and guide individuals and their families on the path to recovery. Their work empowers people to overcome the complexities of alcohol and drug use disorders, manage mental health conditions, and reclaim their lives.