Updates and Announcements
Name Change (effective January 1, 2021)
The North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (NCBLCMHC) is proposing a name change a) to further define and clarify our professional identity, b) to be in concert with the nomenclature used by National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC), American Mental Health Counseling Association (AMHCA), and Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and c) to align ourselves with the nomenclature being used in the Medicare provider recognition bills for mental health counselors namely, S. 1879 and H.R. 3032. These bills, if made into law, would allow Medicare enrollees access to medically necessary covered services provided by mental health counselors who are properly trained and licensed to deliver such services.
The Board staff researched the licensure names, education requirements, endorsement requirements, supervision requirements, etc., of the other 49 states and found that the majority (n=27) of the states’ licensure names differed from Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. Specifically, 15 states have identified themselves as mental health counselors by the following licensure names: Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner, Professional Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor—Mental Health Service Provider and Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health.
Finally, the American Mental Health Counselors Association’s (2016) wrote a white paper entitled The Professional Identity of Clinical Mental Health Counselors, which outlines the reasons for the need for clarification for the name for clinical mental health counselors. Further, the Licensed Professional Counselor Association of North Carolina is the state chapter of AMHCA and they have adopted the identity of Clinical Mental Health Counselors. We hope to have our license name specifically reflect that identity as well.
We have consulted various counselors and counselor leaders and they have submitted questions about the name change and we have given our answers to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the name change. We hope that our answers provide clarity and an understanding of the rationale for the name change. We look forward to serving the citizens of our great state!
NCBLCMHC to Launch Impaired Professionals Program
The NCBLMHC is pleased to announce our partnership with North Carolina Physicians Health Program (NCPHP) What is NCPHP? The North Carolina Physicians Health Program provides North Carolina's health care and Clinical Mental Health Counselors with evaluation, monitoring, and advocacy support for substance use disorders. This allows them to participate in a sustainable recovery program and serve the public in a safe manner. NCPHP also provides assistance with mental health disorders as well as stress and burnout. North Carolina Physicians Health Program (NCPHP) helps the board's licensees and applicants for licensure in screening, monitoring, recovery, and support from any impairments, including substance use disorders, burnout, compassion fatigue, and other mental health issues. The program will also be available for self-referred professionals so they can receive the help they need. The program will become available early next year. Additional information regarding referrals and self-referrals will be posted on the board’s website soon. If you wish to learn more about NCPHP, visit ncphp.org.
Don’t Miss Important Messages About Your License!
All LCMHCAs shall only provide counseling while under the supervision of a qualified clinical supervisor with a supervision contract approved by the board. You must receive approval of the supervision contract prior to rendering counseling services. At least one contract is required per supervisor. You may have multiple supervisors, but a separate contract is needed for each of the supervisors. Notification must be given to the board within two weeks of termination of or a change in supervision contract. If not receiving supervision, it shall be the responsibility of the LCMHCA to report such to the board. A Final Report is to be filed at conclusion or termination of supervision. If you have multiple supervisors, a Final Report is required from each supervisor. SUPERVISION MUST CONTINUE UNTIL THE LCMHCA/APPLICANT RECEIVES THE LCMHC LICENSE.
ATTENTION: Effective Jan. 31, 2024, the NCBLCMHC will not retroactively approve supervision contracts or supervision hours earned without an approved supervision contract on file. Please be advised, if you are currently receiving or providing supervision and you have not received written approval from the board, you will need to submit all required documentation no later than Jan. 31, 2024. Please visit this link to review important information regarding supervised professional practice.
Questions
If you have any questions about Board updates and announcements you can email LCMHCinfo@ncblcmhc.org.
