Did you know that the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE), an affiliate of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) offers a certification in Clinical Supervision? The Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) credential is a national certification demonstrating competency and experience as a clinical supervisor. Many states endorse or require the ACS as a standard in meeting the state board requirements to qualify as a clinical supervisor for professional counselors and mental health counselors (LPC, LCPC, LMHC).
What states recognize the ACS credential?
As of 2017, 14 states recognize the ACS as a supervision credential of choice.
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Iowa
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
ACS Required Training
I offer a Clinical Supervision Series that is comprised of 2 courses, consisting of a total of 45 clock hours and these courses meet the education requirement for the ACS. In addition, other states accept my training toward their state requirements for qualified supervisors including
- Michigan
- Oregon (30 hours)
- California
- Maine
The two courses can be taken independently as you may already have Continuing Education courses in clinical supervision and need only a portion of the 45 hours. I offer a 30-hour course and a 15-hour course.
If you are not sure what your state requires to become a qualified supervisor for your discipline, call your state board.
I am already licensed as a counselor. Why do I need additional education to offer clinical supervision?
Simply put, offering therapy and offering clinical supervision are two very different disciplines. It is not true that all good therapists make good clinical supervisors. Training offers education about the various theories of clinical supervision, the ethics of clinical supervision and the legal responsibilities of a clinical supervisor. In addition, clinical supervisors need to understand the qualities of solid program-wide clinical supervision.
As a clinical supervisor you are in a position to mentor, influence and shape future mental health clinicians. This is powerful and rather than be in power, a solid clinical supervisor is empowered and empowers his/her supervisees. This is position that requires expertise, experience, patience and humility. Even if you are already practicing as a clinical supervisor and are not required to take additional coursework, taking a course on the topic shows due diligence and solid professional development skills. So go ahead and stretch your knowledge!
How are these courses taught?
My courses are online and self-paced. Each lesson is self-paced with required reading (chapters and articles). At the end of each lesson you are asked to reflect on the reading in a few paragraphs. I review your lesson responses and reply with clarifying points and additional information as needed. We engage in a dialogue throughout the course. There is no test. The learning is in the writing which demonstrates you have conceptualized the material.
Instructor qualifications
I have been an ACS for 15 years and have assisted many supervisees toward licensure in Georgia, New Jersey, New York and Wyoming. I am the former ethics chair of licensed counselor associations in Georgia and New York and I am currently licensed (LMHC) in New York. I have facilitated clinical supervision training for 10 years both in-person and through online learning. I am also published on the topics of telemental health and online clinical supervision.
As a clinical supervisor I have delivered one-to-one and group supervision. I have also delivered online supervision as well as field supervision. I have practiced supervision in agency settings as well as in private practice. I would be honored to guide you along your supervisory path.
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