Counseling Licenses

Written By Rachael Hall

My last couple of posts have talked through some ways to narrow down which counselor or profession is right for you. Outside of counseling lingo and understanding the differences between terms like counselor and therapist, understanding different licensures can also help you determine what provider is best! You typically can find these licensures and credentials after names in bios or on business cards. (For example, Rachael Hall, LPC-IT, NCC)

Below are some examples in Wisconsin:

  • LPC – Licensed Professional Counselor

  • LPC-IT – Licensed Professional Counselor – In Training (temporary license while accruing hours)

  • LMFT – Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

  • LMFT-IT – Marriage and Family Therapist – In Training

  • LCSW – Licensed Clinical Social Worker

  • CAPSW – Certified Advanced Practice Social Worker (temporary license while accruing hours)

  • SAC – Substance Abuse Counselor

  • SAC-IT – Substance Abuse Counselor – In Training

  • CSAC – Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor

  • CSAC-S – Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor – Supervisor

  • CST – Certified Sex Therapist

  • NCC– National Certified Counselor

  • PsyD - Doctor of Psychology

This list is overwhelming to say the least. Some of these are state licenses and others are additional trainings that licensed counselors can add to their experience. Some clients do not care at all about their counselor’s license. Some clients care deeply about what license their therapist holds.

Generally, the differences above highlight how long a counselor has been practicing and what they specialize in. They also can highlight what type of education your counselor has received.

Different counseling programs have different requirements towards graduation. In Wisconsin, counseling programs generally consist of 60 credits and an internship. Upon graduation, counselors then receive a training license. This license is generally valid for four years as they work towards full licensure after working 3,000 hours.

When googling and scrolling through different bios for counselors that peak your interest, keeping this list in mind can help narrow down the list. As always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions about counseling, how to find the right therapist, or are thinking about becoming a counselor yourself!

Have a great week!

Rachael Hall https://rhallcounseling.com
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Types of Therapists