Marriage Counseling Certification and License

<h3 id="section---WhatYouNeedToKnow">What You Need to Know</h3> <p>Marriage counselors are mental health professionals who bring a family-oriented perspective to treating individuals, couples, and families with relationship issues. While certification in this industry is voluntary, licensure varies by state. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td><b>Responsibilities</b></td><td> Meet with people and provide them with theoretical insight and methods to improve their relationships; listen to clients and ask appropriate questions to best assess the client's situation to offer advice and recommend strategies to overcome these problems</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Certification</b></td><td> Certification is voluntary; provided by the National Board for Certified Counselors and may improve chances of employment</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Licensing</b></td><td> All states require marriage counselors to be licensed, although specific details vary by state; usually requires a master's degree and 2,000 to 4,000 hours of experience</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---WhatIsAMarriageCounselor">What Is a Marriage Counselor?</h3> <p>A marriage counselor meets with patients who are suffering through marital distress and provides them with theoretical insight, methods to overcome communication problems and behavioral recommendations. Although as a marriage counselor you will primarily work with couples, you may also provide counseling focused on family dynamics to groups, entire families or individuals. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatCertificationDoINeed">What Certification Do I Need?</h3> <p>Certification for marriage counselors is typically voluntary. Unless otherwise directed by your state, you can receive certification through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). The certification exam you need to take is the National Certification Examination (NCE). This exam contains 200 multiple-choice questions and can usually be taken once you complete a master's degree in counseling or marriage counseling. You may need to investigate if your state offers a similar certification exam for counselors in case the state has a different or supplemental exam for certification (<i>www.nbcc.org</i>). </p> <h3 id="section---HowDoIReceiveALicense">How Do I Receive a License?</h3> <p>States have authority over licensing for marriage counselors, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (<i>ww.bls.gov</i>). Licensing is also guided by the American Counseling Association (ACA), which is the professional organization representing all counselors. Although each state varies, the ACA explains that most states require licensed counselors to have completed a master's degree in counseling and around 3,000 hours of supervised clinical work within a 2-year timetable. Additionally, passing the NCE or equivalent state certification exam (<i>www.counseling.org</i>) is required. Again, each state varies; New York, for example, only requires 1,500 hours of supervised work (<i>www.op.nysed.gov</i>). </p> <p>To be specially licensed in marriage counseling, the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Board (AMFTRB) is the organization to turn to. The AMFTRB provides a license in Marital and Family Therapy, the license needed in most states to become a marriage counselor. Each state asks that you complete the exam with the AMFTRB and meet any other state requirements before a marriage counseling license is given to you (<i>www.amftrb.org</i>).</p>