Alexandria, Va., April 2, 2007 - On March 28, 2007, legislation was introduced in the Nevada State Senate to establish licensure for mental health counselors in the state. Currently, there are more than 100,000 counselors licensed in 48 states and the District of Columbia who meet similar education and training requirements on par with those of clinical social workers and marriage and family therapists.
The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) is working with its coalition partners, the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) to enact counselor licensure legislation in Nevada. Nevada and California are the two remaining states that do not license mental health counselors.
In January 2005, a report was released by the Nevada Mental Health Plan Implementation Commission that recommends that the pool of qualified mental health staff in Nevada be expanded to include licensed professional counselors. The report, a result of legislation enacted in 2003, required the development of an action plan to implement recommendations of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health (1999) and in particular, to make improvements in Nevada's mental health delivery system.
The new bill, S.B. 543, would establish the title of licensed professional counselor for individuals who have obtained a master's degree in professional counseling from an accredited institution, accumulated 2 years/3,000 hours of post-master's degree supervised experience, and passed a national exam.
Licensure of mental health counselors will help address Nevada's dire shortage of mental health professionals. Many mental health clinics and facilities across the state are having trouble finding staff, and most of the state is considered a mental health professional shortage area by federal government. Reports have shown a high level of unmet need for mental health treatment among Nevadans.
Upon hearing the news of the bill's introduction, AMHCA President Gail Mears, PsyD, LCMHC, NCC, said, "AMHCA commends Sen. Joe Heck (R) for spearheading this important legislation and its members in Nevada, especially Louise Sutherland, for their efforts on behalf of the bill. We look forward to working with the legislature to make licensure of mental health counselors a reality in Nevada."