Apply for AMHCA Credentialing Certifications

Since 2012, the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) has recognized outstanding professional development through its credentialing programs. Originally established as the Diplomate and Clinical Mental Health Specialist (DCMHS), the program was expanded in 2018 to better reflect the diverse ways clinical mental health counselors develop expertise and contribute to the profession. As a result, AMHCA now offers three distinct advanced-level credentialing certifications: Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialist, Diplomate in Advanced Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practice, and Fellow in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Education and Research.

AMHCA’s credentialing certifications are designed for independently licensed clinical mental health counselors (LCMHCs) who are actively practicing. These credentials provide nationally recognized evidence of advanced professional competence, specialized expertise, and continued growth beyond initial licensure. Earning an AMHCA credential signals to clients, employers, and colleagues that you have achieved independently validated standards of excellence in the field.

All advanced AMHCA credentials are reviewed and awarded through the AMHCA Credentialing and Certification Board (CCB). This board is composed of experienced, licensed clinical mental health counselors who serve as a peer-review panel. Each application is independently evaluated by multiple board members to ensure that candidates meet established criteria for professional development, clinical practice, ethical conduct, and, where applicable, specialization or scholarly contribution.

Credentialing Pathways

AMHCA offers credentialing opportunities across multiple stages of professional development, including student, counselor under supervision, independently licensed counselor, and advanced professional credentials.

Advanced professional credentials include the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialist designation, with specialty areas such as child and adolescent counseling, couples and family counseling, developmental and learning disabilities, geriatric counseling, integrated behavioral health care, military counseling, substance use and co-occurring disorders, trauma counseling, and forensic evaluation.

Additional advanced designations include the Diplomate in Advanced Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practice, which recognizes excellence in advanced clinical work, and the Fellow in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Education and Research, which recognizes leadership and contributions in academic, scholarly, and research domains. AMHCA also offers a Fellow designation in Multiculturalism and Social Justice to recognize significant impact in those areas.

These credentialing pathways are designed to support your professional journey, whether you are building foundational skills or demonstrating advanced expertise and leadership in clinical mental health counseling.