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Ohio State Licensing Requirements

Ohio is a fantastic state to study if you want to become a social worker, therapist, counselor or psychologist. There are many great schools here like Ohio State, the University of Cincinnati, Miami U and Kent State, but you’ll also find a lot of other reputable institutions of higher learning.

So, what degree will you need to enter these careers, and what do you need to do to get licensed in the helping professions?

If you want to help people cope with life issues such as phobias, anxiety, or substance abuse, or overcome mental-health problems to improve the quality of their lives, keep reading to learn about going to psychology school in Ohio.

Psychology Licensure in Ohio

Licensing is an important on your way to becoming a practicing social worker, psychologist, therapist or counselor.

Once you’ve earned your degree, you’ll need to pass a state and/or national exam and meet other licensing requirements to legally practice. Here are some of the requirements to practice in the following fields, according to the Ohio Board of Psychology and other licensing bodies. Make sure to consult the correct entity to find the full requirements.

Psychologist

• Doctoral degree in psychology or a related field
• Passing score on the Examination for the Professional Practice in Psychology
• Passing score on the Ohio oral jurisprudence exam
• 3,600 hours of qualifying supervised training in professional psychology, including a minimum of 1,800 hours of post-doc experience

Clinical psychologist salary in Ohio

Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC and LPCC-S)

• Master’s or doctoral degree in professional counseling or related field
• Passing score on the National Counselor Exam (NCE)
• Completion of a supervised internship

Marriage and Family Therapist

• Master’s or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy or equivalent
• Passing score on the Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards Exam
• Two-year post-graduate supervised experience
• 30 hours of continuing education for each two-year renewal period

Social Worker (LSW or a LISW)

To become a social worker in Ohio, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:

• A bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree in social work (depending on your level of licensure)
• Passing score on the American Association of Social Work Boards exam
• To become a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW), applicants must complete a two-year post-master’s supervised experience as an LSW.
• 30 hours of continuing education for each two-year renewal period

Making the Most of Your Degree

As you start college, it’s not too early to learn about the professional associations that accept students. Membership in organizations such as the Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers offers great benefits:

• Access to job databases and community resources
• Information about legislation that affects your work, and what you can do in response to new laws affecting your field
• Forums for interacting with peers and experts in your field
• Consultation with advocates in your profession regarding legal and ethical issues

So which field of psychology is right for you: counselor, therapist, social worker or psychologist? Make sure to get off on the right foot, and research your degree options and licensure requirements early to ensure that you’ll be efficient in your studies and can get into the right helping profession for you.

_{Sources: www.psychology.ohio.gov, www.cswmft.ohio.gov/Counselors/LPC.aspx}