Students in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program must successfully complete a 100-hour Practicum and 600-hour Internship in a mental health counseling setting. Students can choose to remain in one setting or split their time between two settings, though most students prefer to stay at the same setting. A mental health provider licensed under the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice will be designated to provide individual supervision at the internship site on a weekly basis. Students interning out of state need to be supervised by mental health providers licensed in the state in which they are practicing. In addition to their field experience, students are required to attend a weekly University-based internship seminar. Typically, the practicum occurs over one semester, and the internship over two semesters. Students must complete their internship experience within two calendar years.  New Hampshire state licensure law only requires 600 hours of internship, but students may choose to complete a 900 hour internship to meet the requirements of other states (such as Maine).

Clinical mental health counseling students demonstrate mastery of all specialty competencies through completion of the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE).

Licensure as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in New Hampshire has three main requirements.  The first is the completion of a 60 credit masters degree in clinical mental health counseling, ideally from a CACREP-accredited program.  The second is the successful completion of the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Exam (NCMHCE), which is taken after degree completion.  The third and final requirement is the completion of 3000 hours of post-masters clinical work in a counseling environment, which must occur over 2-4 years, be supervised by a LCMHCE, and be pre-approved by the NH Board of Mental Health Practice. Additional rules, forms, and details can be found on the NH Board of Mental Health Practice website at the following link:  https://www.oplc.nh.gov/mental-health/

Each state has its own licensure rules, although most follow this general structure. For more information, please contact the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program coordinator, Dr. Mike Mariska.

Counselor Education Component – 30 credits

Mental Health Counseling Specialization Component – 27-30 credits

Elective – 3-6 credits

With your advisor, you’ll choose an elective appropriate for your program of study, or take courses required for your chosen concentration.

Successful completion of comprehensive assessments as noted above.

Minimum Total for MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – 63 credits

Required Courses

Total for Addictions Treatment – 9 credits

Required Courses

Total for Couples and Family Therapy – 15 credits

Eating Disorders Institute Component – 12 credits

Capstone Experience – 3 credits

Total for Eating Disorders Institute – 15 credits

Required Courses

Total for OATH – 18 credits

Curriculum Requirements

Total for PATH Institute – 18 credits

Required Courses

Students take four, one-credit special topics courses
Total for Play Therapy – 8 credits

• 3.0 or better GPA in undergraduate coursework
• Official transcripts from any/all college level work
• Three professional recommendations
• Current Resume
• Statement of interest
• Participation in the Group Interview – Register Here
• NH Residency Verification form (NH residents only)
• $75 application fee

Students pursuing the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program can apply for admission to any of the upcoming semesters. Here are the deadlines for 2019-20:

• Fall 2019 – August 1, 2019
• Spring 2020 – December 1, 2019
• Summer 2020 – April 15, 2020

*We suggest submitting your documentation at least two weeks prior to the posted date to ensure your application is complete and can be reviewed by the deadline. 

Tuition for graduate level courses is assessed on a per credit basis, and differs slightly for NH residents and non-residents. Please note, the per credit rate varies depending on the level of the program to which you are admitted.

2019-20 ESTIMATED Rates for New Hampshire Residents

2019-20 ESTIMATED Rates for Non-Residents

More information is available through the Student Account Services Office.

Graduate students are eligible for financial aid in the form of student loans only. You will need to complete the FAFSA at least 30 days prior to the start of the semester you wish to begin taking classes. International students are not eligible for federal financial aid – please review our international admission requirements to learn more.

More information can be found on the Financial Aid webpages.

Each year, Plymouth State offers a limited number of merit-based scholarships to admitted graduate students. Selection criteria include academic and professional achievements, commitment to graduate study, and achievement or pursuit of personal or professional goals. Visit the PSU Scholarship Opportunities webpage for additional information.

Graduate assistants are an important part of Plymouth State’s collaborative learning community. They work alongside faculty, staff, and students to help achieve the University’s goals, while gaining valuable experience as assistants, researchers, and teachers.

Graduate Assistant positions are available on a limited basis to highly qualified graduate students who’ve been fully accepted into a graduate program at Plymouth State. Applications for assistantships should be returned to the Office of Academic Affairs by April 1 for the upcoming year.