Vermont Counseling Licensure & Supervision Roadmap

Vermont licenses clinical mental health counselors through the Vermont Board of Allied Mental Health Practitioners. The state does not issue a separate associate or provisional CMHC license. Instead, applicants complete supervised post-master’s practice while listed on the roster of nonlicensed, noncertified psychotherapists before qualifying for licensure as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC).

Vermont requires 3,000 hours of supervised practice over at least two years, including 2,000 hours of direct service and 100 hours of face-to-face supervision. Applicants for licensure by examination must also pass the NCMHCE and the NCE, as well as the Board’s jurisprudence examination once adopted.

Vermont Counseling Licensure & Supervision Quick Summary

Requirement	Details
Official Licensing Board	Vermont Board of Allied Mental Health Practitioners
Full Clinical License Title	Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC)
Initial / Associate License Title	None; supervised post-degree practice occurs while on the roster of nonlicensed, noncertified psychotherapists
Total Supervised Hours Required	3,000 hours
Minimum Direct Client Contact Hours	2,000 direct service hours
Required National Exam(s)	NCMHCE and NCE
State Jurisprudence Exam Required?	Not currently required (rule authorizes future requirement)

The Path to Licensure in Vermont

Step 1: Complete a Qualifying Graduate Degree

Applicants must complete a master’s degree or higher in counseling or a related field from an accredited educational institution.

Educational requirements include:

• 60 graduate credits
  
• An acceptable degree in:
  
  • clinical mental health counseling from a CACREP-accredited program, or
    
  • a non-CACREP degree that meets Vermont’s rule requirements
    

Applicants must also complete:

• a supervised internship totaling 700 hours
  
• no fewer than 600 internship hours within the acceptable degree
  

Step 2: Apply Early and Enter the Psychotherapist Roster Before Supervised Practice

Applicants are advised to apply as soon as they meet graduation requirements so the Board can review education and identify any remaining licensure requirements.

Vermont does not issue a separate associate license. Instead, no supervised practice may occur in Vermont until the prospective licensee has been entered on the roster of nonlicensed and noncertified psychotherapists.

Step 3: Pass the Required Examination(s)

Applicants for licensure by examination must successfully complete:

• the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)
  
• the National Counselor Examination (NCE exam)

Only examination results obtained within five years of the final licensure decision may be accepted for applicants who have not previously been licensed.

The Board has authority to require a jurisprudence examination; however, this requirement applies only if and when such an exam is implemented.

Step 4: Complete Post-Degree Supervised Practice

Applicants must complete 3,000 hours of supervised post-master’s practice in clinical mental health counseling over a period of no less than 2 years.

Distribution of practice hours must include:

• 2,000 hours of direct service
  
• 1,000 hours in either continued clinical practice or related services
  

Supervision requirements include:

• at least 100 hours of face-to-face supervision
  
• no more than 30 practice hours may be accumulated without at least 1 hour of face-to-face supervision
  
• at least 50 hours of supervision must be in an individual setting
  

Supervised practice must occur in a clinical mental health practice setting.

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Supervision & Ethics in Vermont

Who Qualifies as a Supervisor in Vermont?

Supervision must be provided by an individual who holds an unencumbered license in a qualifying supervisory profession, such as:

• psychiatrist
  
• psychiatric nurse practitioner
  
• psychologist
  
• clinical mental health counselor
  
• clinical social worker
  
• marriage and family therapist
  
• another profession the Board considers a substantial equivalent
  

A supervisor must have held an unencumbered license in a permitted supervisory profession for at least three years before beginning supervision.

Can Prelicensed Practitioners Practice Independently in Vermont?

No. Applicants completing post-degree hours in Vermont must first be entered on the roster of nonlicensed, noncertified psychotherapists and complete supervised practice in compliance with Vermont requirements.

Only licensed individuals may use words or insignia indicating or implying that they are a clinical mental health counselor.

What Are the Required Supervision Ratios?

Vermont requires:

• at least 100 hours of face-to-face supervision
  
• no more than 30 practice hours may be accumulated without at least 1 hour of face-to-face supervision

What Documentation Is Required?

Applicants must provide documentation of education, supervised practice, and supervision on forms required by the Board.

Supervision reports must include sufficient detail for the Board to evaluate the applicant’s supervised practice, including direct and indirect service hours, supervision hours, duties performed, clinical skills supervised, ethical practices reviewed, and the supervisor’s assessment of independent practice readiness.

Who Is Responsible for Clinical Decisions?

The clinical supervisor must monitor the quality of counseling, assess the applicant’s work and compliance with statutes and rules, and contribute to the development of clinical mental health counseling skills.

Common Licensure Pitfalls in Vermont

Pro Tip
Apply early and enter the roster of nonlicensed, noncertified psychotherapists before beginning post-degree supervised practice in Vermont.

Warning
Hours may not count if supervised practice occurs before roster entry, outside a clinical mental health setting, without qualifying supervision, or without adequate documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Counseling Licensure in Vermont

Can I Practice Independently Before Licensure in Vermont?

No. Prelicensed practitioners in Vermont must complete supervised practice while on the roster of nonlicensed, noncertified psychotherapists.

How Long Does It Take to Become Fully Licensed in Vermont?

Vermont requires:

• 3,000 hours of supervised post-degree practice
  
• at least 2 years of supervised practice
  
• 100 hours of face-to-face supervision
  

Does Vermont Require CACREP Accreditation for Licensure?

No. Vermont accepts a degree in clinical mental health counseling from a CACREP-accredited program or a non-CACREP degree that meets Vermont’s rule requirements. Prospective applicants can explore Vermont counseling degrees to find relevant programs, including CACREP-accredited online counseling programs.

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