How to Become a Counselor in Rhode Island
Licensed counselors in Rhode Island are known as licensed clinical mental health counselors (LCMHCs). The state’s premier professional organization for LCMHCs is the Rhode Island Mental Health Counselors Association (RIMHCA), a local chapter of the American Mental Health Counselors Association, whose mission is to “enhance the profession of clinical mental health counseling through advocacy, education, and collaboration.”
Licensure for LCMHCs in Rhode Island is managed by the state Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists, a division of the Rhode Island Department of Health. Licensure requirements for counselors in Rhode Island, including education, supervision, examination, fees, renewal, and licensure by endorsement, are examined in further detail below, along with salary information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and scholarships and loan repayment programs available to aspiring LCMHCs in the state.
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Counselor Education in Rhode Island
Licensure as a clinical mental health counselor in Rhode Island requires a qualifying graduate degree and graduate-level coursework that meet current Rhode Island law and regulations. Under the current rule, applicants must hold a master’s degree, a certificate in advanced graduate studies, or a doctoral degree in mental health counseling from a recognized educational institution, or a graduate degree in an allied field with equivalent graduate coursework that includes the required core curriculum. Rhode Island also requires at least 60 semester hours for the clinical mental health counselor pathway.
Appropriate degree programs will include instruction in each of the following core content areas for the respective number of credits:
- Helping relationships and counseling theory – Nine Credits
- Human growth and development – Three Credits
- Social and cultural foundations: – Three Credits
- Group counseling – Three Credits
- Lifestyle and career development – Three Credits
- Appraisal – Three Credits
- Research and program evaluation – Three Credits
- Professional orientation – Three Credits
- Electives: (Courses may reflect a specialization area, or add knowledge and skills in interdisciplinary studies)
Internship Requirements
In addition to the coursework listed above, Rhode Island requires 12 semester hours (or 18 quarter hours) of supervised practicum and a minimum of one calendar year of supervised internship consisting of 20 hours per week, with the internship deemed equivalent by the board, but in no case less than 600 hours. This is distinct from the post-graduate supervision requirement, which is also necessary for LCMHC licensure in Rhode Island.
Supervision Hours
“Supervision” is shorthand for directed post-graduate experience in professional counseling under supervision in a work setting. Rhode Island requires aspiring LCMHCs to complete two years of supervision, with at least 2,000 hours of direct client contact and 100 hours of post-degree supervised casework under an approved supervisor.
Examinations
LCMHC licensure in Rhode Island requires a passing score on the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Exam, which tests knowledge of assessment, diagnosis, counseling, psychotherapy, administration, consultation and supervision. It consists of 10 clinical mental health counseling cases and assesses clinical problem-solving ability by testing identification, analysis and treatment. It is administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors.
LCMHC Licensure Fees
LCMHCs in Rhode Island can expect to pay the following can expect to pay the following fees:
- LCMHC License Application: $70
- LCMHC License Renewal: $50
LCMHC License Renewal
LCMHC licenses in Rhode Island expire biennially on July 1 of every even-numbered year. License renewal requires payment of the appropriate fees and the completion of continuing education.
Continuing Education
Rhode Island LCMHCs are required to complete 40 hours of continuing education during each two-year renewal period. At least 20 of these hours must be obtained through Category I activities, such as formal education programs, graduate or post-graduate courses, workshops, and institutes.
Additional Information
For Counselors Licensed in Other States
For Counselors Licensed in Other States: Rhode Island offers licensure by endorsement. Current Rhode Island regulations specify that, in addition to the statutory endorsement requirements, an applicant whose qualifying degree is from a CACREP-accredited clinical mental health counseling program totaling 60 or more semester hours is considered equivalent to the educational requirement established under Rhode Island law. Applicants should review both the endorsement statute and the current Department of Health application materials for documentation requirements.
Average Counselor Salary in Rhode Island
Here are the median annual wages that different types of Rhode Island counselors earned in May 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS):
| Type of Counselor | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $71,590 |
Rehabilitation Counselors | $54,080 |
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors | $49,770 |
Rhode Island Counseling Scholarships
The following scholarships and loan repayment programs are available to aspiring LCMHCs in Rhode Island:
Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS)
- Type: Scholarships
- Amount: Varies by school
- Description: For Rhode Island students exploring counseling or other health professions pathways, the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program may be available through participating colleges and universities. This federal funding helps eligible health professions and nursing schools award need-based scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Students usually do not apply directly to HRSA, so the next best step is to ask a school’s financial aid office whether SDS funding is available through that program.
National Health Service Corps State Loan Repayment Program (NHSC SLRP)
- Type: Loan Repayment
- Amount: Varies by state program
- Description: Rhode Island counseling graduates who hope to work in high-need communities may want to explore the NHSC State Loan Repayment Program through participating state partners. The program supports eligible behavioral health and other licensed health professionals by helping reduce qualifying student loan debt after graduation. In return, participants generally commit to serving in federally designated shortage areas for a required period.
APA Interdisciplinary Minority Fellowship Program (IMFP)
- Type: Fellowship
- Amount: Not specified on the program page
- Description: Rhode Island students preparing for careers in behavioral health may find the APA Interdisciplinary Minority Fellowship Program especially relevant if they want to address inequities in care. The fellowship is intended for master’s and doctoral students in behavioral health disciplines, including mental health counseling, who plan to serve underserved communities. Along with financial support, the program emphasizes mentoring, leadership development, and training focused on reducing mental health and substance use disparities among racial and ethnic minority populations.
Predoctoral Fellowship in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (MHSAS-Doc)
- Type: Fellowship
- Amount: $27,144 stipend
- Description: For Rhode Island students considering doctoral-level behavioral health training, this fellowship supports future professionals committed to serving underserved and historically marginalized populations. Funded by SAMHSA and administered by the American Psychological Association, the program is open to full-time students enrolled in APA-accredited doctoral programs in psychology. Fellows receive a stipend as well as mentoring, career development, and training opportunities tied to behavioral health service delivery.ed Students program provides funds to schools, which offer scholarships to full-time, financially needy students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are studying professional counseling (among other health professions).
*Licensure information, including requirements, renewals, scholarships, and fees, was retrieved as of March 2026. Information may have changed since, so readers should verify details with Rhode Island’s board and the relevant federal program pages.
Last Updated: March 2026