How to become a therapist in Texas
The demand for mental health services is increasing throughout the U.S. That means there are more opportunities for careers as therapists and other related professions. Read ahead to learn how you can become a therapist in Texas and meet the needs of this growing industry.
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What does a therapist do?
As a therapist, you can work in a variety of settings with many different populations. Therapists work in elementary schools, universities, hospitals, and nursing homes, supporting clients with their mental health. Therapists may specialize in areas like substance use, relationships, trauma, or specific mental health conditions.
Steps to become a therapist in Texas
To become a therapist in Texas, you must complete relevant education and supervised fieldwork requirements in order to become licensed. Read on to explore the steps in more detail.
Step 1: Earn a bachelor's degree
Any licensed therapist in Texas must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Many therapists major in psychology and complete coursework in areas like sociology, anthropology, English, communications, or even social and health sciences.
Step 2: Earn a master's degree
After you complete your bachelor's degree, you must earn a master's in counseling or a related field from an accredited program to become a licensed therapist in Texas. As part of your degree, you will complete a practicum or internship experience totaling to 300 hours.
Some programs may allow you to specialize in areas like social work, family or child therapy, trauma, or substance use.
Step 3: Complete supervised hours
After graduation, you can work in a professional setting to complete the 3,000 hours of supervised experience necessary to become licensed. Half of these hours must be spent directly with clients. It typically takes 18-24 months to complete this requirement.
Step 4: Pass the licensing exam
Finally, once you have completed all the previous steps, you must earn a passing score on the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) as well as the Texas Jurisprudence Exam.
The NCE is a 200-question multiple choice examination that evaluates your knowledge and skills necessary for providing mental health support. The Texas Jurisprudence is a no-fail examination that ensures you understand Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors' rules and regulations.
Once you have taken and passed both exams, you can apply to become a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in Texas.
Step 5: Pursue continuing education
Texas requires LPCs to renew their license every two years by paying a renewal fee and completing 24 hours of continuing education.
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If you are ready to begin your professional journey into the therapy profession, review online master's psychology degree programs on edX to find the best fit for you.