Our advanced graduate certificate in mental health counseling is designed to "bridge the gap" between counseling related master's degrees and the New York State educational requirements for licensure. It focuses on providing you with the necessary skills to transform the lives of your clients and advance your career goals. Those that successfully complete our program will meet New York State's educational requirements to take the licensing exam in mental health counseling.
The features of our program include:
| Academic credential granted | Advanced Certificate (AC) |
|---|---|
| Credits required for completion | 15 to 27 |
| Time to completion | 2 full-time semesters |
| Course delivery | Online |
| Career opportunities | Mental health career settings include:
|
| Experiential contact hours | 600 clock hours (see program requirements) |
| Application deadline | May 1 (fall admission only) |
CEP 521 Introduction to Mental Health Counseling
CEP 541 Human Growth and Development or CEP 615 Legal and Ethical Concerns in Counseling
CEP 586 Assessment in Mental Health Counseling
CEP 695 Psychopathology and Evidenced Based Interventions
If you have not completed a minimum of 600 hours of clinical internship experience under a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), or NYSED approved equivalent in a previous program, you are required to complete 12 credits in CEP 600 MH Internship – Mental Health Counseling (minimum of 600 clock hours).
If the internship requirement has been previously met during your master's degree, (i.e., their prior internship meets or exceeds all of the current NYSED guidelines for internships), 6 internship credits may be waived, thus allowing the Certificate to be earned with 18 rather than 24 credits.
Former/Maiden Name: Please provide us with your former/maiden name if you have one. When requesting transcripts, please ask the sending institution to indicate your current name and former/maiden name.
Admissions Decision: The admissions decision will be communicated to you as soon as review is complete. The decision is based on a number of factors and is the result of a thorough and deliberate process. All decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
In order to qualify for the in-state residency tuition rate, you are required to provide residency documentation indicating you have lived in New York State (NYS) 12 months prior to your semester start date.
If accepted, you will need to upload 3 documents to qualify for the in-state tuition rate. See Required Documents for Residency Application for more information.
All financial forms and supporting documentation with required signatures must be uploaded with your application, and must be dated within one year of your intended enrollment date.
If you are currently unable to take the IELTS, PTE or TOEFL tests because they are canceled due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the University at Buffalo will accept the Duolingo English Test (DET) for proof of English proficiency. This test can be taken online, in your own home. More information can be found on the Graduate School’s website.
The TOEFL iBT® Special Home Edition is a safe and convenient option for students who are unable to take the TOEFL iBT test at a test center due to public health concerns.
New York State prides itself in the high quality of its licensed and certified professionals. For the protection of its citizens, each license and certificate has requirements that individuals must meet in order to be licensed or certified in New York State. SUNY’s academic programs leading to licensure or certification are carefully designed to meet and exceed these State requirements. This is a role SUNY plays in protecting the public. Other states frequently have their own requirements, so if your goal is to practice in another state, this disclosure will help you check to see what that state requires.
Enrolled students and prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact their state’s licensure entity using the links provided in the full disclosure document to review all licensure and certification requirements imposed by their state(s) of choice.
We have a collection of frequently asked questions that may help you. If your questions are still unanswered, we are glad to help! Contact our admission office.
Graduate School of Education
366 Baldy Hall, North Campus
716-645-2110
gseinfo@buffalo.edu
You are required to have daily access to a reliable broadband connection and a computer that meets university computing standards. You are also expected to have basic computer competency before beginning your coursework.
