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The Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) in Mental Health Counseling is designed to be a "bridge program" for individuals who have already earned a Master's degree in counseling, but who do not meet the required coursework and experience for mental health counseling licensure. This includes Master's degrees in school counseling, community-agency counseling, and college counseling/college student development, or older general counseling degrees.
School/Division
School of Graduate & Continuing Studies
Campus Locations
Degrees
Mental Health Counseling (MS Ed, CAS)
Individuals who successfully complete this State Education Department approved program will meet the requirements for eligibility for the Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) credential in New York State.
Alfred University off-campus graduate programs are designed for non-traditional students who are employed in full-time positions. To accommodate normal work schedules, classes meet for one full day session on either Saturday or Sunday, with each course consisting of five full day class sessions. Students enter with a cohort that moves through the program together on the same schedule.
Courses for the MSEd/CAS program in Mental Health Counseling through AUNY are listed in our digital Graduate Catalog.
Courses for the CAS (Bridge) program in Mental Health Counseling through AUNY are listed in our digital Graduate Catalog.
Each applicant to the program must have a supervisor or another professional familiar with the applicant's work as a counselor complete the Certificate of Advanced Study in Mental Health Counseling Applicant Evaluation Form, available once the application process has begun.
Individuals seeking to obtain the LMHC are required to complete the following post-training requirements, whether they graduate from a certificate or a Master's program:
Financial aid is available through the Alfred University Office of Student Financial Aid. Students who follow the standard sequence meet the minimum 6 credits/semester requirement for financial aid. Aid is primarily in the form of subsidized loans.
The internship must consist of 600 clock hours of experience across 2 semesters, 240 of which must involve direct counseling activities with clients. Therefore, the breakdown by semester is 300 clock hours and 120 hours of direct client contact.
The supervisor must be a licensed mental health professional. This includes licensed mental health counselors (LMHC), licensed psychologists, licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), and licensed psychiatrists. It does not include school psychologists, school social workers, or LMSWs, all of whom are not appropriately licensed under the State Education Department supervision regulations.
The internship site must be an agency or other setting licensed by the appropriate state regulating entity (OMH, OASAS, etc.) or a professional practice that is a PC, LLC, or LLPC.
Students are responsible for identifying potential internship sites. Sites must sign an internship agreement with Alfred University before a student is allowed to begin the internship.
