LPC vs LCSW?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by aa442289, Aug 7, 2013.

Loading...
  1. graymatter

    graymatter Member

    Yes. I had an LPC in Kentucky (2003). When I moved to South Carolina (2005) they did NOT transfer my license (because SC requires that clinical supervision be conducted by an LPC-S, a designation that doesn't exist in KY). I had to start over (even though my KY supervisor would have met the SC criteria had it existed in KY). I received my SC LPC in 2007 and moved to Virginia later that year. Virginia transferred my SC licensed with no questions asked.

    Florida (where I'm moving next week) has been helpful but also has requirements that aren't uniform. I'm required to complete 3 workshops (AIDS/HIV, gender issues, and laws/ethics). I'm required to take the LMHCE exam (because I took the NCE for previous licensure). And there's a possibility I'll be required to take "Community Counseling" because none of my 130+ credits have that specific title (despite the fact that I have 10+ years of experience working in... community counseling).

    Because my program(s) were/are not CACREP (though both were/are regionally accredited), Florida is also requiring that I submit EVERY syllabus for review (good thing I kept them!) and I need to get sworn statements from the directors of both programs (MA in KY; PhD in VA) that my clinical practicum/internships meet CACREP criteria.

    Florida is also requiring that each of the other 3 states send my (clear) records noting that I paid for licensure renewal on time and had no violations on my record (I don't).
     
  2. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    This is exactly what I'm talking about. I don't see any reason why there can't be universal reciprocity agreements around all these issues. Forcing a licensed therapist in good standing to jump through all these hoops is really stupid, a waste of time and money and adds nothing in terms of quality. I don't mind if states are in charge of their own stuf but c'mon, let's use a little common sense.
     
    newsongs likes this.
  3. Delta

    Delta Active Member

    Nursing is one example of a profession that was able to form the nursing compact. Even with that, less than half the states participate and this is with one of the largest political lobbying groups in the country! I don't know how united the counseling profession is but this issue can only be resolved with politically active groups!
     
  4. Delta

    Delta Active Member

    It's no surprise Nursing Programs build in political action concepts into their core curriculum!
     
  5. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    OK, I didn't mean this to turn into a thread on the constitution. I just wanted to make a point. Thanks.
     
  6. Delta

    Delta Active Member

    Actually, you are not getting the point!
     
  7. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    OK, thanks. I'll keep it in mind.
     
  8. graymatter

    graymatter Member

    I totally agree... and yet my fear would be that a change would be to fully endorse CACREP which would significantly negatively impact tons of people (and current students) who didn't attend the schools who paid the money for certification (though many are CACREP-consistent).
     
  9. aa442289

    aa442289 New Member

    Does anyone have experience transferring a LCSW between states?
     
  10. Delta

    Delta Active Member

    "Which states have reciprocity?
    Basically, none.
    Reciprocity is the system that would allow you to obtain a license in a new state or province by virtue of having a license in another state or province. No such system exists for licensed social workers in the U.S. (Canadian provinces are discussing future “mutual recognition” scenarios for social workers moving from one province to another, but finalized processes have not been put in place). Each time you move, you will need to provide the new state with much of the same information as the state in which you are currently licensed (transcripts, supervision documents, background information, etc.). The exception may be with your examination scores—more often than not, these can be transferred from one jurisdiction to another. Much of the hassle of providing these materials each time you move can be lessened by joining the ASWB Social Work Registry."

    ASWB : : FAQs
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 11, 2013
  11. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I'm being told that while it will be necessary to provide some documentation (signatures of supervisors, etc.) "reciprocity" essentially means that you won't be required to take the licesing exam again. That's all. Assuming that you keep decent records this is an easy thing to do.
     
  12. shanem

    shanem New Member

    Yes, and no

    In most states now, Social Workers are not generally any different that Licensed Counselors--education or supervision or otherwise, only emphasis of sociology versus psychology. However, NY is a beast of a state that, as progressive as it is, refuses to open up to anything other than social work or psychologists; so yes, in NY, LCSW is the way to go. But that state is being tempted as CA was to branch into Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy, which is essentially about 3 classes more than a standard CACREP-accredited LPC/LCMHC program.
     
  13. shanem

    shanem New Member

    I am in Arkansas and here the last remaining 3rd Party institution that won't reimburse is Medicare. But with Tricare moving to the change, VA already taking LPCs, and Medicaid in most states accepting all licensed mental health professionals, even entry Master's level professionals, it's only a matter of time before Medicare will change. The movement is already in place for the change.
     
  14. shanem

    shanem New Member

    There are some community mental health agencies (RSPMIs in Arkansas and many states) that hire at the same rate of pay any licensure--but insist that LCSWs are more magical and mystical than other professionals. That is a 30 year old standard that has quickly come to an end in nearly every state. It comes down to this: sociology versus psychology. And even that is becoming a blurred line with current thoughts on human development and neuroscience. Really there needs to be a rise in combining sociology and psychology in university programs, and creating a hybrid of the two that becomes standard. If I could afford it, I would rather just add the social work field onto my existing clinical counseling degree--rather than pine for the other in lieu of. Illinois license both social workers and professional counselors as licensed clinical mental health counselors--talk about reciprocity, that's how I think it should be in all states--that would put the two fields together, rather than keeping them separate.
     
  15. Jane Addams

    Jane Addams New Member

    Hello,
    This is my first post so pls. excuse me if there any errors.

    I have been a MSW, LCSW for over thirty (gulp) years and here are my impressions.

    The pros of social work is that every program that offers a MSW is accredited and the accreditation entity only accredits public not for profit programs to offer a MSW. So if you graduate with a MSW you will qualify to sit for the LCSW exam. Other licenses ( LPC, MFT, LCP,) any college, including for profits offer a degree but then you still may not be qualified to sit for a licensing exam. This is a major bummer so you must make sure that for example the program you get a masters degree in is accredited do you will be able to sit for an exam. Social Work programs automatically do this.
    —All these professions pay abysmally low (except medicine and psychology.)I would say that east of the Mississippi social workers are utilized and west of the Mississippi MFT’s are utilized in place of LCSW’s but the pay is essentially the same and low; although insurance may sometimes pay a little more for a LCSW as the degree has been around for longer and the schools that offer it are reliable state institutions or not for profits as opposed to private for profit institutions.

    People won’t like this but overall I would stay away from all of these professions ( except psychology and medicine) as they tend to be female dominated and therefore carry the extra burdens that women’s work carries ( ie, devalued, high rates of compassion fatigue, low pay, and dead-end politics.)

    Also, licensing is a difficult issue. There is a small cottage industry of states making a living off of the licensing process; unfortunately mental health doesn’t have the profit margin to sustain this. I was licensed in California, Virginia, and D.C.,recently moved back to California and had to begin the licensing process almost from the beginning. As if globalization of the world and the Internet have never happened and I don’t see that changing. There’s too much
    money that the states would lose. So once you get licensed in a state you need to stay put. Highly unpleasant in these days of high mobility and change.
     
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2020
    nosborne48 likes this.
  16. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Of course, this is not entirely true. Walden University, a for-profit school, offers an accredited MSW program. All the rest just sounds like bitter opinion.
     
  17. Jane Addams

    Jane Addams New Member

    Yes, I do.

    I had a license in California, Virginia and then D.C. When I moved back to California they refused to honor my California LCSW.

    In my opinion each state makes a lot of money overseeing and administering the licensure process so they are hesitant to give up or change the process. The only profession that I am aware of that has reciprocity( the ability to transfer their license from one state to another) are lawyers and to a smaller extent M.D.’s In other words you need a lot of political capitol to accomplish that and mental health isn’t even close to having that kind of power/will/ability.

    Though I have to say the profession is rather shortsighted in their thinking as the more people who are able to work and utilize their license means ultimately that states can generate revenue from their earnings as opposed to not allowing people to practice their profession and therefore be able to pay on what they have earned. I know many people who have been knocked out of a career just because they chose to relocate.

    But buyer beware your college degree will always be yours, your license may not.
     
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2020
  18. Jane Addams

    Jane Addams New Member

    My goodness that sounds officially judgmental for a moderator. I hope you still publish posts, even ones that you disagree with. If you don’t like an answer just don’t believe it. I’m fine with that. But what would be the point of asking people to post questions if you don’t allow them to read answers that you may not like. And as a moderator to argue with factual answers because you don’t like the tone of the response.

    If you would like to believe that all is peachy, sunny, fair and rational in life then I don’t think anyone, especially in a post, would be able to convince you otherwise. Of course believe how you need to believe. You can check the licensing web site should you choose but even that may not convince you otherwise so please hear what you want to just please don’t limit other readers ability to hear different “non-sunny” viewpoints.

    And as I don’t feel it’s beneficial to engage in back and forth commentary, for the reason stated above, this will be my first and last response to your comment.
     
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2020
  19. Steve Levicoff

    Steve Levicoff Well-Known Member

    Jane, bubaleh . . . First of all, welcome to DI. Nice to find someone new who can write intelligently, albeit a bit whiny.

    Frankly, I think Kizmet was over the top when she accused you of "bitter opinion," but in fact, you have made a lot of opinionated statements, presented them as fact, but not substantiated them with anything evidential other than your own anecdotal experiences.

    Nonetheless, that's not the biggest fault in your posts. That belongs to the issue of timing. The question to which you responded about reciprocity and license transfer was posted in this thread in August 2013 - over six years ago - by a user who posted a total of six messages and has not even visited the forum since 2013. I doubt that he or she will ever see your response.

    (You can click on any user name to see a summary of their board history, including previous posts.)

    Now, if you'd like to essentially be a whiner, feel free. We have lots of those on this forum (as well as on most forums in general, I would imagine). But be prepared to be called out on it occasionally by those of us who are smarter and less whiny than you. :D
     
  20. Jane Addams

    Jane Addams New Member

    Ok, you have engaged me. As I mentioned in my first post, that was my first post, so I was unaware that one could be piled on for responding to older posts. Forgive me. Boy this is not the proverbial “safe place” to have different viewpoints in a discussion, is it bubelah.

    I don’t like fighting with trolls whether they are smarter or not. And bubelah you will have to be much more of a clever troll to engage me yet again.
     
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2020

Share This Page