LPC + California = Long Overdue!
My new years resolution is to do everything I can to help promote the legislative issues surrounding the LPC and its passing in the State Senate. This is extremely important to me because I was not educated in California, and therefore do not have the required degree to become licensed in this state. Currently, Social Workers, Associate Clinical Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists are able to be licensed in California. California is the last state not to have the LPC license.
The purpose of having an LPC license is not to take away jobs from the LCSWs or the MFTs, but to protect the rights of clients and regulate counselors that are not currently licensed by the state. The LPC license would help monitor and standardize the ethics, quality of care and level of expertise of the mental health professionals in the State of California. The LPC standards set up by the California Coalition for Councelor Licensure parallel the LCSW and MFT license requirements in the state of California.
For various reasons, I cannot simply take the few extra courses that it would take for me to parallel my MA degree in Creative Arts in Therapy from Drexel University with the technical requirements for a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy or Social Work. If the LPC does not pass I will have no choice but to go back to school, which is both an expensive and frustrating prospect- especially because the courses that I already completed with my current MA may not be recognized by other Universities. Higher educational institutions are notorious for forcing students to retake classes they’ve already taken…anyone who has tried to transfer credits from one school to another knows this all too well.
So…what to do? Check out the NorCATA website, specifically the legislative issues page. Here, you will find information about what happened last year to the LPC bill and who to contact/how to help this year. I know last year I received many emails asking me to print out and fax letters to my congressman/woman to support the bill. With the renewal of my NorCATA membership this year I also provided a donation to the cause.
Every little bit helps…even words of support by art therapists in other states who are not facing this issue.
It is a fascinating situation indeed. Did you know that AAMFT and CAMFT are not affiliated. CAMFT is neutral (removed opposition) to this bill.
Thank you for pointing this out James. I actually didn’t know that the AAMFT and the CAMFT are not affiliated. On the NorCATA legislative issues page, the neutrality of the CAMFT is mentioned, as well as on the California Coalition for Councelor Licensure website. (I realized that I linked the NorCATA legislative issues page to the wrong site, and have now corrected it, if you’re interested in seeing what’s written there.)
I am not privy to the exact information as to why the California Chapter of the AAMFT continues to oppose this bill– or the California Psychological Association, for that matter, but I hope we have better luck in presenting our case in the Senate this year. From what I read on the NorCATA website, it seemed that the split between those who supported or where neutral versus those who opposed the bill led to confusion and perhaps Senators deciding to err on the side of caution.
Also, I checked out your site and I really like its set up. Its a wonderful model for those who are interested in creating a website for their private practice. I especially like the ideas of a FAQ page and the Forms and Maps page.
Hi Liz!
First, I am sorry to hear about your hospitalization and I hope you feel better soon.
Second, you are preaching to the choir! I don’t know if you remember me – I graduated from the Drexel program last year. (Carrie Adcock). Our time overlapped at Friends together a couple years ago. In August, I got married and moved to California as well. I am having such a hard time finding a job because I do not have the MFT degree. It is very frustrating. I am new to all of this, but want to help you move this process along. Going back to school is not an option. Would that be the only way to move towards licensure? You got my support!
Get well soon,
Carrie
Hi Carrie!
Where are you in California? I’m sorry we’re in the same boat, but at the same time its great to get some understanding and support.
From what I’m understanding going back to school is the only option at this point. What I’m doing, is I checked on the California LPC website that I linked to earlier, which lists the requirements of the LPC if it does pass. The courses they want you to have parallel the MFT and LCSW requirements, and there are several courses we still need to take having graduated from Drexel. I’m taking those courses as a part of a continuing ed program at a local University, so that way if the LPC passes, I’m all set to go, but also if I have to go back to school, hopefully the school will give me credit for the newly taken courses and it’ll make my degree getting shorter. Thats my plan anyways…
Also, I’m feeling much much better, but unfortunately with a chronic illness there’s always ongoing things that must be kept in check.
Thanks!
- Liz
It will be interesting to see what happens now.
hi liz!
great to see your article. it’s so very frustrating…. i have an lcpc in chicago and have been faced with this issue for a long time now as well. my understanding is that our license will be “approved/recognized” in california as of january 2011, meantime allowing the state sufficient time to create examinations for us to take as part of the approval process itself. kind of sad to me, given that the main reason i want to relocate there is to work with ptsd-afflicted veterans of this war on one of the largest military bases in the country, and i’m not allowed to, not because of lack of experience or credentials, because of the letters of my license.
anyway, my best to you, and good luck with your mission!
jen
I am an LPC who wants to move to California, so will I still be eligible for clinical therapist openings that only ask for MFT or LCSW? What are my options for employment if I do move to California?
Hey Jen,
I totally identify with your frustration! I would like to work with the VA as well, but cannot…hopefully the LPCC will change this!
Thanks for writing!
- Liz
Hi Sheila,
I very much hope that job openings for MFTs will also apply to LPCCs. I think some LCSW jobs will be open to LPCCs, but LCSWs seem to have more opportunity out here than any other license (besides psychologist). Part of the reason, I think, is that they have specialized case management training.
I suppose we’ll have to wait and see exactly what the demand will be for LPCCs in California, but I imagine that this license will create substantial opportunities for those of us who were unlicensable up until this point.
Hope this helps!
- Liz