Counseling Degrees & Licenses in Georgia
Counseling Schools Search
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“Overall, counselors are compassionate professionals eager to provide support and advocacy to the community. They are there to support, encourage, and promote growth. While many people seek counselors when faced with difficult life challenges, there are many who also seek counselors to promote growth when things are going well.”
Richard Deaner, PhD, Program Director and Associate Professor, Augusta University’s College of Education and Human Development
Most states require that counselors have a specific level of education along with meeting experiential conditions, such as how many post-graduate supervised hours of training they receive. Georgia is no different. The state of Georgia offers two levels of licensure: the Associate Professional Counselor, which is the title required for a student to complete their supervised work experience, and the fully credentialed Licensed Professional Counselor.
According to the Georgia Secretary of State, Georgia licenses school counselors, associate and licensed marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, those with a master’s in social work, and the two previously mentioned levels of professional counselors. The Georgia Professional Standards Commission indicates that Georgia does require an individual to obtain a degree from a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited program in school counseling.
Not every program is CACREP-accredited, so this should be a part of the decision on what school to attend. In Georgia, applicants who attend out-of-state programs not CACREP-accredited will not be eligible for Georgia certification in school counseling unless enrolled in the program prior to April 15, 2017.
According to Rural Health Information Hub, there is a strong need for mental health professionals in Georgia. The data shows out of 159 counties, only six have no shortage, and two only have shortages in parts of the county.
Georgia is a large state, with 11 million people. Georgia has a population of approximately 10.1 million people, making it the eighth-most populous state in the nation. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that about 12 percent of adults in Georgia have a mental health condition and about 3 percent experience serious mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. Nearly half of the population, about 4.9 million people, also live in a community that does not have enough mental health professionals.
Read on for more information on schools to attend and more information on counseling degrees and licenses in Georgia, as well as an expert’s perspective.
Meet the Expert: Richard Deaner, PhD
Dr. Richard Deaner serves as the program director and associate professor at Augusta University’s College of Education and Human Development. He holds a PhD in counselor education from the University of South Carolina and is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and an approved clinical supervisor (ACS). With extensive experience in counselor education, he teaches courses such as communication skills, addiction counseling, and clinical mental health counseling practicums.
Dr. Deaner has received numerous accolades for his teaching excellence, including the ACA Counselor Educator Advocacy Award and the USG Regents’ Teaching Excellence Award. Actively involved in professional service, he has contributed as a member of the American Counseling Association Ethics Committee and serves as a faculty advisor for Chi Sigma Iota. His dedication to education and clinical practice continues to make a significant impact on his students and the counseling profession.
CounselingSchools.com: What do you wish the public understood about mental health counselors in Georgia?
Dr. Deaner: Professional counselors are able to attend to the needs of a diverse community. They undergo specialized training and supervision to build competencies regarding awareness, knowledge, and skills that can attend to the growing needs of the community as well. When searching for a counselor to support you, be sure to consider their education, experience, and professional credentials.
First, a professional license is required for mental health counselors to provide general counseling services in the state of Georgia. There are requirements to earn and maintain this license. While the professional counseling profession requires unique training and licensure, there are areas in which many counselors choose to serve and specialize.
After becoming licensed, many practitioners choose to focus in specific areas of treatment. So, reviewing the credentials and expertise of professional counselors will be able to assist you in your search for someone who might fit your needs. Some counselors might also have certifications that prepare them to specialize in certain areas. Some of these certifications may relate to the type of treatment, range of service, or specialty interests. Once you choose a counselor, they should be able to inform you about the process and structure of counseling so that you remain informed and supported along the way.
Overall, counselors are compassionate professionals eager to provide support and advocacy to the community. They are there to support, encourage, and promote growth. While many people seek counselors when faced with difficult life challenges, there are many who also seek counselors to promote growth when things are going well.
CounselingSchools.com: What advice would you give to aspiring mental health counseling students?
Dr. Deaner: People seek to become counselors for a wide range of reasons. Counseling students come from diverse backgrounds with unique experiences and aspirations. Also, many students choose to become counselors at different periods in their lives. Counseling students come from all walks of life and at different points in their lives. Some people enroll in programs after earning undergraduate degrees in related and unrelated fields. Others enroll in programs after years of working in related and unrelated fields.
The profession is open to those who share a passion for helping others and who are prepared, willing, and able to successfully complete the requirements of training. If they are eager to become a counselor, there are many clinical mental health counseling (CMHC) graduate programs that will prepare them to become a professional counselor in Georgia. In Georgia, many programs are housed within colleges or departments including but not limited to education, psychology, counseling, public health, or human development.
One of the vital elements of finding the right CMHC program involves choosing a program that is accredited. Choosing a CACREP-accredited CMHC program is very important since licensure requires an accredited graduate program to become eligible for licensure in Georgia. This is typical in most states, especially with the Counseling Compact which aligns licensure requirements with most states within the Compact. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is the main accrediting organization that oversees the standards of accredited graduate counseling programs across the nation.
Within these programs, the curriculums contain specific core areas of awareness, knowledge, and skills that prepare students to become excellent clinicians who can provide general counseling services to diverse client populations. So, curriculums are constructed to adhere to specialized standards of the counseling profession to prepare counselors-in-training who advocate and provide counseling services as competent and ethical practitioners. Accredited programs will also provide information regarding their curriculums, expectations of the program, and overall mission of counselor preparation. This information will detail courses, clinical expectations, and length of the program to better equip potential students in their quest to choose the right program.
Also, these programs will inform potential students that two years of post-master’s clinical experience is required to become a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in the state of Georgia. Accredited programs prepare students to become eligible to earn their associate professional counselor (APC) license upon graduation. Once graduates earn their APC, they receive supervision from a certified LPC supervisor during this two-year post-master’s counseling experience.
Accredited Counseling Degree Programs in Georgia
Albany State University – College of Business, Education, and Professional Studies (Online)
Albany State University caters to busy parents or already-working professionals who are comfortable with online learning by offering their master of education program entirely online.
The MEd program in counselor education provides concentrations in clinical mental health counseling (CMHC), clinical rehabilitation counseling (CRC), and school counseling (SC). Students can begin classes in the summer or fall semesters, full-time or part-time. Students can work at their own pace, with options for either the traditional or accelerated paths.
Graduates will be prepared to take the National Counselor Examination, a counselor licensure requirement in many states. Although the program is 100 percent online, students can complete their fieldwork in their local area. Students are required to complete at least two four-day on-campus residencies.
This 60 to 63-credit program includes courses such as introduction to the counseling profession; theories of counseling; multicultural counseling theory and practice; legal and ethical issues in counseling; crisis counseling and intervention; school counseling foundations; introduction to mental health counseling; and counseling strategies and techniques.
- Location: Albany, GA
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Three years
Augusta University – College of Education
Augusta University is a public university and academic medical center in Augusta, Georgia, on the northeastern border of the state near North Carolina. With two concentrations, the master of education with a major in counselor education prepares students to become either school counselors or clinical mental health counselors. Courses are not online but generally offered during evening hours or on Saturdays to accommodate those who may already be working.
Admission requirements to the program include a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university, a minimum overall GPA of 2.5, official transcripts are required from all universities and colleges ever attended, three letters of recommendation, and English language proficiency for applicants whose first language is not English.
Comprising 60 credits, the program includes courses such as human growth and development for counselors; professional orientation and ethics; communication skills in counseling; group counseling; theories and techniques of counseling; couples and family counseling; and diagnosis and psychopathology in counseling.
- Location: Augusta, GA
- Accreditation: Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two years
Clark Atlanta University – School of Education
Clark Atlanta University is a private Methodist historically black university, and it has a rich background as the first HBCU in the Southern United States. The Department of Counselor Education offers programs leading to master of arts (MA) degrees in both clinical mental health counseling and school counseling. Both programs meet the standards of the Licensed Professional Counselors and School Counselors based on the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. The CMHC program prepares students for the National Counselor Examination.
Clark Atlanta does have some admission requirements, including an official GRE or GMAT score, which cannot be deferred or waived. Test scores more than five years old are not acceptable. School counseling applicants must take and pass the Georgia Assessment for the Certification of Educators (GACE) Program Admission Assessments (PAA) prior to being fully admitted to the School Counseling program. Otherwise, applicants must take and pass the PAA by the end of the first semester following graduation.
Both programs require the completion of 60 credits and include courses such as introduction to counseling; theories of counseling; group counseling; career counseling; individual and group appraisal; counseling diverse populations; addictions counseling; counseling couples and families; and counseling children and adolescents.
- Location: Atlanta, GA
- Accreditation: Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP); Georgia Professional Standards Commission
- Expected Time to Completion: Three years
At Columbus, students can choose from a master of education or a master of science to enter a counseling career. The school counseling MEd prepares students to work in schools from preschool through 12th grade. After completing the master of science in clinical mental health counseling program, the student will be prepared for a job in many settings including mental health centers, community agencies, hospitals, residential treatment centers, corrections facilities, or other settings.
Both programs require clinical supervision of a 100-hour practicum and two 300-hour internships, in a school setting or in an environment related to clinical mental health. Both programs are offered in a combination of hybrid, online, and face-to-face courses. Columbus, Georgia is just 100 miles southwest of Atlanta.
The MEd program in school counseling comprises 61 credits, while the MS program in clinical mental health counseling comprises 60 credits. The curriculum includes courses such as ethics and professional issues in counseling; school counseling services; applied practice in school counseling; counseling children; counseling exceptional children; diagnosis in counseling; counseling theory; family therapy process and practice; and crisis and trauma counseling.
- Location: Columbus, GA
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years
Fort Valley State University is a public historically black university in Fort Valley, Georgia. Fort Valley offers three programs, with traditional in-person and online learning options.
Rehabilitation counseling is a fully online program, with summer and fall start dates. The CLRC program is fully online and admits students each year in the fall and summer. Rehabilitation counselors are frequently employed in settings working with individuals with some kind of disability, either mental or physical. The work may include job training and placement or general life skills in a wide variety of settings. This 61-credit program includes courses such as counseling theories and processes; diagnosing and treatment planning; psychiatric rehabilitation; crisis counseling; and vocational rehabilitation.
The master of science program in clinical mental health counseling is not an online program; however, with permission, students may be able to take an online course under special circumstances. This program consists of 60 credits and includes courses such as clinical mental health counseling; substance abuse and addictions counseling; psychopathology; multicultural counseling; counseling theories and process; group theory and process; and family counseling and guidance.
The 60-credit school counseling program meets all the educational requirements for the Professional School Counselor Certificate, Level 5. In the CMHC and school counseling programs, students will complete three field experiences, including a practicum and two internships.
- Location: Fort Valley, GA; Online
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years or more
Georgia Southern is the state’s largest and most comprehensive center of higher education south of Atlanta. Their counseling education program offers two degree concentrations: school counseling and clinical mental health counseling. Both concentrations are offered in a hybrid format at the Statesboro campus. While full-time and part-time options are offered, the program requires year-round attendance since some required courses are only offered in the summer.
Both programs comprise 60 credits and the core curriculum includes courses such as theories of counseling; counseling skills and techniques; group counseling and group work; counseling assessment and appraisal; career counseling; multicultural counseling; and lifespan development.
The school counseling concentration includes courses in family counseling; counseling diagnosis; ethics and foundations of school counseling; school counseling program coordination and curriculum; and crisis intervention. The CMHC concentration includes coursework in addiction counseling; counseling psycho-diagnosis; short-term counseling strategies; counseling and sexuality; and crisis intervention & prevention.
- Location: Statesboro, GA
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Full-time (two years); part-time (three to four years)
Mercer University – School of Medicine and College of Professional Advancement
Mercer University was founded nearly 200 years ago by Georgia Baptists. Today, it is a well-respected private university with three campuses: the historic main campus in Macon, a graduate and professional education campus in Atlanta, and a four-year campus of the School of Medicine in Savannah. Out of the four counseling programs, three are offered at the Atlanta campus and one, the marriage and family therapy program, at the Savannah campus.
The programs include a master of family therapy (MFT) program; a master of science program in clinical mental health counseling; a master of science program in clinical rehabilitation counseling; and a master of science program in school counseling.
Mercer’s master of science (MS) degrees in clinical mental health counseling, school counseling and rehabilitation counseling are designed for busy working professionals or households with families. Some required courses are available online and classes meet one night per week with start dates in January, May, or August. Courses include group counseling and group work; counseling skills and techniques; addictions counseling; counseling theory; theories of family counseling; and crisis, trauma, and grief counseling.
The family therapy program is offered through the Mercer School of Medicine. MFT graduates train under the supervision of Mercer University School of Medicine faculty at the Mercer Family Therapy Centers (MFTC) located in Macon and Atlanta, Georgia. This MFT program includes 13 classroom-based courses, a six-semester professional development seminar series, and a year-long clinical practicum. Courses in this 48-credit program include foundations of family studies; theories of family therapy; assessment of diagnosis in family therapy; clinical treatment with children, adolescents, and families; addiction in family systems; and ethical, legal, and professional practice in family therapy.
- Location: Macon, Atlanta, and Savannah, GA
- Accreditation: Mercer University (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); MFT program (Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE); the CMHC, school counseling, and rehabilitation counseling programs (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Expected Time to Completion: CMHC and rehabilitation counseling degrees (30 to 42 months); school counseling degree (30 to 36 months); MFT degree (48 credits); all programs have full- and part-time options
Georgia State University – College of Education & Human Development
Georgia State has seven campuses throughout the metro Atlanta area. The school is designated as a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) and receives federal grants in order to serve low and middle-income Black Americans. Students can choose from programs in clinical mental health counseling (MS), rehabilitation counseling (MS), or school counseling (MEd).
All programs require the completion of 60 credits and include courses such as introduction and professional orientation to school counseling; basic counseling skills; group counseling systems; counseling systems and interventions; career theory, assessment, and intervention; educational and psychological appraisal; psychobehavioral diagnosis; and family systems and interventions.
- Location: Atlanta, GA
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years
Richmont Graduate University – School of Counseling (Online)
Richmont is a graduate institution that provides master’s degrees in counseling, ministry, and psychological studies from a Christian perspective. The school’s master of arts in clinical mental health counseling is offered in a flexible day, evening, and weekend schedule. This degree fulfills the academic requirements in most states for licensure as a professional counselor (LPC) and certification as a nationally certified counselor (NCC).
Students can enroll in both on-ground and online coursework. The school also offers post-graduate certificates in marriage and family therapy, trauma counseling, Christian sex therapy, child and adolescent counseling, spirituality and counseling practice, and addictions counseling. CACREP approved the new online clinical mental health counseling program, and the traditional program has been fully accredited since 2015.
Comprising 67 credits, the program includes courses such as foundations in counseling; group counseling theory and practice; ethical, legal, and professional standards in professional counseling and marriage & family therapy; integrative theology; counseling systems and interventions; psychodynamic theories and counseling; 3 psychopathology: diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders; family systems theory; and social and cultural issues in counseling.
- Location: Atlanta, GA
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to four years
Thomas University (Online)
Thomas University is a private university offering an online master of science program in counseling (MSC) that allows students to choose from four specialization tracks: clinical mental health counseling; addictions counseling; professional school counseling; and clinical rehabilitation counseling. This 60-credit program prepares graduates for practice through didactic training and clinical fieldwork experience that can be completed in their local geographic area.
Thomas’s degree program approves students to sit for their licensure and CRC exam after completing 75 percent of program coursework. Students who pass their exams during program completion will graduate with their NCC and CRC already earned.
The curriculum includes courses such as foundations and techniques of counseling; crisis and trauma counseling; substance abuse counseling methods; theories & techniques of counseling; psychopathology and diagnosis; marriage & family counseling; medical aspects of disability & chronic illness; ethics in addiction counseling; and counseling children and families.
- Location: Thomasville, GA
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years
University of Georgia – College of Education
Founded in 1785, the University of Georgia is one of the oldest public universities in the United States. Its professional counseling program is a master of education that prepares students to work in various community settings, including mental health agencies, juvenile correction agencies, drug and alcohol programs, marriage and family therapy clinics, senior centers, and more. They also offer a professional school counseling emphasis which is a dual MEd and EdS program.
The MEd in professional counseling program prepares graduates for the practice of couple, individual, group, and family counseling and allows students to choose a concentration for their studies. Options include juvenile offender counseling; marriage and family therapy; and women’s studies. The program’s curriculum includes courses such as foundations of mental health counseling; counseling theories and practice; multicultural counseling; group counseling; psycho-diagnosis; psychopharmacology; and cognitive behavioral therapy.
- Location: Athens, GA
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Full-time, two years
Valdosta State University (Online)
The school that would become Valdosta State University was founded in 1906. Valdosta is located in South Georgia, approximately 20 miles from the Florida state line. They offer a few counseling-and related degree programs:
- a master of education in counselor education
- an education specialist (EdS) in school counseling
- counselor education (online)
- Educational Leadership – Higher Education Leadership (online)
- Educational Leadership – Tier I P-12 Leadership (online)
- Educational Leadership – Tier II Performance-Based (online/hybrid)
- Marriage and family therapy
For the educational leadership programs, applicants must have completed and passed the Georgia Ethics for Educational Leadership Assessment prior to enrollment. The master of education in counselor education offers two tracks: school counseling and clinical mental health counseling. A master of science in marriage and family therapy prepares graduates to apply for licensure as MFTs in Georgia and other states. Some of the programs are in person, some are online, and some are hybrid, providing a range of options for students.
- Location: Valdosta, GA; Online, In Person, Hybrid
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Training and Education (COAMFTE)
- Expected Time to Completion: School counseling EdS (30 credits); counselor education MEd (60 credits)
How Much Do Counselors Make in Georgia?
These numbers represent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from May 2023—the latest data available as of January 2025.
Marriage and Family Therapists
| United States | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 63,340 | 500 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $68,730 | $69,570 |
| 10th percentile | $39,090 | $41,400 |
| 25th percentile | $45,250 | $49,450 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $58,510 | $57,870 |
| 75th percentile | $78,440 | $67,920 |
| 90th percentile | $104,710 | $104,430 |
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
| United States | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 397,880 | 7,890 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $60,080 | $53,760 |
| 10th percentile | $36,700 | $31,990 |
| 25th percentile | $44,600 | $41,400 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $53,710 | $48,290 |
| 75th percentile | $70,130 | $60,520 |
| 90th percentile | $89,920 | $80,020 |
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
| United States | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 327,660 | 10,260 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $66,990 | $66,630 |
| 10th percentile | $40,140 | $39,510 |
| 25th percentile | $48,760 | $47,230 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $61,710 | $60,930 |
| 75th percentile | $78,780 | $79,750 |
| 90th percentile | $100,050 | $100,570 |
Rehabilitation Counselors
| United States | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 84,750 | 720 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $48,430 | $51,610 |
| 10th percentile | $31,390 | $33,300 |
| 25th percentile | $36,440 | $40,600 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $44,040 | $45,870 |
| 75th percentile | $56,610 | $62,060 |
| 90th percentile | $73,710 | $76,390 |
All Other Counselors
| United States | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 35,580 | 1,070 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $52,360 | $57,570 |
| 10th percentile | $33,300 | $24,990 |
| 25th percentile | $38,890 | $33,630 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $46,130 | $51,370 |
| 75th percentile | $59,340 | $71,330 |
| 90th percentile | $79,880 | $100,090 |
Counseling Professional Associations & Resources in Georgia
- American Counseling Association (ACA) of Georgia
- Licensed Professional Counselors Association (LPCA) of Georgia
- Georgia Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (GAMFT)
- Georgia Society for Clinical Social Work (GSCSW)
- Georgia School Counselor Association (GSCA)
- Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL)
- Georgia Parent Support Network (GPSN)
- Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD)
- The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia (ADACBGA)
- Georgia Addiction Counselors Association (GACA)
- Georgia Council for Recovery (GC4R)
- Georgia Association of Recovery Residences (GARR)
- Prevention Credentialing Consortium of Georgia (PCCGA)
- Recovery Consultants of Atlanta
Mental Health Counseling (LMHC) Licenses in Georgia: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia State Composite Board Of Professional Counselors, Social Workers And Marriage & Family Therapists |
Counselors in Georgia are licensed as Associate Professional Counselors or Professional Counselors. Associate Professional Counselors must:
Professional Counselors must meet the same requirements Associate Professional Counselors, as well as:
|
Licenses in Georgia are renewed biennially by September 30th on even-numbered years. The fee to renew is $100. Professional Counselors are required to submit 35 hours of continuing education, five of which must be in ethics and a maximum of 10 completed online. |
School Counseling Licenses in Georgia
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia Professional Standards Commission |
The Georgia Professional Standards Commission issues school counselor certificates. The requirements for a standard certificate are:
|
Renewals of school counselor certificates in Georgia are required every five years. Renewal requirements are:
|
Substance Abuse Counseling Licenses in Georgia
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
Georgia Addiction Counselors Association (GACA) Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia (ADACBGA) |
The two agencies licensing substance abuse counselors in Georgia are the Georgia Addiction Counselors Association (GACA) and the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia (ADACBGA). Certificates issued by GACA include: Counselor-In-Training Certification (CCIT), Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (CACI), and Certified Addiction Counselor, Level II (CACII). CCIT certification candidates must:
To upgrade to a CCAI, applicants must:
CAAII candidates must:
Certificates issued by ADACBGA include Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor Levels I and II (CADC I and II), and Certified Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (CAADC). To be eligible for CADC I certification, candidates must:
CADC II applicants must meet the CADCI requirements, in addition to having:
CAADC applicants must meet all the CADC II requirements, in addition to having a master’s degree in a human service field with a clinical component or application. |
GACA requires its certification holders to renew every two years. The fee for CACI and CACII renewals are $100 for members and $150 for non-members. CCTI certifications are only valid for one year and can be renewed a maximum of three times. Renewals for CAC Level I or II must include 40 hours of continuing education. They must include 20 hours in a classroom, six hours in ethics training, and six hours in tele-mental health. ADACBGA requires renewals every two years. Applications to renew must be accompanied by a $150 fee and 40 hours of continuing education, five of which must be ethics and three must be in e-counseling/telehealth. |
Rehabilitation Counseling Licenses in Georgia
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage & Family Therapists | Rehabilitation counselors in Georgia are licensed as Associate Professional Counselors or Professional Counselors. Associate Professional Counselors must:
Professional Counselors must meet the same requirements Associate Professional Counselors, as well as:
|
Licenses in Georgia are renewed biennially by September 30th on even-numbered years. The cost to renew is $150 Professional Counselors are required to submit 35 hours of continuing education, five of which must be in ethics and a maximum of 10 completed online |
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Licenses in Georgia
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia Behavior Analyst Licensing Board | Currently, there are no state certification or licensing requirements for applied behavior analysts in Georgia. However, in May 2022, HB 412 was passed, which will implement a new state licensure process for behavior analysts. The new statutes are being implemented as of May 2024, and applicants should check the Georgia Behavior Analyst Licensing Board website for the most up-to-date information. |
Those providing ABA therapy in Georgia and want to bill insurance will need to maintain a national certification such as the BCBA and meet those continuing education standards. |
Marriage and Family Therapy Licenses in Georgia
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage & Family Therapists |
The Georgia State Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage & Family Therapists licenses Associate Marriage and Family Therapists and Marriage and Family Therapists. Candidates for an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist license must:
Professional MFTs must meet the same requirements associates, as well as:
|
Licenses in Georgia are renewed biennially by September 30th on even-numbered years. Marriage and family therapists must submit 35 hours of continuing education, five of which must be in ethics and a maximum of 10 completed online. |
Child (Pediatric) Behavioral Therapy Licenses in Georgia
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia State Composite Board Of Professional Counselors, Social Workers And Marriage & Family Therapists |
Child therapists in Georgia are licensed as Associate Professional Counselors or Professional Counselors. Associate Professional Counselors must:
Professional Counselors must meet the same requirements Associate Professional Counselors, as well as:
|
Licenses in Georgia are renewed biennially by September 30th on even-numbered years. Professional Counselors must submit 35 hours of continuing education, five of which must be in ethics and a maximum of 10 completed online. Renewals cost $100 |
Kimmy Gustafson
WriterAt CounselingSchools.com, Kimmy Gustafson’s expertly crafted articles delve into the world of counseling and mental health, providing valuable insights and guidance to readers since 2020. In addition to feature pieces and interviews, she keeps the state licensing tables current. Kimmy has been a freelance writer for more than a decade, writing hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics such as startups, nonprofits, healthcare, kiteboarding, the outdoors, and higher education. She is passionate about seeing the world and has traveled to over 27 countries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oregon. When not working, she can be found outdoors, parenting, kiteboarding, or cooking.
Vanessa Salvia
WriterVanessa Salvia is an Oregon-based freelance writer and editor with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. As fun as rigorous studies in math and science were, Vanessa took an independent path and developed a prolific career covering lifestyle and healthcare topics for magazines and newspapers, important industries such as concrete construction and building waterproofing, and even hard science. You can get in touch at Sage Media and Marketing.