RIC Graduate Student in class

About Our Program

Rhode Island College stands apart in offering extensive field-related experiences that are highly valued by employers. This two-year post-Masters certificate program enables students with a qualifying Masters degree to obtain 60 credits (consisting of coursework, practicum, and internship) needed for licensure as a mental health counselor in the state of Rhode Island. This post-Masters certificate program is not CACREP accredited. 

The Rhode Island Department of Health requires a qualifying Masters in an "allied field" such as counselor education, psychology, marriage and family therapy, counseling psychology, community mental health, or education with a concentration in counseling or psychology. This post-Masters certificate program is not CACREP accredited. To ensure the CGS Advanced Counseling at RIC aligns with the licensure requirements of the state where the student intends to practice, student must confirm the academic and field-based requirements with the respective state's licensing board. Core courses in counseling practica and internship (a total of at least 12 credits) will be required of all CGS candidates. Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be prepared for careers in a wide variety of clinical settings, such as community mental health centers, adoption agencies, family service agencies, alternative education programs, psychiatric hospitals, children and adolescent residential programs and other social service agencies.

Program Details

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission, provide the following by the deadline: 

  • A completed application form accompanied by a $50 nonrefundable application fee
  • A résumé or curriculum vitae
  • A professional goals essay
  • Three letters of recommendation accompanied by candidate rating forms 
  • Performance-based evaluation. 

Note: Standardized test scores are NOT required. 

Deadlines 

Application Deadline: March 1 or November 1 (Materials must be postmarked by these dates. If materials are late, application packet may be considered in the next cycle)

Notification of Acceptance Decision: Late March or late November

Admission Offers: The following semester – spring for March applicants, summer or fall for November applicants.

Matriculation: Once accepted into the program, students complete a plan of study with a faculty advisor and are matriculated into the program. 

Additional Questions? 

Please review our Frequently Asked Questions. For questions about applying, please contact the program director, Monica Darcy at mdarcy@ric.edu. For questions related to submitting your online application materials, please contact Rosina Misuraca at 401-456-8896 or rmisuraca@ric.edu.
 

Federal Financial Aid

Visit the Office of Financial Aid

Frequently Asked Questions

  • For Prospective StudentsThere is a lot to consider when you apply to graduate school. See more on admission requirements, and pointers for completing the application
  • For ApplicantsOnce you have submitted your application, the program admissions committee will review all completed applications. See more details on what to expect
  • For Admitted StudentsOnce you have been recommended for admission to the program, you will be assigned a faculty advisor, attend orientation, and develop your plan of study

Course Information

This post-Masters certificate program provides admitted students with the academic coursework to become Licensed Mental Health Counselors. With the support of an advisor, students develop a Plan of Study that maps their existing courses to licensing requirements. 

Year 1

CEP 683: Practicum III: Advanced Counseling Skills (Fall)

Description: Students extend and deepen their counseling skills.  The use of evidence-based counseling is emphasized while students further their understanding of how to evaluate the effectiveness of their interventions. Students apply their skills in a supervised clinical setting for a minimum of five hours a week.  

CEP 684: Practicum IV: Advanced Clinical Interventions & Outcome Evaluation (Spring)

Description: Students learn advanced interventions skills and how to develop measurable outcomes to improve the effectiveness of counseling. Students work 100 hours in a supervised setting providing direct client service. 

Year 2

CEP 610: Advanced Clinical Internship in Counseling I (Fall)

CEP 611: Advanced Clinical Internship in Counseling II (Spring)

Description: In this year-long internship, students attend a weekly seminar and log 300 hours each semester at a work-setting placement under the supervision of a field supervisor and department faculty member. The year-long internship involves an intensive clinical placement with supervision from Counseling faculty and on-site practitioners. Examples of internship settings include community mental health centers, family service agencies, alternative education programs, private practices, psychiatric hospitals, children and adolescent residential programs, and other related social service agencies.

Elective

Students take one elective allowing them to focus on a particular area of interest in counseling. 

Methods of Instruction

Courses in the counseling program incorporate various methods of instruction. Practice based courses (practica and internship) incorporate role play, case presentations, group supervision, presentation and review of taped sessions, individual supervision, peer supervision, and in-class demonstration and learning while didactic courses include lecture presentations, review of assigned readings, review of videos/podcasts, and practice with methods and concepts. 

Field, Practicum, and Internship Experiences

Overview 

Students, faculty, and supervisors will use Google Classroom for placements, agreement forms, documenting hours, site visits, and evaluation for the following courses: Practicum II (CEP 539), Practicum IV (CEP 684), and Internship I & II (CEP 610/611).  See Practicum and Internship Handbook and Student Guide Book  for detailed information for all field experiences  

Before the Semester

Early in the Semester

  • Sign Practicum Agreement (CEP 539 Practicum II and CEP 684 Practicum IV) 
  • Sign Internship Agreement (CEP 610 Internship I and CEP 611 Internship 11)
  • Complete Student Acknowledge of Risk Form
  • Generate initials goals

During the Semester

  • Maintain a log of clinical activities: (CEP 684, CEP 610, CEP 611) Document hours at least every two weeks  
  • Maintain an individual supervision Log: (CEP 610, CEP 611): Document supervision hours with overview each month 

At the End of the Semester 

  • Generate final goals
  • Complete site evaluation 
Rhode Island College entrance

Program Director