What to expect beginning Supervision to obtain full LPC in Michigan
Supervision with an Approved Clinical Supervisor in Michigan may look a little different supervisor to supervisor. Essentially, we are all trying to support Limited Licensed counselors in completing their supervised working hours and supervision hours over the course of no less than two years.
Before beginning supervision with The Michigan LPC Supervisor, you need to review Elizabeth’s Professional Disclosure Statement, found here and The Limited Licensed Counselor Written Agreement found here.
It is very important to find a Limited Licensed Counselor Supervisor in Michigan that meets the guidelines to provide supervision and has received the appropriate training in continuing education for supervision. To verify an LPC, you can visit LARA’s Licensed Professional Counselor lookup and search for the Limited Licensed Counselor Supervisors name, or any identifying information that you have. (pro tip, for “license type” you literally have to search for “licensed professional counselor”). When you click on the LPC’s license number, a popup will appear and you’ll see “license issue date”:
MAKE SURE, for any supervisor you are considering, that the date listed here is prior to May 2019! To be an approved supervisor in Michigan, a License holder must have had 3 years of counseling experience AND 30 hours of continuing education in clinical supervision. It’s ok to ask for proof from your supervisor. It’s also ok to “vet” them by asking LARA if they’re an approved supervisor that can sign off on clinical working hours. Better safe than sorry.
As you’re beginning your supervised work experience, utilize the Limited Professional Counselor Licensing Guide, which has a check list to ensure you’ve got all of the requirements for full licensure covered:
Online application through MIPlus
Application and licensing fee (total of $254.00)
Criminal background check (that is emailed to you once your online application is completed and submitted)
Good moral character questions answered
SSN
Verification of your license emailed to bpldata@michigan.gov
Human Trafficking training completed (only required to be completed 1x)
English Language Proficiency
Official Transcripts (these go straight from your University to LARA)
Professional Disclosure statement (see my blog about how to write one here)
NCE scores (coming straight from the National Board)
Completed work experience form (this is completed by your supervisor and emailed in directly to LARA)
3,000 hours of post degree counseling experience in no less than 2 years
100 hours of supervision accrued in the immediate physical presence of the supervisor. Of the 100 hours, no more than 25 hours may be accrued via 2 way real time audio-visual technology that allows direct, contemporaneous interaction by sight and sound between the supervisor and the supervisee.
You should also familiarize yourself with the Michigan Mental Health Code (at least add a bookmark so you can easily find it) and the LARA application for full LPC licensure.
Hopefully your head isn’t spinning with all of these “to do’s”. There’s a lot of responsibility in working in the mental health field. Take the road to full licensure with time and care. And of course, lean on your supervisor with any questions or concerns you have.
