Licensure and Certification

In order to work independently as a counselor with couples or families, counselors usually need to get credentialed. Most often these credentials exist as a means to protect the public and regulate the practice of counseling. Licensure is a legal credential regulated by each state. Certification awarded by a professional organization has no bearing on the legality of practice and is most often used as a marketing tool to communicate specialized training in certain areas, though some states use evidence of certification to verify requirements [Page 951]indicated in their laws. In this entry, licensure and certification will be discussed, emphasizing aspects important for the practice of marriage, family, and couples counseling.