How to Become a Licensed Therapist in Colorado
So you want to be a licensed therapist in Colorado? Congratulations! This is an exciting path, but one that’s often weighed down by confusion and questions. “What are the steps to becoming a licensed therapist?” “What is supervision and how do I get connected with it?” “When can I start counting my clinical hours?” We go over the process of licensure that we see most with our therapeutic teams and how we guide them in achieving their professional goals.
First off, let’s go over some key words you may come across in the licensure experience:
DORA (aka the Department of Regulatory Agencies): This is Colorado’s agency that oversees and manages all professional licenses, business registrations, and the protection of customers. That’s right, most everyone who provides person-to-person care, from your doctor to your hairstylist, is registered with DORA.
Clinical Supervision: This is the process in which mental health workers receive regular support and oversight from a more experienced member of their profession. During supervision, clinicians may review their cases in-depth, build upon skills, work through questions, and more. Supervision is a valuable way for emerging therapists and counselors (and even seasoned ones, too!) to gain insight from an additional perspective and receive guidance as they strengthen their competency.
Accreditation: This is the evaluation process that confirms an education source meets established standards of quality in its teachings. Even if you are attending a well-known school or program, it is important to double check that the one you are enrolled in meets the accreditation standards for your desired license (don’t worry we’ll point out what you need to look for in a minute!)
Jurisprudence Exam: This component is required in the licensure application process. It tests knowledge of state laws, ethical practices, and regulations of the profession. Colorado’s Mental Health Jurisprudence Exam applies to addiction counselors, licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, and social workers.
Time to break down the journey to licensure! We’ll focus on how that process looks if you want to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).
How to Become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Step 1: Where do I begin?
First, start by making sure your degree meets the educational requirements for an LPC. LPC applicants need to have their degree from a CACREP approved program or equivalent (www.cacrep.org).
But wait a minute… what if I already graduated from an unaccredited program? Don’t lose hope! There may be an education equivalency process you can go through that will allow eligibility for licensure.
Read more about education equivalency here!
Step 2: What is DORA Colorado?
Register with DORA (www.dora.colorado.gov)! You will start off as an LPC “candidate.” Once you are registered, you can start documenting your supervision and clinical experience hours.
Step 3: What is clinical supervision and how do I get it?
LPCs, LCSWs, and LMFTs all have different requirements as to how many hours you need of clinical experience and supervision—as well as who can supervise you. And when, you may ask, can I start counting my working hours toward licensure? As soon as you register with DORA (in Step 2)!
After graduating with your degree, LPC candidates are required to have 100 hours of clinical supervision (70 face-to-face and individual) and 2,000 hours of clinical experience over a minimum of 24 months.
LPC candidates can receive supervision from either LPC supervisors OR LCSW supervisors.
Supervision is a requirement, but how you obtain those hours may vary. Depending on where you work, you may have to outsource and pay for supervision hours. While prices vary, an estimated range would be approximately $80-$190 per individual hour of supervision.
At Savio, however, we provide clinicians’ supervision FREE OF COST. You can save money and focus on your cases with a team that is familiar and informed about your clients’ circumstances. And there’s even better news. If you are hired to work in your ideal program but your supervisor doesn’t meet licensing requirements, we have a solution! Because Savio has multiple programs with clinicians of various backgrounds, we have the ability to connect you internally within our organization to a supervisor who can help you fulfill needed hours.
Our supervision model is structured so that in your first year of employment you receive group supervision (if allowable for your degree), and your second year of employment focuses on individual supervision.
Step 4: What are the required exams for therapist licensure?
The Jurisprudence Exam consists of 45 multiple choice questions that can be taken open-book and online. This exam is not timed and can be completed within a 60-day window.
In addition to your Jurisprudence Exam (which is the same for LPC, LCSW, and LMFT), each license requires passing scores on additional tests.
LPCs must also complete either the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Exam (NCHMCE).
Taking tests naturally comes with stressors and anxiety. At Savio, we help our staff prepare for the Jurisprudence Exam and connect them with others who may be preparing for their intended license’s exam so that you can study and review with peers.
Still feeling overwhelmed or unsure if you are submitting the correct information? Savio employees can review their paperwork with their supervisor to make sure it checks all the boxes, so you can be on your way to licensure sooner and more efficiently.
Step 5: You become licensed!
After years of hard work in completing school, tests, supervision hours, and clinical experience hours, you can now spread your wings and have even more doors open for you! You might even embrace the journey to become a supervisor yourself and help new members of your profession become licensed as well.
How to Become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Step 1: Where do I begin?
First, start by making sure your degree meets the educational requirements for an LCSW. LCSW applicants need to have their degree from a CSWE approved program (www.cswe.org).
But wait a minute… what if I already graduated from an unaccredited program? Don’t lose hope! There may be an education equivalency process you can go through that will allow eligibility for licensure.
Read more about education equivalency here!
Step 2: What is DORA Colorado?
Register with DORA (www.dora.colorado.gov)! You will start off as an LCSW “candidate.” Once you are registered, you can start documenting your supervision and clinical experience hours.
Step 3: What is clinical supervision and how do I get it?
LPCs, LCSWs, and LMFTs all have different requirements as to how many hours you need of clinical experience and supervision—as well as who can supervise you. And when, you may ask, can I start counting my working hours toward licensure? As soon as you register with DORA (in Step 2)!
After graduating with your degree, LCSW candidates are required to have 96 hours of clinical supervision (48 face-to-face and individual) and 3,360 hours of clinical experience over a minimum of 24 months.
Only LCSW supervisors can oversee LCSW candidates for licensure.
Supervision is a requirement, but how you obtain those hours may vary. Depending on where you work, you may have to outsource and pay for supervision hours. While prices vary, an estimated range would be approximately $80-$190 per individual hour of supervision.
At Savio, however, we provide clinicians’ supervision FREE OF COST. You can save money and focus on your cases with a team that is familiar and informed about your clients’ circumstances. And there’s even better news. If you are hired to work in your ideal program but your supervisor doesn’t meet licensing requirements, we have a solution! Because Savio has multiple programs with clinicians of various backgrounds, we have the ability to connect you internally within our organization to a supervisor who can help you fulfill needed hours.
Our supervision model is structured so that in your first year of employment you receive group supervision (if allowable for your degree), and your second year of employment focuses on individual supervision.
Step 4: What are the required exams for therapist licensure?
The Jurisprudence Exam consists of 45 multiple choice questions that can be taken open-book and online. This exam is not timed and can be completed within a 60-day window.
In addition to your Jurisprudence Exam (which is the same for LPC, LCSW, and LMFT), each license requires passing scores on additional tests.
LCSWs must also complete the Association of Social Work Boards Clinical (ASWB) Exam.
Taking tests naturally comes with stressors and anxiety. At Savio, we help our staff prepare for the Jurisprudence Exam and connect them with others who may be preparing for their intended license’s exam so that you can study and review with peers.
Still feeling overwhelmed or unsure if you are submitting the correct information? Savio employees can review their paperwork with their supervisor to make sure it checks all the boxes, so you can be on your way to licensure sooner and more efficiently.
Step 5: You become licensed!
After years of hard work in completing school, tests, supervision hours, and clinical experience hours, you can now spread your wings and have even more doors open for you! You might even embrace the journey to become a supervisor yourself and help new members of your profession become licensed as well.
How to Become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
Step 1: Where do I begin?
First, start by making sure your degree meets the educational requirements for an LMFT. LMFT applicants need to have their degree from a COAMFTE approved program or equivalent (www.coamfte.org).
But wait a minute… what if I already graduated from an unaccredited program? Don’t lose hope! There may be an education equivalency process you can go through that will allow eligibility for licensure.
Read more about education equivalency here!
Step 2: What is DORA Colorado?
Register with DORA (www.dora.colorado.gov)! You will start off as an LMFT “candidate.” Once you are registered, you can start documenting your supervision and clinical experience hours.
Step 3: What is clinical supervision and how do I get it?
LPCs, LCSWs, and LMFTs all have different requirements as to how many hours you need of clinical experience and supervision—as well as who can supervise you. And when, you may ask, can I start counting my working hours toward licensure? As soon as you register with DORA (in Step 2)!
After graduating with your master’s degree, LMFT candidates are required to have 100 hours of clinical supervision and 2,000 hours of clinical experience over a minimum of 24 months. However, if you are working post obtaining your doctorate, you are required to have 75 hours of clinical supervision and 1,500 hours of clinical experience over a minimum of 12 months.
LMFT supervisors or those approved by the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) can oversee LMFT candidates for licensure.
Supervision is a requirement, but how you obtain those hours may vary. Depending on where you work, you may have to outsource and pay for supervision hours. While prices vary, an estimated range would be approximately $80-$190 per individual hour of supervision.
At Savio, however, we provide clinicians’ supervision FREE OF COST. You can save money and focus on your cases with a team that is familiar and informed about your clients’ circumstances. And there’s even better news. If you are hired to work in your ideal program but your supervisor doesn’t meet licensing requirements, we have a solution! Because Savio has multiple programs with clinicians of various backgrounds, we have the ability to connect you internally within our organization to a supervisor who can help you fulfill needed hours.
Our supervision model is structured so that in your first year of employment you receive group supervision (if allowable for your degree), and your second year of employment focuses on individual supervision
Step 4: What are the required exams for therapist licensure?
The Jurisprudence Exam consists of 45 multiple choice questions that can be taken open-book and online. This exam is not timed and can be completed within a 60-day window.
In addition to your Jurisprudence Exam (which is the same for LPC, LCSW, and LMFT), each license requires passing scores on additional tests.
LMFTs need to also take a licensing exam developed by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards known as the National MFT Exam.
Taking tests naturally comes with stressors and anxiety. At Savio, we help our staff prepare for the Jurisprudence Exam and connect them with others who may be preparing for their intended license’s exam so that you can study and review with peers.
Still feeling overwhelmed or unsure if you are submitting the correct information? Savio employees can review their paperwork with their supervisor to make sure it checks all the boxes, so you can be on your way to licensure sooner and more efficiently.
Step 5: You become licensed!
After years of hard work in completing school, tests, supervision hours, and clinical experience hours, you can now spread your wings and have even more doors open for you! You might even embrace the journey to become a supervisor yourself and help new members of your profession become licensed as well.
We wish you luck on your journey toward licensure! After completing all the steps and finally being able to add the letters of LPC or LCSW or LMFT to your title, you’ll see new opportunities for career growth, your network expanding, and rewarding moments when working with clients. Curious about how Savio can support your career aspirations and path toward licensure? Reach out to Traci at tmichel@saviohouse.org or visit our careers page