As licensure and certification regulations and laws may change, students are advised to consult the organizational materials (e.g., websites) which certify or license professionals (i.e., school counselors and professional counselors), rather than relying only on the summary provided in this document.

School Counseling Certification:

• For NJ certification (K-12), you can be certified after graduation from Rider and no additional exams are required. The most current NJ certification requirements (in addition to forms and applications) can be found here.
• For PA certification (either elementary K-6 or secondary 7-12), you need to take Praxis exams in order to be certified.
• It is recommended that school counseling students take the National Counselor Exam (NCE), however, due in part to having the option of becoming licensed as a professional counselor in the future.

Clinical Mental Health & Community Counseling Licensure:

NJ Licensed Professional Counselor

• 60 credit counseling degree
• Pass the National Counselor Exam (NCE)
• Supervised clinical experience: 4500 hours (3 years full-time or 6 years part-time). This can be reduced to 3000 hours if you have 30 additional credits.
• LAC (Licensed Associate Counselor) needs to be acquired in order to accrue supervised hours for licensure
  To be an LAC, you need a 60-credit counseling degree and must pass the NCE.
• The most current NJ licensure requirements (in addition to forms and applications) can be found here.

PA Licensed Professional Counselor

• 60 credit counseling degree
• Pass the National Counselor Exam (NCE)
• Supervised clinical experience: 3600 hours (3 years full-time or 6 years part-time)
  This can be reduced to 2400 hours if you have a PhD
• The most current PA licensure requirements (in addition to forms and applications) can be found here.