Action | Periodic review 11 |
Stage | NOIRA |
Comment Period | Ended on 8/31/2011 |
I graduated from Radford University in 2009 with a Master of Science degree in Clincial Psychology. After graduation, I was immediately hired by the New River Valley Community Service Board as a crisis stabilization clinician, counseling high-risk clients on a short-term basis. Shortly after getting hired, I received a letter indicating that the program I graduated from was not eligible for licensure. After speaking with my previous professors and collegues, I found out that even though a M.S. in Clinical Psychology had been an acceptable degree for prior graduates seeking LPC licensure, it no longer appeared to be sufficient for the board.
This rejection of my LPC licensure application caused me to re-plan my career, and I applied to Virginia Tech's Human Development Ph.D. program and was accepted. I am now attending school full-time and plan to graduate in 2013 with my degree. My career plans now inlcude teaching at a higher education institution, rather than couseling. Had my originial graduate program been acceptable to the LPC board, my career may have continued in the counseling field.
I highly recommend the board once again recognize the Radford University M.S. Clinical Psychology program as a suitable degree in LPC licensing requirements, otherwise more quality clinicians may be lost as they move or change career paths to accomodate the rejection of their LPC license application.